Vermont Catholic Charities Inc. has awarded 18 grants totaling more than $25,000 through The Bishop de Goësbriand Appeal for Human Advancement.

“Given the impact of Covid-19 on the daily lives of Vermonters, the Parish Social Justice Committee [that awards the grants] decided that this year’s awards are going to agencies which provide direct aid to clients with focus on food, shelter and emergency financial assistance,” said Mary Beth Pinard, executive director of Vermont Catholic Charities. “We recognize the importance of the work all the nonprofits which applied due in their communities, but given the immediate assistance individuals and families need, we made the decision to focus on basic needs.”

Funding for the program comes from the Ash Wednesday collection. Along with supporting these grants, the collection supports the work that Vermont Catholic Charities does, including emergency aid and prison transition assistance.

Moving forward, the grant program will have an area of focus each year. The Parish Social Committee will determine that focus and this information will be announced in the fall along with deadline and award dates through vermont-catholic.org and Vermont Catholic Charities’ Facebook page.

Receiving 2020 grants are:

Emergency Aid

Community Emergency Relief Volunteers (Northfield Falls) Funding will be used to provide emergency aid.

Joseph’s House (Burlington) Funding will be used to provide emergency aid. Joshua House (Derby) Funding will be used to provide emergency aid.

Food Assistance

Addison County Community Action — HOPE (Middlebury) Funding will be used for food assistance and emergency aid.

Faith in Action (Cabot) Funding will be used for food assistance to help those in need in the Northeast Kingdom and Washington County.

Good Beginnings of Central Vermont (Montpelier)Funding will go toward food assistance.

Martha’s Kitchen (St. Albans) Funding will go toward food assistance.

Meals & Wheels of Greater Springfield (Springfield) Funding will go toward food assistance.

South Burlington Food Shelf (South Burlington) Funding will go toward food assistance.

St. Brigid’s Kitchen (Brattleboro) Funding will go toward food assistance.

St. Brigid’s Pantry (Brattleboro) Funding will go toward food assistance.

St. Peter’s Parish/Vergennes Rotary Club (Vergennes) Funding will go toward food assistance.

Homelessness and Emergency

ShelterANEW Place (Burlington) Funding will be used to serve the homeless and provide emergency shelter.

Committee on Temporary Shelter (Burlington) Funding will be used to serve the homeless and provide emergency shelter.

John Graham Housing (Vergennes) Funding will be used to serve the homeless and provide emergency shelter.

Samaritan House (St. Albans) Funding will be used to serve the homeless and provide emergency shelter.

Spectrum Youth and Family Services (Burlington) Funding will be used to serve the homeless and provide emergency shelter.

Upper Valley Haven (White River Junction) Funding will be used to serve the homeless and provide emergency shelter.

—Originally published in the Summer 2020 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.