October Newsletter

October 31, 2026 Ali Zenie 0 Comments

We hope this message finds you well as we settle into the colder months of another Vermont autumn. As always, we’re excited to share stories from our work and the impact of a community that continues to show up for immigrant neighbors with generosity, kindness, and practical support when it matters most.

Monthly Roundup

A note from CVRAN Board President, Kelly McCracken:

I am writing to share some reflections from my perspective as the board president and as a volunteer team leader and member (multiple teams!). I am both blown away by what our organization is able to accomplish and overwhelmed by the scope of need and the increasing fear and confusion that surround us. Our volunteers and staff, along with the network of organizations with whom we collaborate, do incredible work every day!!! For all of us, it is inspiring and fulfilling to be a part of it. And as the political environment continues to lob new threats, we are feeling the impact of that purposeful instability in our community.

We are fielding more and more inquiries from immigrants and their friends throughout Vermont who hear about CVRAN and seek our help. And even though we prepare and anticipate, we are having to say no. It is hard to convey how heart-breaking it is to decline to help someone who needs assistance and feels desperate. And it accumulates, as we have to say no more and more, it takes a toll. We create as many programs and policies as possible to offer as much as we can, but our resources – our staff, volunteers, and finances are limited. We are always right at capacity (strike that – we are always right over our capacity!) and we have a duty to protect our staff and volunteers and to serve those to whom we have already committed.

We work to streamline, to recruit, to raise money. Our end-of-year fundraiser will launch in November, and of course we appreciate your generosity. But in addition to financial giving, I want to speak to the spiritual generosity that powers CVRAN.

We sometimes struggle, we argue, disagree, and misunderstand each other. We feel burdened and overwhelmed. I am so grateful for the patience and the grace that I experience among our staff and volunteers…I definitely benefit from it and I also try to spread it. I see the same from our community – so much gratitude and good will. There will always be conflict and disappointment, not only are we human but we are operating in an environment that is designed to disrupt our success. Thank you for tolerating the painful moments, uplifting the small moments, and celebrating the large wins.

As we prepare for our annual Fall Fundraiser, you’ll soon receive a letter in the mail outlining the growing needs we are seeing across central Vermont and the impact supporters make possible. This year’s campaign goal is $150,000 to help ensure that immigrant and refugee community members can access critical resources, including health insurance premium assistance, food programs, immigration legal fees, transportation support, interpretation services, and other essential needs that help families remain safe, stable, and connected.

In addition to our mailed appeal, we’ll be sharing updates throughout the campaign via email through Givebutter. We hope you’ll follow along to learn more about the individuals and families behind this work, the challenges they face, and the collective impact our community can make when we come together. Every contribution helps ensure that Central Vermont remains a welcoming place where newcomers can access the support they need to thrive.

Thank you to everyone who joined CVRAN’s October Quarterly Meeting. The gathering included an overview of our new Health Insurance Premium Subsidy (HIPS) Program, which helps eligible community members access and maintain health insurance coverage, as well as a thoughtful Q&A session about the range of support and services offered through CVRAN’s in-house programs.

To help community members, volunteers, and supporters better understand our work, we have developed a new one-page overview describing our current program areas and the types of assistance available. We encourage anyone with questions about program eligibility, enrollment, referrals, or service navigation to reach out directly to Ali Zenie. As we plan for the coming year, we also welcome conversations with donors who are interested in supporting a specific program area that aligns with their passions and priorities. Please contact ali.zenie@cvran.org to learn more.

A reminder for asylum seekers and their supporters: It may be time to pay your Annual Asylum Fee (AAF). The current fee is $105 per year per asylum case and must be paid to the agency handling the case: USCIS for affirmative asylum cases or EOIR for cases pending in immigration court.

CVRAN is proud to have covered this fee for all asylum seekers in our network during the first year of implementation. However, beginning next year and for any additional years that a case remains pending, families will be responsible for paying these fees themselves. CVRAN will continue to provide technical assistance and guidance with understanding payment requirements and navigating the process. If you have questions about whether a fee may be due in your case, please contact Ali at ali.zenie@cvran.org.

Have you heard that CVRAN is giving out free Crop Cash Plus coupons to client families? In a partnership with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT), CVRAN is offering our clients free coupons to be used at eligible farmers markets all over Vermont. Coupons can be exchanged for meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, fruits, or vegetables. Together with the JBI Food Box Partnership and SNAP Relief Grant Program, this is another way we can ensure New Vermonters have access to affordable and nutritious food. If you or a client family you volunteer with is interested in being part of this program (or receiving more Crop Cash Plus if you enjoyed the first round!), please reach out to ali.zenie@cvran.org to coordinate a distribution!

You may or may not know about CVRAN’s Refugee Food Box Partnership, in collaboration with Just Basics, Inc. and Hunger Mountain Co-Op. This program started in November 2025 and provides local immigrant households with free weekly food boxes that include culturally familiar staple foods such as rice, flour, beans, and halal chicken. The program is designed to help families access foods that meet their cultural, religious, and household needs while reducing barriers to food security. This program was funded in 2025-26 by local donors and Northfield Savings Bank.

Food boxes are available for pickup at the Montpelier Community Market (formerly the Montpelier Food Pantry), 79 Barre Street in Montpelier. Participants may pick up their boxes on Friday mornings (during quieter program hours) or on Saturday mornings when the market is open to the broader community. If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, contact Isabelle at isabelle.tibi@cvran.org to learn more about eligibility and enrollment.

As temperatures drop, CVRAN is partnering with Bethany Church and the United Church of Northfield to support a winter clothing and emergency supplies drive for community members facing the cold months ahead. Current needs are especially high for tents, sleeping bags, winter coats, and warm socks.

Donations can be arranged by calling 802-223-2424, or items may be dropped off at Bethany Church on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If you would like to help distribute donated items once the collection period ends, please contact Ali at ali.zenie@cvran.org. Together, we can help ensure all of our neighbors have access to essential winter gear and protection from the elements.

Over the next few weeks, CVRAN will be launching a community survey to gather feedback from clients, volunteers, partners, supporters, and community members. Your input will help inform our upcoming strategic planning process, during which CVRAN’s staff and Board of Directors will develop a shared vision and priorities for the next three years.

The survey will be hosted through SurveyMonkey and available in English, Spanish, French, and Dari to make participation as accessible as possible. We encourage everyone connected to CVRAN’s work to take a few minutes to share their experiences, ideas, and perspectives when the survey is released. Your feedback will play an important role in helping us strengthen and grow our programs to best meet community needs in the years ahead.

A reminder of this exciting opportunity for Vermont state employees! CVRAN is participating in this fall’s VTShares Vermont State Employees Workplace Giving Campaign from October 26th through November 9th. Each fall, state employees make a pledge to the nonprofit of their choice. Those funds are then collected through payroll deductions during the following calendar year. Since 1978, these donations have totaled nearly 11 million dollars! Please click on this link to pledge your support to CVRAN and other charitable organizations. If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, don’t forget to pledge by Monday, November 9th!

Recent News

Poll shows majority of Vermonters disapprove of ICE enforcement actions (10/2)

Scott asks Trump administration to raise Vermont’s refugee cap (10/2)

Demonstrators protest Williston ICE facility during week of rallies (10/8)

Candidates for Congress face off over immigration, healthcare and voting in Vermont Public debate (10/8)

ICE is more active in Vermont. But federal data overstates it (10/13)

Behind tinted windows, ICE is watching (10/13)

ICE looks to boost staffing at intelligence hubs in Vermont (10/19)

Vermont is home to two of ICE’s surveillance facilities. Locals are pushing back (10/30)

Ways To Help

Do you have access to a pickup truck? CVRAN regularly needs help transporting furniture, donated items, and household essentials, so please contact Isabelle at isabelle.tibi@cvran.org to learn about volunteer opportunities where your vehicle could make a meaningful difference.

Two adults and their teenaged child are looking for urgent housing within Stowe to maintain access to their current employment. They may need housing as soon as two weeks from now – do you or anyone you know have an available ADU, an apartment available for rent, or are open to hosting? Please email maddie.tagatac@cvran.org to coordinate!

We’d love your help thanking our donors during our upcoming Fall Fundraiser. Volunteers are needed to write handwritten thank-you cards throughout the campaign. It’s a simple but meaningful way to show appreciation and strengthen the community that supports our work. To get involved, please contact Kelly McCracken at kelly.mccracken@cvran.org.

Volunteer Spotlight: Steve Klein

Steve’s involvement began in the spring of 2022, a few months after six Afghan families arrived in Montpelier. His wife, Priscilla Fox, was on the CVRAN board at that time. When the families arrived, they received about one year of state rental & other assistance, but they faced considerable uncertainty about long-term housing. The refugees were in family sizes of one to eight members, and housing was a particularly difficult issue for the larger families.

Together with Steve Dale, Steve began a project with CVRAN to develop long term housing. With the support of a newly-formed housing committee chaired by Kathie O’Connor, very active family friends, and strong support from the Montpelier and Central Vermont community, they were able to ensure that all the families’ housing needs were met. Kelly McCracken and Hope Crifo were also key in this effort. They collaborated with the Vermont Housing Authority, the Vermont Housing Conservation Board, and Downstreet Housing and Community Development, with support from the City of Montpelier and the Montpelier Housing Authority. Over the next few years, the CVRAN housing committee was able to secure long-term housing for many other families through continued work with community partners.

Kelly says “Steve is an incredible advocate and creative problem-solver. When someone says no, he thinks of another approach. He spent years working in state government and those connections help too, as does his sense of humor. He is such an asset to CVRAN!”

CVRAN roles: Steve has engaged with a refugee family as they navigate life in Vermont. This has involved issues of education, employment, and housing. He has also volunteered on the CVRAN Affordable Housing Committee and the Finance Committee.

Favorite CVRAN moment: “The early years of the housing project were extremely powerful for me. My favorite moment was working with critical family friends to secure a home for a family – accomplishing what seemed to be an unachievable goal. The strength of CVRAN volunteers over the years has been amazing.”

Favorite Vermont activities: Steve loves biking, which is his favorite mode of transportation. He can often be seen all around Montpelier on his electric bike. He has also enjoyed introducing refugees to kayaking, canoeing, live music, and other elements of Vermont life.