December Newsletter
CVRAN Wishes You a Happy Holidays and New Year!
This newsletter serves as a roundup of our non-urgent news, community events, neighborhood stories, and more. If you have content you’d like to be featured in our newsletter please feel free to send it to Ali!
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Pictured left: a New Vermonter’s very first Christmas tree!
Monthly Roundup
We’re wrapping up fundraising in 2025 with deep gratitude and real momentum, having already raised $115,000. Thanks to a matching opportunity of up to $8,000, every gift made before January 1 goes twice as far. Please consider giving today! We’re still working toward our $150,000 goal as we carry this effort into January.
CVRAN is excited to partner with Hearts You Hold, a Vermont nonprofit that funds critical household and seasonal items for immigrant families nationwide. Two of our families have already benefited, receiving snow gear, car seats, and even snow tires! This new resource is helping us meet additional needs it would be challenging or highly expensive to otherwise fill. Please feel free to reach out to Ali or Isabelle if you know of a family request that could be posted to HYH.
We are also recent recipients of a Vermont Community Foundation Special and Urgent Needs Grant to continue our SNAP Relief Grant Program, which provides critical monthly food assistance to families who lost SNAP/3SquaresVT eligibility due to immigration status. This support allows us to sustain a safety net for households facing sudden gaps in nutrition benefits while longer-term solutions are pursued, ans especially as green card approvals remain on hold for many New Vermonters.
We are working to strengthen Vermont’s emergency response infrastructure in partnership with Migrant Justice, which operates a statewide immigration emergency hotline at 802-881-7229. Monitored 24/7 in case of detention-related emergency and available in English and Spanish, this hotline helps ensure that families facing urgent threats can access rapid, reliable support. We also encourage community members to sign up for text alerts about ICE activity in our region using this link.
Several of our partner organizations are expanding their teams to meet growing community needs. Vermont Asylum Assistance Project (VAAP) is hiring legal assistants and attorneys, Vermont Afghan Alliance is recruiting a new executive director, USCRI-VT is seeking a finance coordinator, and Community Asylum Seekers Project (CASP) is hiring a case manager (must be based locally in Southern VT). This wave of hiring strengthens the collective capacity supporting immigrant and refugee communities across our state.
Recent Events & Articles
Migrants Have Food, Services and Holy Communion Brought to Farms
Jill Martin Diaz: Gov. Scott’s silence fuels immigration chaos — and harms Vermonters
After Fleeing Danger at Home, Refugees in Vermont have Faced the Loss of Food Assistance
Federal judge orders release of Afghan trucker detained 104 days in ICE custody
Community Highlights
One of our families has been exploring the Holiday traditions in Vermont, which are all new to them. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, they were able to attend the lighting of the tree at the State House, and even met with Governor Scott! They also decorated their own tree for the first time (as seen above). We are moved by our volunteers’ energy and generosity, and this family’s openness and curiosity to learn about different traditions, and to find the light and joy of the season despite challenging times.
Volunteer Spotlight
Kathie O’Connor
Kathie has worn many hats at CVRAN for the past 7 years including but not limited to: volunteer, volunteer coordinator, team leader, board Vice President, and building general manager on two housing projects!
Kelly says, “Kathie has been a rock and a rock star. I can’t believe how much she has been able to get done, especially managing the renovation of two Downstreet / CVRAN collaborations. She is also generous with her time and knowledge. She is the first contact I had at CVRAN, as she was the volunteer coordinator when I signed up. She was patient with problems and always answered my questions–she still does!”
Kathie’s favorites:
– Food: anything Italian
– CVRAN moments: watching the tenants’ eyes light up when they saw their new Randall apartments for the first time; seeing the kids bond over soccer and the playground; taking a friend multiple times to Morse Farm for creemees.
– Book recommendation: Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss
Want To Help Out?
Here are some current volunteer needs from our Volunteer Coordinator, Isabelle Tibi:
- For the first two weeks of January only:
- A family needs help driving their 2 year old to and from daycare, all in Montpelier. Their regular team of volunteers is away, Mom cares for a baby and does not drive, Dad commutes to Rutland for work three days a week. Please help this family maintain their routine!
- You can sign up for as little or as much as you would like during this time frame. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are priority days. Mornings around 8:45 am, afternoons around 3 pm.
- An introduction to the family and the car seat will be organized ahead of time. The car seat can be provided. Must be comfortable and able to help a toddler get in and out of a car seat.
- Weekly support, starting in January:
- Another family needs help driving their 2 year old to and from daycare, all in Montpelier. Drop off between 8 and 9 am, pick up at 3:30 pm. You can sign up for your preferred day or days, morning or afternoon.
- An introduction to the family and the car seat will be organized ahead of time. The car seat can be provided. Must be comfortable and able to help a toddler get in and out of a car seat.
You’re Invited!
Click to expand each calendar item
January 4
January 6
January 7
Local Film Screening: Gone Guys
North Branch Nature Center – 713 Elm St, Montpelier
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
January 10
Kids Trade & Play Clothing Swap
Capitol City Grange 6612 VT-12, Berlin
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
January 20
CVRAN’s Quarterly Meeting
Bethany Church – 115 Main Street, Montpelier
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
January 29
Art Gallery Reception: Mark La Rosa and Matt Delligatti – Zooming In
North Branch Nature Center – 713 Elm St, Montpelier
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
