Where to donate funds, goods to help families, businesses and organizations

By Cynthia Prairie and Cara Philbin
@2023 Telegraph Publishing LLC

Small businesses, organizations and individuals have all suffered from the floods of July 10, 2023. Below is a list of fundraising efforts in our communities. We are concentrating on highly local efforts. If you know of other such efforts, please e-mail them in the format below, including a description of the need, to cprairie@chestertelegraph.org.

THIS ARTICLE will be updated as new needs come in. Please return often and give when you can.

 

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WESTON

Organizer: Friends of Weston Community Inc. to “carry the burden of fundraising, allowing the organizations to focus on the work of recovery.”

Recipient: Nonprofit organizations throughout Weston including:

• Weston Volunteer Fire Department, which was submerged in 5 feet of water;
• The Weston Community Association, which owns the Playhouse and museums that were flooded;
• The Weston Theater Company, which lost performances and equipment at the Playhouse;
• The Little School, which lost equipment;
• The Weston Recreation Center among others. Non-profit organizations in Weston wishing to request funding may contact friendsofthewestoncommunity@gmail.com.

Goal: $50,000

To Give: Click here.

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WESTON

Organizer: The Little School of Weston

Recipient: The Little School of Weston

River water rushed through the property bringing almost 5 feet of water into the basement and a path of destruction through the outdoor space. A complete replacement of major mechanical systems and rebuilding of the grounds is needed in the next several weeks to prepare for the 2023-2024 school year.

Goal: $50,000.

To Give: Click here.

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WESTON

Organizer: Steve and Lynn Smith

Recipient: The Weston Village Store

The floods left the family business with major structural damage and a huge loss of inventory. All donations will be used toward the reconstruction of the store to enable the shop to reopen.

Goal: $150,000

To Give: Click here.

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WESTON

Organizer: Erin Kirk-Elkin

Recipients: Ali Ulrich and Mark Weigand.

Ulrich and Weigand recently bought a family home in Weston. In the early morning hours of July 10, Ulrich shot the video to the right from her home. Three cars were completely submerged, a barn was under at least 6 feet of water and flood waters destroyed floors, furniture, appliances and family mementos on the first floor. They were evacuated with their three dogs and personal items they could grab.

Goal: $25,000

To Give: Click here.

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LONDONDERRY

Organizer: Bobby Gray

Recipient: Mike & Tammy’s Main Street Deli

More than 2 feet of water rushed into Mike & Tammy’s Deli and convenience store and its adjacent Maple Leaf Diner. Food and grocery items were destroyed, and equipment has been ruined.

Goal: $15,000

To Give: Click here.

 

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CAVENDISH

Organizer: Amy Perry

Recipient: The Happy Hound Salon

As volunteer firefighters, Perry and her family “concentrated all their energy working to help their community and left their house and business to the flood.” They lost everything in their basement, as well as her entire shop and business.

Goal:$15,000

To Give: Click here

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PROCTORSVILLE

Organizer: Debra Reynolds

Recipient: Stone Soup Concrete

Owner Mike Paulsen makes custom concrete countertops, hearths, and custom furniture. He recently moved his 22 year-old business to the old Black River Produce building in Proctorsville from western Massachusetts. His shop took five feet of water that left a thick mud behind. Many of his tools and materials will need to be replaced for the Stone Soup to get back into business.

Goal: $5,000

To Give: Click here

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CHESTER

Organizer: Rebecca Riley

Recipient: Becca Riley and Justin Weisblatt

Insurance will cover some of the flood-damaged Gassetts house, but the contents of the one-story home are not covered. That includes beds, couches and dressers, among other items.

Goal: $5,000

To Give: Click here.

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GASSETTS

Organizer: Nancy Ramos

Recipient: The 13-member Ramos family, whose home and farm was damaged during the flooding. Water filled the basement and came up to the front door and inside the house. They lost fences, power –including running water — vehicles and nearly all of their outdoor property.

Goal: $2,000

To Give: Click here.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce, with the approval of the Town of Ludlow

Recipient: Contributions can be designated to a particular town or directed to specific projects

To Give: Click here.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Operation Ludlow is a group of volunteers collecting all non-monetary donations

Recipient: Anyone in need of food, water and supplies

Goal: View Wish List on Amazon.

To Give: Drop off supplies at the Ludlow Community Center, 37 Main St., between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Black River Good Neighbor Services

Recipient: Black River Good Neighbor Services

The long-running nonprofit, which operates a food pantry, thrift shop and furniture store,  distributes free food and provides rent, fuel and other aid to low-income Vermonters.

To Give: Click here.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Penny Longley

Recipient: Windsor County Youth Services

Windsor County Youth Services develops and implements crisis prevention, as well as early intervention programs. It lost the contents of its Mountainside House on Route 131, which shelters youths in need. The devastation also forced the displacement of its minor tenants. Funds will help replace “the contents at Mountainside House, appliances, furniture, food, electronics” and more.

Goal: $10,000

To Give: Click here

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Jake Baraw, co-owner Eight Oh Brew

Recipient: Eight Oh Brew

The shop, which opened just over a year ago at 145 Main St. #106, suffered a total loss.

Goal: $150,000

To Give: Click here.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Nick Arduini and Ryan Colburn

Recipient: Tacos Tacos restaurant

The restaurant suffered a total loss of contents in the basement, including a “freezer, industrial fridge, hundreds of shirts/hoodies, food/paper products, a stove, steam tables, burrito steamers, among other items.” Mud must be removed prior to basement remodeling.

Goal: $15,000

To Give: Click here.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Weston Nicoll and Gamebird Restaurant

Recipient: Ludlow service industry employees who have been displaced

Goal: $4,000

To Give: Click here.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Vermont Fresh

Recipient: Mojo Cafe

The business lost the entire heating systems in its basements, all of the coolers and freezers that support their restaurant, their cars, belongings and machinery. They also need monetary support.

To Give: Click here to purchase gift cards on their website.

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LUDLOW

Organizer: Rebecca Prasse

Recipient: Blue Duck Deli

The business, which has been undergoing renovations for a year, was a month shy of opening. It lost much of its tools and supplies and likely the attached garage, which shifted in the floods and may have compromised the entire building, which doubles as their home.

Goal:$30,000

To Give: Click here.

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