Giving Season kicks off

By Lynn Monty, Free Press Staff Writer • Friday, November 27, 2009

The helplessness many feel in the face of war and economic turmoil — even with all of our technological advances and bounty of resources — can unite us. We may not be able to stop the war or end world hunger in this moment, but we can ease some of the pain caused by these conditions.

The Giving Season is The Burlington Free Press’ annual holiday campaign to help our community through raising awareness and money in support of local nonprofits. Now, in its 16th year, the campaign continues through New Year’s Day.

As Vermont continues to struggle with the impact of the recent national recession, the state’s unemployment rate stands at 6.5 percent.

“Vermont’s labor market is not in recovery yet,” said Patricia Moulton Powden, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor this month. “We are still not seeing any significant job growth.”

Vermont’s fiscal year 2010 revenues are below the fiscal year 2005 levels, according to state officials. Lawmakers have tried to bridge the gap with budget cuts, pay freezes, furloughs and layoffs.

When The Giving Season began, the effort aimed to provide the most basic of needs for our neighbors: food, shelter and warmth. The campaign’s longstanding core agencies are: the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, and WARMTH, which provides heating assistance.

For the past few years, a guest fourth agency has been selected, based on the news and the needs of the day. With the largest number of Vermont National Guard members since World War II leaving for Afghanistan after the holidays, the Free Press has selected the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit that helps ease financial strain on Guard members and their families, as our guest fourth agency.

The Giving Season is about finding solutions and celebrating community. Throughout the coming weeks, look for stories that will inspire and highlight the many ways, large and small, we can make a difference.

In addition to profiles from these four nonprofits that will publish Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 27, find United Way Agency Wish Lists and Volunteer Opportunities. To make a donation clip the coupon that will appear daily in the newspaper and send it with your donation directly to the agency.

Every little bit helps. We need to remember the words of Mother Teresa, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.”

We can do that.

Thank you and may you and your family have a happy and comfortable holiday season.