From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 10/21/25
At CVOEO, we believe in collaboration and transparency. That’s why every week Executive Director Paul Dragon shares a roundup of updates and initiatives to keep everyone, from our 300+ team members to the broader community we serve, informed and connected. Here’s what’s new this week!
20th Annual Wheels for Warmth Tire Drop and Sale - October 23-25
Wheels for Warmth is celebrating its 20th year helping keep Vermonters safe on the road while supporting the Warmth Support Program! You can participate by recycling or donating your used tires on Thursday, October 23, and Friday, October 24. Usable, inspection-ready tires are free to donate, while unusable tires can be responsibly recycled for a small fee. Then, on Saturday, October 25, you can purchase inspected tires at reduced prices. Every donated or purchased tire supports the Warmth Support Program ensuring Vermont families stay warm when they need it most. To learn more about specific locations, times, and tire prices, visit the Wheels for Warmth website at Wheels4Warmth.org.
CVOEO Emergency Services Director
Sarah Russell, former Special Assistant to End Homelessness for the City of Burlington, will be the new Emergency Services Director for CVOEO. Sarah will oversee all CVOEO shelters, help plan for any future shelters, oversee CVOEO’s risk management, emergency services planning and continuity of services plan, and provide safety and risk management training to the CVOEO team.
Fair Housing Project Team Connects with Burlington High School Students
CVOEO’s Fair Housing team met with Burlington City Lake/Burlington High School students to discuss housing barriers in Vermont. The students approached the topic with curiosity and empathy. Most of them were unfamiliar with fair housing laws prior to the discussion and were surprised by the many ways people can experience illegal housing discrimination in Vermont. A question from one of the students about redlining and the demographics of Burlington’s Old North End opened a good discussion about the disparate impact of Black people in America having lower incomes from being economically disenfranchised for generations and how poor people can be pushed into populating certain areas for various reasons.
The Mobile Home Park (MHP) Team Provides Statewide Support for Mobile Home Park Residents
The Housing Advocacy Program’s MHP team continues to provide steady, practical support for mobile residents. The team is currently collaborating with residents from Green Mountain Mobile Manor in Fair Haven, where the community is trying to figure out what to do now that the park will be closed and the residents have a window to purchase. The team spoke with one resident about a list of challenges they are facing, and the client left the call with clear next steps, and a plan for the residents to move forward. MHP staff explored a resident-led co-op option and state resources that could strengthen the community even if the town remains resistant to keeping the mobile home park.
The Chittenden Food Hub Reaches a New Milestone for Home Deliveries
The Feeding Champlain Valley food hub delivered food to 121 households in one week during the fourth week of September (9/22-9/26). This increase is due to establishing new site deliveries, efficiencies made in our delivery schedules, an overall increase in interest in home and site deliveries in Chittenden County, and through the fantastic effort by our team. We will continue to see increases beyond this as additional new delivery sites begin. On 9/30, we received a large order of winter squash gleans from the VT Foodbank, grown at The Farm Upstream in Jericho.
Ally from FCV with Kyle and Cory of VT Foodbank unloading the squash!
Sheldon/Healthy Roots Collaborative
Grand Isle School gleaned squash at Sandy Bottom Farm. Farmer Patrick welcomed the fourth graders out to his farm as a part of our VT Agency of Agriculture Farm to School Vision Grant. Over two years, we have been working to pair farms with schools in Grand Isle County engage in farm field trips, classroom visits, cooking lessons, and harvest dinners.
Feeding Champlain Valley (FCV) Culinary Team
Sixty-five people received a hot breakfast when the Community Resource Center reopened at 228 North Winooski Avenue in Burlington on October 1st. CRC visitors are expected to rise as people learn about the move and rediscover the FCV dining area.
Chef Charlie makes twelve gallons of beef chili.
NorthWest Family Foods (NWFF)
Feeding Champlain Valley’s NorthWest Family Foods had its busiest month in well over 2 years, seeing 752 families in September. Additionally, we received over two hundred boxes of cereal from a cereal drive from Bellows Free Academy St. Albans Interact group. Following the donation, NWFF hosted a group of 11 Northwestern Counseling & Support Services volunteers who helped put away donations and market rescue.