From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 8/15/25
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!
Executive Order
The recent Executive Order on “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” confuses poverty and homelessness with criminality, further undermining the health and wellbeing of our communities. This Order criminalizes homelessness and will only serve to perpetuate homelessness by neglecting its root causes. We urge policy makers to support proven practices to end homelessness by investing in housing, shelter, economic opportunity, and mental health and substance use services. CVOEO has opened 6 shelters in the past 5 years to address homelessness. It is time that we all think deeply, work hard, and develop long-term solutions.
CVOEO will continue to lead with compassion, hard work, and proven strategies that uphold the rights and dignity of all people. This Order is a broken reminder of our collective mission rooted in justice, courage, and an unclouded vision to build a community where each person is valued, has access to opportunity, and can achieve their full potential.
Addison Community Action and Mountain Health Partnership
Mountain Health will now provide healthcare services one day a week at our recently relocated Community Action Office in Middlebury. We are doing this provisionally as we continue to work out details for a long-term partnership. Mountain Health, based in Bristol and serving Addison County, is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing healthcare to people with low income, primarily in rural areas. This is an important community partnership as it provides easier access to a range of services for individuals and families from our Community Action Office. Feeding Champlain Valley’s Addison Food Hub also has a strong partnership with Mountain Health in its Food as Medicine Program, which includes hot and cold food lockers located at Mountain Health in Bristol.
Thank you to the Addison County Community Action team for their leadership and vision!
Health Roots Partnership with Bi-State Primary Care
Bi-State Primary Care will fund Feeding Champlain Valley’s Healthy Roots Collaborative to expand the Northwest Farmacy CSA produce prescription program in partnership with Northern Tier Center for Health (NOTCH). We anticipate having 40-45 enrollees with a focus on expansion in Grand Isle County. We are working with two farms (Darby Farm in Alburgh and Sandy Bottom Farm in Isle la Motte) to provide alternative ways to access our healthcare CSA through free selection directly at the farm stand and home deliveries.
Samaritan House Golf Classic and Fundraiser August 15
This is a perpetually sold-out community celebration that supports Samaritan House’s emergency shelter, Tim’s House. Thank you to Ben who leads this event with grace and humor, to the whole Samaritan House team who helps this be such a wonderful event, and to our community volunteers and to our awesome development team.
Feeding Champlain Valley Culinary Team and COTS Back to School Event
In addition to hot meals for our Community Resource Center and the Champlain Place, the Feeding Champlain Valley Culinary team gets meals and food out throughout Chittenden County. Justin and Charlie created fifty bagged lunches for the COTS back to school event.