Thanks for opening the first in this series of weekly updates on ways in which YOU can help out with Irene Relief efforts in the Upper Valley and our neighboring communities! **Irene Relief & You: Opportunities in HIGHLIGHTS** (see below for details) 1. Holiday Food Drive: help families celebrate Thanksgiving by donating to the Upper Valley Haven 2. Cooking for the Community: cook or bake fresh meals to be delivered to families by St. Paul's Church in WRJ 3. Monetary or Gift card donations: take your fundraiser to the next level! 4. COVER Home Repair Projects: help repair and weatherize homes in the Upper Valley 5. Reach out to individual families in need: grant their donation requests ************************************************************* DETAILS....... 1. Holiday Food Drive: Help families maintain Thanksgiving traditions by collecting the following items, which will be donated to the Upper Valley Haven: Cranberry Sauce Canned yams Stuffing mix Gravy Mix Instant potatoes Pie crusts Pie fillings Green beans Spices/herbs Canned soups Canned vegetables Other items always needed at the Haven Food Shelf: cereal, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, macaroni and cheese, snack items, canned fruit, baking items, rice, etc. Perishable items also welcome: Eggs, cheese, quarts of milk, butter, yogurt, beef, chicken, pork, fish, etc. **What you can do now: start fundraising, buying, and collecting needed items! **What to stay tuned for: collection box locations and when they'll be available ==> Have other items that you want to donate or other questions? Contact Nishreen Ali & Kelly McGlinchey (Palaeop) or Amanda Marinoff 2. Cook for the community St. Paul's Church has provided fresh food, meals, and emotional support to flood victims throughout VT. The volunteers continue to need support in providing these services to very grateful community members! Current Needs: - Baked goods (cookies, brownies, banana bread, etc.... get creative!) can be used every day - Fruits & vegetables -Casseroles: please serve in microwavable dish and label with ingredients -Soup: can be cooked and frozen in 1 gallon ziplock bags ==>To schedule days to cook, donate supplies, or receive more information blitz Amanda Marinoff or Wade Islan. 3. Planning a fundraiser but unsure of what to do with the $$$? *Take your bake sale one step further and use the funds raised to buy gas cards, grocery store cards, and/or gift cards to Home Depot or Walmart. St. Paul's Church in White River Junction will be donating these cards to families who lost many basic pieces of their lives in the storm. www.vters4vters.org is a grassroots relief organization looking for donations. 100% of donations go to help Vermont residents recover from Irene. *A number of other direct donation opportunities can be found at http://vtresponse.wordpress.com/donations-2/ ==> For more information blitz Amanda Marinoff or Wade Islan 4. Help rebuild and repair with COVER Home Repair COVER Home Repair is an Upper Valley affordable housing organization that is working to repair homes damaged by Irene. COVER will be working throughout the coming year to help residents of the Upper Valley affected by the tropical storm. ==> To schedule a build or for more information contact Zain (Muhammad Zain-Ul-Abideen) or Wade Islan 5. Reach out to families in need: grant their donation requests -Help a family who lost everything except the walls of her home. Suggested donation items: Kitchen items: dish towels, dishes, glasses, cups, cookbook, etc. Linens: towels, bed linens Items that make home feel like home: picture frames, decorations, clock etc. -Folding tables and chairs needed at the Wilmington Baptist Church (severely damaged from flooding during the storm) ==> If you're interested in helping, blitz Amanda Marinoff or Wade Islan 6. On-site volunteer opportunities: get in the action! -Volunteer at Bethel's Irene Recovery and Renew Center The center is looking for volunteers to help answer phones and work the morning shift 9-11Monday, Wednesday, Friday. If you are interested in volunteering, please call 802-234-2188. -Basement muck-out in Granville at a single family home: work can happen any day, starting at 9 am. Call 802-917-3179 if you are interested in helping with this on-going project. *For more updates on to-the-minute needs in VT check out http://vtresponse.wordpress.com/. ==> Need help coordinating your volunteer experience? Blitz Wade Islan or Amanda Marinoff.