Windham County Action Network (WeCAN)

"An article in VTDigger said that homeless individuals “might be camping for the summer.” With a nonchalant shrug, Vermont has turned its back on our homeless neighbors. That wording — "some Vermonters might be sleeping outside" — expresses a sense of passivity I didn’t think Vermont had. If we truly cared, we would make certain that nobody was ever on the streets again who didn’t want to be there. Instead, in our rush to get back to normal, Vermont has forgotten the empathy and care we extended toward each other and our most vulnerable in the midst of the crisis."
from "Addie Lentzner: Vermont’s So Close to Ending Homelessness — But Hasn’t" in VT Digger
commentary by Addie Lentzner of Bennington, who’s headed into her senior year in high school. 

     We start this week's Weekly Email Update off with a call to action, WeCAN Family. On July, 1st, 2021, our unhomed neighbors who were using Vermont's hotel voucher program were evicted from their rooms and made homeless once again. This petition, to be sent to Governor Phil Scott, calls for a reversal of those evictions and reinstatement of key, life saving programs in our state.  

From the petition:
     "Vermont has housed homeless individuals and families in motels throughout the pandemic. However, on July 1st, around 700 Vermonters were forced to leave the motels. Many are now sleeping on the streets, and many more will be soon without eviction protections, increasing the epidemic of homelessness in our state. This is a humanitarian crisis. Vermont has fought the battle so well against COVID and in supporting homeless neighbors; now we are leaving people on the battlefield. The Governor has the singular power to change this at this moment and he should use it.
Governor Scott, you have the singular power to keep people safe, housed, and food secure. These actions must be taken in order to do so:
1. Extend the GA motel program for Vermonters experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity until such time as those utilizing the program can be transitioned to permanent housing.
2. Continue the moratorium on evictions.
3. Safe and consistent housing is the priority, but we must also keep in place all increased food access including expanded Maximum Snap Benefits, Everyone Eats and all Food Resource programs. (This will not be adequate without housing security addressed.)
It is unconscionable when our state is flush with resources that anyone goes without shelter, without needed support and without food.
Sign onto this petition to ensure that Governor Scott takes action today to extend the motel program for all without restrictions, extend an eviction moratorium, and reinstate food/SNAP benefits and the Everyone Eats Program. Most importantly in this demand is to continue the motel program because doing so will provide a leg up for Vermont to end homelessness. Not a single person should be homeless in response to the end of the COVID emergency order. The motel program needs to continue until everyone can be transitioned into housing. Does Vermont, and does the Governor, truly want to end homelessness in our state? If so, we need to continue the motel program until the necessary permanent housing is available."

The petition can be found HERE. Please sign it and share with your family, friends, and social media networks if you are able. Thank you. 

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HAPPENING THIS WEEK, MONDAY, JULY 12th, 2021-SUNDAY, JULY 18th, 2021

County Conversations: Whitingham and Halifax
hosted by Windham County Democrats
Tuesday, July 13th, 2021, Online. 6:30pm.
Please join us for this conversation on Zoom by registering HERE.
The Windham County Democratic Committee invites you to participate in a listening session to discuss improvements for our local Democratic party. If you identify as or tend to vote Democratic, we invite you to attend and to share the issues and values that are important to you. We also want to hear your perspectives on our party’s organization. This session is one in a series of listening sessions that Democratic Committee is holding around the county this summer. If you are interested in other dates and locations, you can visit the webpage at https://windhamcountyvtdemocrats.org.

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A Silent Vigil of Loving Kindness 
Thursday, July 14th, 2021 at Wells Fountain (298-250 VT-30, Brattleboro, VT 05301). 4:30pm-5:30pm.  For further information and to be on the mailing list for future vigils, please contact Tim Stevenson, [email protected].
Under a banner that reads, “Holding a Space of Loving Kindness for All Living Beings,” we conduct a silent vigil on alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays, every other week, 4:30pm-5:30pm at Wells Fountain across from Brooks Library and the Municipal Building, in downtown Brattleboro.
Our purpose is to serve as a living reminder of the inherent goodness of each of us, as well as our inextricable connection with one another.
For a few minutes or the entire hour, all are welcome to join us in extending sentiments of loving kindness to all living beings: to family and friends, neighbors and strangers, kindred spirits and adversaries, human and non-human beings, alike. And to ourselves, as well. People may choose to stand, kneel, or sit in a chair they bring (there are stone benches circling the Fountain).

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Marlboro Community Food Share
hosted by the Marlboro Community Center
Thursday, July 15th, 2021, and every Thursday, at the Marlboro Community Center (524 South Road, Marlboro, VT, 05344). 4:30pm-5:30pm.
Every Thursday from 4:30pm-5:30pm the Marlboro Community Center invites you to fill a grocery bag with non-perishables and fresh local produce. No registration or eligibility required. This weekly opportunity is available for anyone who could use an extra bag of groceries or knows someone who does.
Food will be set up in the entry-way to the Marlboro Community Center. For proper social distancing, please enter one person at a time. Bring a grocery bag or use ours. Masks are required. Deliveries will be made through Marlboro Cares for those needing assistance. Please call Marlboro Cares at 802-258-3030 in advance to arrange a delivery.
To donate food:
Leave non-perishable food in the donation box at the Marlboro Post Office. It will be collected on a weekly-basis. (Please note that this box previously supplied the Deerfield Valley Food Pantry, which is now distributing food exclusively from VT Food Pantry) 
Gardeners and farmers are welcome to donate produce. Wear masks and wash hands when harvesting and handling food. Fresh produce can be dropped off at the Community Center on Thursday between 1pm and 4pm. (Any leftover produce will be taken to FoodWorks the following morning)

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Guilford Cares Food Pantry
Thursday, July 15th, 2021 (and every Thursday) at the Guilford Fairgrounds (163 Fairground Rd, Guilford, VT 05301). 5pm-6pm. If you have questions, concerns or would like to donate groceries or monetary gifts please contact Pat Haine 802-257-0626. For additional questions or more information call 802 579 1350 or email [email protected].
Guilford Cares Food Pantry has moved! The Pantry has moved to the First Aid building at the Guilford Fairgrounds. We will be fully stocked with all our usual grocery items.
The Fairgrounds are on Fairground Road, just off Weatherhead Hollow Road. From Guilford Center Road turn onto Weatherhead Hollow Road. Travel 1.7 miles down the road. The Fairgrounds are on the left and there will be a sign directing you up the hill for about .2 miles. The red building is on the left with a sign out in front. Please remain in your car; we’ll greet you,  and give you a shopping list as we have been doing for the past year.
If the Pantry will be closed for any unexpected reason, the closure will be announced on WKVT, WTSA, and Front Porch Forum.
If you cannot come to the Pantry due to illness or high risk, you can call also call Pat to arrange for food delivery by a volunteer.
We know that supplemental food can make such a big difference in one's budget. That is why we are stocking our shelves for our neighbors. All are welcome to come and take home fresh produce, staples, meat, dairy.
Guilford Cares welcomes anyone in need of supplemental food for themselves or their families.

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Twenty Twenty, Twenty Twenty-One: Dance Theatre for Collective Liberation
Saturday, July 17th, 2021 and Sunday, July 18th, 2021 at Living Memorial Park (Guilford Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 6pm.
$15 General Admission, $10 Students, BIPOC “Pay what you want”; Bring your own picnic blanket! Folding chairs provided if you prefer.
Photo by @kaymccabevt
Having a hard time returning to "normal" "post" pandemic life? Come process the last year and a half with us through story, song, dance, laughter, and ritual. 

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Share the Harvest Stand
a project of Edible Brattleboro
Sunday, July 18th, 2021 and every Sunday until October 31st, 2021 in the garden at Turning Point Recovery Center (corner of Frost Street and Elm Street, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 11am-1pm.
Fresh produce available at no cost thanks to local farmers, VT Foodbank and local gardeners. Donations accepted with gratitude. If you have surplus from your garden, please drop them off on Saturdays between 3 and 3:45pm, or Sundays between 10:30 and 11:15am, or by appointment (call or text 516-298-9119).

Edible Brattleboro’s Share the Harvest Stand Needs Volunteers
Sign-up here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/245496458026/false#/invitation
Please consider offering the gift of your time. Time Traders, Brattleboro Food Co-op shareholders, and students can log their hours for community service credit.
We always pair up a new volunteer with an experienced one, so if you have never volunteered, don't worry. You will have guidance from an experienced person and detailed written instructions. If you value this service, I urge you to please sign up for a time slot (or two or three) so we can continue to offer fresh free produce to our neighbors through October. More on how to volunteer below.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Vermont Food Bank’s Veggie Van Go Upcoming Schedule
The First and Third Mondays of Every Month in the parking lot across the street from the main entrance to Brattleboro Union High School (131 Fairground Road, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 10am-11:30am. 
Veggie Van Go is a program through the Vermont Foodbank that gives out free produce and local food for people to take home.
Monday, July 19th, 2021
Monday, August 2nd, 2021
Monday, August 16th, 2021
Important information:

• Drive through model- please stay in your vehicles
• If you are walking there: see a Vermont Foodbank associate but please make sure to stay 6 feet back.
• There are no income requirements, registration or paperwork to participate
• You do not need to be present to get food: you may ask someone to pick up on your family's behalf.

For questions, please contact the WSESU VVG Program Coordinator:
Kira Sawyer-Hartigan, WSESU
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 
[email protected]
(802)254-3730

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County Conversations: Dummerston, Putney, and Westminster
hosted by Windham County Democrats
Tuesday, July 20th, 2021, Online. 6:30pm.
Please join us for this conversation on Zoom by registering HERE.
The Windham County Democratic Committee invites you to participate in a listening session to discuss improvements for our local Democratic party. If you identify as or tend to vote Democratic, we invite you to attend and to share the issues and values that are important to you. We also want to hear your perspectives on our party’s organization. This session is one in a series of listening sessions that Democratic Committee is holding around the county this summer. If you are interested in other dates and locations, you can visit the webpage at https://windhamcountyvtdemocrats.org.

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Palestine: Learning History to Address the Present
presented by Brattleboro Solidarity
Wednesday, July 21st, 2021,
Wednesday, July 28th, 2021,
Wednesday, August 4th, 2021, and
Wednesday, August 11th, 2021
In person or via Zoom. 6pm-6pm.
Email [email protected] to sign up.
Join us in our study of Palestinian History from the 1800s-present day. We will discuss the implications of US military aid to Israel and continue to find ways to work in solidarity with Palestinian people. Selected readings, videos, movies, and speakers will inform our study! Sign up today! 

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Public Hearing: Improving Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)
hosted by the VT Agency of Human Services
Thursday, July 22nd, 2021, Online. 11am-1pm.
Join the Video Conference: Attend with your computer or smart device.
Call-in: (802) 828-7667
with Conference ID: 666 001 448#
You can request reasonable accommodations by July 15th: [email protected]
What is happening? Over the next year,Vermont will receive one-time funding estimated to be $162 million dollars.This money must be spent on Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). It can’t pay for anything that the State would have paid for anyway. HCBS are things like supported employment, respite, shared living, home health, and help from a direct support provider.
Share the flyer: https://ddc.vermont.gov/sites/ddc/files/2021-07/2021july22%20hcbs%20alert_0.pdf
The Vermont DD Council has more information and ideas about this funding. Contact [email protected] to request this Advocacy Tool Kit.

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Red Cross Blood Drive at the Winston Prouty Campus
Saturday, July 24th, 2021
Saturday, August 28th, 2021
Saturday, September 25th, 2021
Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
Saturday, November 27th, 2021
Saturday, December 18th, 2021 at the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development (Austine Drive, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 9am-3pm. To help make these events possible by volunteering, please contact Lisa Whitney at [email protected].
Winston Prouty and the American Red Cross are hosting monthly blood drives throughout 2021.The Red Cross has over 135 years of experience providing humanitarian aid including more than 75 years of supplying blood to those in need. Each pint of blood we collect can help save up to three lives and will touch the lives of so many more. What a great way to pay it forward and make an impact on people in our community and across the country.
You can participate by donating blood or by volunteering to help support the event (set-up/clean-up, registration, parking, etc).
Sign up to DONATE blood here:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=

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County Conversations: Dover, Wardsboro, and Wilmington
hosted by Windham County Democrats
Tuesday, July 27th, 2021, Online. 6:30pm.
Please join us for this conversation on Zoom by registering HERE.
The Windham County Democratic Committee invites you to participate in a listening session to discuss improvements for our local Democratic party. If you identify as or tend to vote Democratic, we invite you to attend and to share the issues and values that are important to you. We also want to hear your perspectives on our party’s organization. This session is one in a series of listening sessions that Democratic Committee is holding around the county this summer. If you are interested in other dates and locations, you can visit the webpage at https://windhamcountyvtdemocrats.org.

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Critical Mass Bike Ride
hosted by 350 Brattleboro, 350 Vermont, and VBike
Friday, July 30th, 2021 at The Brattleboro Common (Park Place, Brattleboro, VT, 05301). 5pm-6pm.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Image credit: Hugh D'Andrade
We're continuing with Critical Mass Rides on the last Friday of every month! We will adhere to physical distancing recommendations and masks are recommended.
Kids and families welcome! Critical (and "Kidical") Mass rides have a unique way of energizing folks around bike mobility, transportation solutions, and amplifying our collective ability and power to begin reclaiming our streets and communities. We need this, and we need YOU!
Agenda:
5pm: We'll be starting at the Brattleboro Common. We'll get organized, decorate bikes, and go over our route.
5:15pm: Begin Critical Mass ride. This is a high-visibility downtown route!
5:45pm: Join Solidarity Fridays rally at Pliny Park or continue back to the Common. [Visit Solidarity Fridays event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/370889857598308/ ]

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Raised on Rock: Raising Funds for Westminster Church and VT Meals on Wheels
hosted by Strange Brew Tattoo and Body Piercing
Sunday, August 1st, 2021 at 18 Metcalf Drive (off VT Rt 5), Wesminster, VT 05158. 2pm-8pm.
10$ donation requested.
Strange Brew Tattoo welcomes you to enjoy live music & home cooked BBQ at our annual outdoor and socially distanced event. As last year’s event was a success in raising funds that delivered PPE for our local healthcare workers as well as helped our local community, we will again be following state Covid protocols to make this year’s event even more successful! We encourage everyone to be safe and we look forward to seeing you all again! Tattoos will be done first come first served out of our Get What You Get machine. Bands are to be announced, and updates will be given as we get closer to August 1st. We hope to see you there!

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County Conversations: Marlboro, Newfane, and Townshend
hosted by Windham County Democrats
Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021, Online. 6:30pm.
Please join us for this conversation on Zoom by registering HERE.
The Windham County Democratic Committee invites you to participate in a listening session to discuss improvements for our local Democratic party. If you identify as or tend to vote Democratic, we invite you to attend and to share the issues and values that are important to you. We also want to hear your perspectives on our party’s organization. This session is one in a series of listening sessions that Democratic Committee is holding around the county this summer. If you are interested in other dates and locations, you can visit the webpage at https://windhamcountyvtdemocrats.org.

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County Conversations: Jamaica, Stratton, and Windham
hosted by Windham County Democrats
Tuesday, August 10th, 2021, Online. 6:30pm.
Please join us for this conversation on Zoom by registering HERE.
The Windham County Democratic Committee invites you to participate in a listening session to discuss improvements for our local Democratic party. If you identify as or tend to vote Democratic, we invite you to attend and to share the issues and values that are important to you. We also want to hear your perspectives on our party’s organization. This session is one in a series of listening sessions that Democratic Committee is holding around the county this summer. If you are interested in other dates and locations, you can visit the webpage at https://windhamcountyvtdemocrats.org.

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HOUSING AVAILABLE

Housing Offered for Activists in Return for Internship with Brattleboro Common Sense
Join Brattleboro Common Sense: together, our voice goes far. [email protected]  
Room and board are offered as a STIPEND for an internship with BCS. (See BrattleboroCommonSense.org, a small philanthropic organization.  501c-3)  Advance new rent control legislation and police disarmament with us as we transition to an activist half-way house.   
Living space is nice, but under remodeling.  Right now there are two five other people, a bird a cat and two dogs sharing the house and getting along well.  Two work for BCS; one is an intern.  Most of the house is furnished.  It's a pretty big house, a flexible situation.   It's two floors of an old wood-frame house, with trees and a big yard.  The downstairs conference room and parlor occasionally used (hardly used at all since COVID) by BCS.  The matters of more pets, laundry, and start date are negotiable. Send a resume including activism if you’re interested, and we will respond quickly.
Work is very flexible part time: talking, petitioning, fund-raising, survey-taking, social media communications, research, writing and promoting a climate emergency declaration. Our declaration is for all humans: church-goers, soldiers, farmers, Republicans, not just liberals and climate activists.  Our work is unique and aggressive. We aim to make a difference across the nation.
In 2010 BCS won a court order ending censorship of petitions by town government, so that Brattleboro people and other organizations can act locally on global issues. BCS has acted on nuclear power, renewable energy, election reform and climate rescue.
Who joins BCS?: Our directors, who separately started significant actions like the Bush Indictment Resolution, which was reported around the world; a plastic bag ban, which became state law, town offices of the future and sustainability, and the Youth Vote amendment, to bring the voice of youth to these and local issues and which was recently approved by the VT House of Representatives. Our S.A.F.E. Limited Police Disarmament plan may win approval in August and steer the national debate on police reform.  These things follow the conscience of Brattleboro. 

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COMMUNITY SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Health Equity and BI&POC Vaccine Clinics in Vermont: Now Registering 12 years and up!

The Vermont Professionals of Color Network created this amazing website to promote Health Equity and BI&POC vaccine clinics in Vermont. Their new site offers upcoming events, latest press, demonstrates their collaborative work, and even has a playlist of clinic jams to celebrate life preserving vaccine! Check it out at https://www.vermonthealthequity.org/
Vermont Health Equity Initiative -VHEI

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Covid 19 Pop-Up Testing

Testing is available for all. 
If you need testing, there are a variety of options available to you: your primary care provider, pop-up test sites and pharmacies. The Test Site Finder below can help you find other testing near you.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT POP-UP TESTING LOCATIONS
Here are the steps to set up a testing appointment at a pop-up testing site:

• Register to get an account
• Receive an email with your patient ID and use that to confirm your account (check your spam folder if you don't see the email)
• Log in with your patient ID
• Set up an appointment

Register for Pop-Up Testing Here

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FREE HEALTHY AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD IN WINDHAM COUNTY

Brigid’s Kitchen, St. Michael’s Church, 47 Walnut Street, Brattleboro 802-254-6800 or 802-558-6072 
Grab-and-go lunches and fruit/nuts on Mon, Weds, Thus, and Sat, 11:30am-12:20pm.

Loaves and Fishes, Centre Congregational Church 193 Main Street, Brattleboro (802) 254-4730
Grab-and-go lunches on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12pm.

VT Foodbank and Veggie Van Go will be at Brattleboro Union High School (Fairground Ave, Brattleboro, VT, 05301), in the parking lot, on the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month, from 10am-11:30am. Drive up, touchless pickup. Walkers welcome, too. Call VT 211 for more information. 

Foodworks, the food shelf program of the Groundworks Collaborative https://groundworksvt.org (802) 490-2412, [email protected] 
Households in need of food are asked to call or email to coordinate delivery. There is an urgent need for volunteers, and Foodworks has set up protocols to keep staff, volunteers, and clients as safe as possible. Please email us at [email protected] if you are able to help.

Guilford Food Pantry 
Every Thursday at the Guilford Fairgrounds. 5pm-6pm.
We know that supplemental food can make such a big difference in one's budget. That is why we are stocking our shelves for our neighbors. All are welcome to come and take home fresh produce, staples, meat, dairy. Guilford Cares welcomes anyone in need of supplemental food for themselves or their families.

Full Plates VT 
Please click this link to confirm availability and to register up to 3 households: 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/full-plates-vt-tickets-151480705869
The program is currently scheduled to run from June – September, 2021.
To keep wait times to a minimum, reservations will be required for the distributions. New dates will be added to the registration website every two weeks. To register and see the dates and locations, please visit vtfoodbank.org/gethelp or call 833-670-2254 for assistance. 
Each household must register for their own food box and self-certify that they meet the income guidelines. You will not be asked for proof of income.

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ADDITIONAL COVID 19 RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND AT THEIR PERMANENT HOME ON OUR WEBSITE, HERE: https://www.wecantogether.net/covid19_resources

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RESOURCE FOR WeCAN

Rapid Response Text Alert System

When WeCAN began, Song & Solidarity set up a Rapid Response Text Alert System for WeCAN Groups. Directions for signing up are on WeCAN's website, here: https://www.wecantogether.net/rapid_response. We are grateful to Song and Solidarity for providing this service.

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ONGOING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING 

Indigo Radio
Sundays at 12pm on Brattleboro Community Radio 107.7FM. To stream live, visit: www.wvew.org 
Indigo Radio, deepening understanding and making connections! IndigoRadio is a group of area educators seeking to learn through engaging with others in our community and throughout the world. We will be talking about educational and social issues both globally and locally and connecting them to our lives and Brattleboro community. Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/indigoradiowvew/. For archive recordings of past shows: https://soundcloud.com/user-654648353. 

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   Please remember to check with your event prior to in-person arrival to clarify their masking and distancing policies. Thank you! 

Your Friendly WeCAN Admin,

Joanna