The Fairfield Community Center

Year in Review – 2011

Do you know…

• …that we served over 1300 senior meals this past year?

• …that our Food Shelf served over 1500 individuals in 2011?

• …that over 150 kids participated in vacation camps, Summer camp and after-school programs last year?

• …about our expanded cooking series?

• ….that we’re sponsoring some great after-school programs in collaboration with BNML?

• …that our seniors participated in numerous health and wellness programs at the Center last year?

• …that an average of 86 area seniors a month play Bingo at the Center?

• …that 2012 is our 20th Anniversary?

For 20 years, the Center has provided social, educational, cultural and essential services to Fairfield and surrounding towns. With expanded hours at the Food Shelf, a lively Senior Meals Program, plans for April Vacation & Summer Camp programs, the Community Garden and Grow-a-Row Project, continuation and expansion of Kids-In-The-Kitchen to include teen & adult classes, and more good ideas in the planning stages, it appears The Fairfield Community Center is still going strong.

We’re fortunate to have support and volunteer help from our area churches, from a number of businesses with ties to Fairfield, from CVAA, and from individuals throughout the year who are dedicated to ending hunger in Vermont, providing area seniors with a place to gather and share a meal, and promoting healthy and enriching programs for our children. We’re also fortunate to have the support of our Selectboard and the enthusiasm and help from Denise Smith, our town grant writer.

With the $12,500 matching grant from The Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services, we’ve just completed a weatherization project at the Center that included insulating the roof area of the building, air-sealing drafty areas, the replacement of weather stripping and a new exterior door. We anticipate a sizable reduction in our heating bills this winter!

A sizable grant from the Vt. Department of Education and Bernie Sanders’s office is allowing us to run a year’s worth of interesting and fun after-school programs in collaboration with the Bent Northrop Memorial Library. Some are held at the Library, some at the Center, and there’s something interesting and fun going on every month of the year.

A $10,000 grant from Franklin Grand Isle United Way is in part funding our part-time Food Shelf Coordinator, Jenn McAllister, as well as making it possible to improve the quality and variety of food in our Food Shelf. We’ll also be offering cooking classes for adults beginning in February, another positive result of the support of FGIUW.

The Fairfield Community Center’s team of staff and volunteers include:

Board Members: Rachel Huff, Jane Williams, Deb Paradee, Denise Kellner, Jane Dowbrowlski and Miles Herbert. Leaving the board, but not our circle of dedicated volunteers is Michele Bessett, a founding member of The Center, and respected member of the community. For your many years of thoughtful and insightful leadership, cooperation and friendship, we are eternally grateful, Michele. Thank you.   (We currently have one vacancy on our board. Interested in joining us? Call The Center at 827-3130 for more information.)

Nance Shaw, the Center’s part-time director (10 hours/week).

Jennifer McAllister – part-time Community Meals Cook and Food Shelf Coordinator (approx. 12 hours/week).

Donna Boucher – our reliable, unflappable, hard-working house cleaner.

Special Thanks go out this year to volunteers Jessica Gaudette, Linda Krygier, Bill Kittell, Joanna Jerose, Marianne Dubie, Brenda Goodhue, Tammy Johnson, Tyrone Shaw, Ann Mittlestadt, Anne Blanchard, Brian Jerose, Sorel Chaput, Bob Iwaskiewicz, Freda Burnor, Marie St. Pierre, and Deb Lynch; and to many others without whose help we’d not be where we are today. If you’d like to volunteer at the Center, we can always use the help. Everything from gardening to food distribution, helping with senior meals to sharing skills with kids at Summer Camp or helping with kids’ cooking classes. There’s lots going on… come and be part of it!

Happy New Year to All!

Respectfully submitted, Nance Shaw, January, 2012