By Mad River Valley Community Fund Board of Directors
Long before even the existence of the Mad River Valley Community Fund, the concept of friends helping neighbors flourished in the Mad River Valley. Sometimes just a few phone calls got someone a badly needed ride to a medical appointment. Sometimes, as today, a well-publicized campaign replaced a lifetime's worth of possessions lost to a devastating fire.
Most people are just plain good people and, if able, are ready to help out those less fortunate who are having trouble meeting their family's daily needs: adequate shelter or basic nutrition. The urgency is heightened when young children are involved.
But how is that connection made in our increasingly scattered society? That's where the Mad River Valley Community Fund comes in. We don't offer ongoing support; that's the job of various state and federal agencies. But we do help bridge the gap for those who, through no fault of their own, have a one-time need.
The community fund has been helping people in our community for more than 25 years. Today we may help a young, single mom who can't get to work because her car broke down or an older couple whose fixed income won't cover unexpected health expenses. A loss of job, divorce, or illness can bring anyone to the brink.
It's impossible to know who might need help or why. It could be you. The Mad River Valley Community Fund has been blessed with your generosity over the years. Because you understand the need to help, we have been able to give many a leg up financially and otherwise.
Over time, we have learned that solving food insecurity and coordinated interfacing with state and federal support services can avert many emergencies The Williams Endowment and Challenge plans to do just that. Through our current appeal we hope to grow the community fund's capacity to find solutions that might decrease the need for our services.
Our community and its almost visceral appeal so movingly depicted in the recently produced documentary Almost There is a great place to visit but an even greater place to live. The 25-year tradition of the Mad River Valley Community Fund helps makes it so. Please consider making a donation to the Arthur and Hanne Williams Endowment Fund before January 15 in order to take advantage of the dollar for dollar challenge.
For more information go to www.mrvcommunityfund.org or call 802-496-3638.
Thank you.
Mad River Valley Community Fund board of directors: Jon Jamieson, president; Jim Caffry, Tony Egan, Thomas Mehuron, Susan Neill, Judith W. Phelon, Duane Pierson and John Williams.
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