Older Announcements

Double your 3Squares Benefits and Get More Local Food!

Double Your 3Squaresvt Benefits! When you spend $10 in 3SquaresVT benefits at a Farmers Market, you'll recieve $10 in Crop Cash to purchase fruits, veggies and edible plants! This means $10 In 3SquaresVT buys $20 in Local food! Learn more by call 800-642-5119.  

Take the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Walking Tour - Map now available! 

Thanks to MSAC member Page Guertain for sharing this great resource with us - full brochure is here and we are getting some hard copies for distribution at MSAC! Along this tour you will visit and learn about a variety of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) practices and required maintenance. You will see bioretention basins/rain gardens, curb cuts, permeable pavement, and vegetated buffers. These GSI practices provide stormwater management and co-benefits such as wildlife habitat, urban heat island mitigation, and pollinator foraging sites. You will also see evidence of historic flooding in Montpelier and learn about the connection between land use here and water quality in Lake Champlain. All sites on this map are visible from a road or public right of way. Please use caution as you make your way from site to site. Consider bringing a trash bag to help maintain the sites.

Montpelier Alive wants to know what you think!

We are striving to help the world learn more about the beautiful city of Montpelier and to understand what travelers want to know and do. Will you take a moment to fill out this quick survey? You’ll be entered to win a free one-night stay at the Inn at Montpelier! Montpelier Alive is excited to learn about how we can serve you better. Filling out this survey will help us continue to innovate and offer you the best resources for planning your next visit.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library Book Sale – New Perpetual Format! 

New Perpetual format! Always open. Books restocked weekly. Check back often! We are still able to accept donations for the book sale.  For more info: https://www.kellogghubbard.org/book-sales. 

Kellogg-Hubbard Library is conducting a survey

Your library would like to learn how you find out what’s happening at the library. Click here to take the online survey! 

Heat Safety Tips from VT Dept. of Health

As it starts to get hot outside more often, there are important steps you can take to keep yourself and your friends and family safe. Beat the heat with these tips for staying cool, hydrated, informed. Also, how to listen to your body, stay in touch, cool your home, recognize symptoms and risk factors! Click here to read more as well as the item below!

Why Seniors are at an Increased Risk for Dehydration and How to Avoid it

Dehydration is a common problem for seniors. Seniors have a higher risk of becoming dehydrated than younger adults. As we age, our bodies are unable to retain as much water. This means that seniors have lower fluid reserves in their bodies. Older adults may not recognize when they're dehydrated. This is because the thirst response dulls with age. Dehydration can also result from medical issues that are more common in seniors. Click here to learn more about RISK FACTORS, EFFECTS and WARNING SIGNS of dehydration in this web resource provided by our friends at Home Care Assistance.

VHFA Mortgage Assistance Program

VT Housing Finance Agency has re-opened our Mortgage Assistance Program. It covers up to 12 months of past-due mortgage payments and property taxes for eligible Vermont households to help prevent foreclosure. We have a page of promotional materials including graphics and a program description to make sharing easy: https://www.vhfa.org/map-info/promotional-materials. You can also call the Senior HelpLine for assistance at 1-800-642-5119.

Five ways of honoring Senior Veterans 
We came across this great resource you might like to check out!

Have you heard? Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

WHAT IS IT? The benefit provides:

• Up to $50/month discount for broadband services;

• Up to $75/month discount for households on qualifying Tribal lands; and

• A one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet purchased through a participating provider.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE? A household is eligible if one member of the household:

• Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guide lines or participates in certain government assistance programs;

• Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch or breakfast program;

• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;

• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020; or 

• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to submit an application and to find participating providers near you.  For more details, click here or call 833-511-0311

What’s new with the Capital Area Neighborhoods (CAN)? 
Sustainable Montpelier Coalition (SMC) continues to support the Capital Area Neighborhoods network. SMC shares communications from the City’s Departments, partners and COVID-related updates with City residents through the CAN Network to ensure that everyone has the best information. Additionally, SMC works with CAN Coordinators to help identify neighborhood specific projects that will better the neighborhood and bring people together.

CAN is rolling out Neighborhood Information Kiosks (NIKs) in 6 different neighborhoods. The NIKs are a helpful and fun way to share information with neighbors. If you see a NIK, look for important notices, and if you have something to share with your community, feel free to post a flyer in the space provided!

CAN is still looking for more volunteer coordinators: 

• River Street 
• Barre Street 
• Cummings Street
• More CAN volunteers in the Downtown (State St from Main to Elm, along Elm up to Spring, from Spring St down Main up to the Shaw’s) 
• Northfield Street College Street South (Kent, Ridge, Foster St area)
•  Additional CAN volunteers for Elm Street (Meadows section)
  
  To get involved with CAN: email MontpelierCAN@gmail.com or call 802-272-1195.

3SquaresVT: You can buy seeds and plants!
3SquaresVT benefits can be used to buy seeds and plants at any retailer that accepts EBT. Growing your own fruits and vegetables can help stretch your food budget. To find out more about 3SquaresVT eligibility or using benefits to buy seeds and plants, visit vermontfoodhelp.com. For help to apply, call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119.  

Community Harvest of Central Vermont is Looking for Volunteers
CHCV is looking for volunteers of any age to join us for the coming gleaning season. We know the need for food is not going away any time soon for those that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. You can help feed our community! Interested volunteers can register at https://www.communityharvestvt.org/volunteer and then they will be invited to join all our gleans and other volunteer projects which they can then RSVP to join us as they have time. The majority of our work is outside with plenty of space for distancing and all volunteers wear face coverings as long as the state guidelines last.

Come join our community of committed volunteers that want to make sure ALL have access to the great food local farmers grow and keep any surplus they have from going to waste. Join us in feeding our hungry neighbors nutritious local food while making new friends and visiting beautiful local farms.

In 2020, 276 volunteers donated 2,443 hours and 5,515 miles and through their dedication helped us donate more than 138,000 pounds of nutritious food. 30 organizations received the gleaned and donated food, who collectively serve 11,270 individuals in need in Washington County.

CHCV is an important donor of local, fresh produce to MSAC’s FEAST Senior Meals Program! Register to become a gleaner today: https://www.communityharvestvt.org/volunteer .

Activity Group and Virtual Social Time for Older Vermonters (phone-access friendly) Wednesdays, 2-3pm, free
A new weekly activity group for seniors! In an effort to help stave off feelings of isolation and loneliness, COVID Support VT has created a weekly phone-friendly activity group. You can chat, play games, and connect with others.
Call 2-1-1 and then press #2 with any questions or visit their website for more information: https://covidsupportvt.org/new-weekly-activity-group.../.

Fuel and Food Assistance Available
Vermont seniors may be eligible to receive fuel assistance if your household income is equal or less than 185% of the federal poverty level, regardless of resources. It is possible that people who live in your home will not be in your Fuel Assistance household, such as a caretaker, which means their income will not be counted when determining your eligibility. Visit this site: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/fuel-assistance, call the State’s benefits center at 1-800-479-6151, or call the Senior Helpline at 1-800-642-5119 to learn more or get help to apply