Olivia Wilson reported this story on assignment for the Vermont Community News Group. The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost.
With the holiday season underway, many Vermonters are asking themselves what they can do to give back to their communities. Sonja Paulson with United Way Northwest Vermont is herding volunteers in the Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin counties.
“Vermonters really care about each other — there is such a large sense of community, and everyone just wants to be a team and help each other,” Paulson said.
She said she’s received an influx of emails asking about opportunities to give back.
“Let’s find something that fits your needs as well as helps out whatever nonprofit you want to work with,” she said. Whether you’d prefer to sell raffle tickets, cook holiday dinners or bring kids some holiday cheer, there are opportunities everywhere.
Santa might be a little busy this year — that’s why they need as many elves possible at the station when the Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation’s Polar Express arrives at the Wing building at the bottom of King Street. Volunteers can dress as elves and cheer the kids on as they ride by.
Burlington Dismas House is a community made up of people transitioning from incarceration. The organization provides housing and a “family-like” structure, according to its website, and this season the team there is looking for volunteers to help cook Christmas dinners and join house residents for a meal. The relationships created during times like those are just as important as the donations, the group says.
Feeding Chittenden, founded in 1974, fights against food insecurity in the county by supplying groceries to families in need. Located on North Winooski Avenue in Burlington, the nonprofit serves hot meals on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Volunteering is sign-up only.
If you don’t have the time this year, there are other ways to help. The United Way of Northwest Vermont, Common Good Vermont and other organizations lay out ways to give year-round. Anyone can donate money, food or other essentials to local charities and nonprofits around Vermont.
According to Common Good Vermont, one in seven Vermont workers are employed by nonprofits, and nonprofits add “$334 million in federal tax revenues.”
Paulson said United Way is committed to bringing local people together with businesses, policymakers and organizations to help meet community needs based on areas served.
“There’s a lot more behind the scenes work that gets done,” said Paulson proudly, regarding nonprofits cultivating a space where community members’ voices mean more.
When approaching the topic of volunteering, Paulson said it’s okay to think selfishly sometimes.
“Volunteering can help your mental health and wellbeing,” said Paulson, “and just kind of help in feeling a better sense of community.”
Not only can it help reduce stress, but volunteering can also create a sense of meaning that people might need around the holiday season. Paulson, an Iowa native, is new to the Vermont scene but said she can already sense things are done a little differently in the Green Mountains.