HAPPENINGS - HomeShare Vermont
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HomeShare March 2022
HAPPENINGS
40 years
A Warm Welcome in Westford
A
former business owner who has lived in his West- the Democratic Republic of Congo who works for a care-
ford home since 1985, Scott, age 60, wants to giving agency, has been with HomeShare Vermont since
remain in his home 2011. Neil lived in various
for as long as he can. He has homeshare matches over the
put a lot of sweat equity into past decade, providing him
his home and truly loves the affordable housing options
place. Plus, his father and while he was enrolled in col-
cousin both live down the lege courses. “Homesharing
road, and Scott has been has a lot of benefits. It was a
involved with the family good experience to meet
maple-sugaring and rasp- new people and I learned a
berry farm. Years of moto- lot from living with them,”
cross and enduro racing Neil explained. He recently
took a toll on him physi- reached his goal of getting
cally, so it’s a challenge find- his own apartment.
Photo by Gillian Randall
ing work that won’t be too Scott also has Shams, 52,
taxing on his body. Extra as a homesharer. A native of
rental income from home- Neil, Scott & Shams India, he left his career in
sharing is important since the airline industry during
he’s currently not working, so he rents out two rooms in the pandemic and found a job as a postal worker in Ver-
his home. mont. Since he was from out-of-state, Shams needed
While financial reasons are a priority for sharing his HomeShare Vermont’s help finding affordable housing
home, Scott does enjoy having other people around and in the area. Having travelled to 65 countries while work-
liked the idea of sharing a meal or watching a show ing for the airlines, Shams is adaptable and was ready to
together sometimes. It was important to him to find give homesharing a try. Scott has provided a welcoming
housemates who shared his desire for a neat, clean, and place as he gets to know Vermont.
peaceful home. With two rooms available, that adds Now Scott is eager to see if his fifth housemate with
another layer of complexity since the two homeshare HomeShare Vermont, who just moved in earlier this
guests need to be compatible as well. month, will be as good as the others. “This program works
Until very recently, one of those housemates was Neil, for me. The staff has been awesome, and all the housemates
a long-time homesharer himself. Neil, 52, a refugee from are very good. It’s just a great program,” Scott said.
HomeShare Vermont (802) 863-5625 www.HomeShareVermont.org
Home & Away Raffle
We have two great prizes for two lucky winners of our Home & Away Raffle.
HomeShare Happenings One raffle prize is a $500 gift certificate to Gardener’s Supply! They have wonderful
March 2022
stores in Vermont, and an amazing catalog of all sorts of home and garden items. So,
BOARD OF DIRECTORS whether you live in Vermont or far away, you can enjoy this gift. (gardeners.com)
PRESIDENT The second raffle prize is a 2-night stay for up to 4 people in a cottage on Lake Cham-
Margaret Cicchetti
plain’s Missisquoi Bay, located in Swanton, Vermont. Relax and decompress, watch the
VICE-PRESIDENT beautiful sunset, enjoy swimming, kayaking, or fishing the best bass and northern pike ter-
Hobart Popick
ritory on the Lake. Located 1 hour from Burlington or Montreal, immediately adjacent to
TREASURER
Brian Stark
great hiking in the Missisquoi Wildlife Refuge.
SECRETARY
(Value $800)
David Porteous
www.lakechamplaincottages.com
Frank Driscoll Raffle tickets are $20 each or 6/$100.
Alison Friedkin We will only be selling 250 raffle tickets!
Mary Harwood
The last day to purchase raffle tickets will be
Elizabeth Meyer
Tuesday, April 12 and we will announce the
Lis Mickenberg
winners at our storytelling event on April 14th.
Radetta Nemcosky
Maria Pietrafesa-Kind
Ingrid Pixley
Meg Pond
Kelly Stoddard Poor In Remembrance
Vermont recently lost an amaz- I find it thrilling to see how
STAFF VOLUNTEERS
ing woman and volunteer. Ruth people learn and work things
Cathy Bergeron
Barenbaum was the driving out. HomeShare hosts and
Barbara Buchanan
force of bringing homesharing guests come to us with various
Marty Garrett services to the residents of Ad- issues they are looking to solve,
Connie Kenna dison County. She saw a need, staying at home or finding a
Radetta Nemcosky contacted HomeShare Ver- home they can afford. It’s very
Joan Palmer mont, and wouldn’t take no for rewarding,” Ruth said back in
Rene Rubbins an answer. She worked tirelessly 2008.
on outreach and recruitment Photo by Karen Pike Ruth also volunteered with
STAFF and training of other volunteers. Due in large Meals on Wheels and became a Tai Chi in-
Kirby Dunn part to Ruth’s efforts, HomeShare Vermont structor at age 80! She was a collage artist
Amy Jelen has now served Addison County since 2006. and avid gardener. For 25 years, she was an
Kathy Johnson Ruth also worked with the program as a instructor and literacy tutor, helping adults
Aaron Retherford Staff Volunteer, interviewing participants, learn to read and write. She was featured in
Joyce Touchette often in their homes, attending case confer- a New York Times article in 1989 for an inno-
ence meetings with volunteers and staff, and vative program she helped establish to
creating and sustaining successful homeshar- encourage her students to become authors as
ing matches for 13 years. a way for them to learn to read and write.
“Each of us has something to give to our We will miss Ruth but know the world
community. It’s our responsibility as citizens. is a better place for all of her good work.
HomeShare Vermont (802) 863-5625 www.HomeShareVermont.org
“Cheers to 40 Years”
An Evening of Storytelling / Online or In Person
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Doors open at 6 pm • 7 pm Stories begin
The Double E Performance Center at the Essex Cinemas
Storytellers
Moth award-winning storytellers Sue Schmidt and
Kevin Gallagher will headline the event
Music
Live music by The Brevity Thing.
Dave Ball (guitar, harp), Jom Hammack (mandolin),
Artwork by Bonnie Acker
Steve Goldman (upright bass)
Food & Drink
Goody Bags • Dessert • Cash bar
Tickets $40
Filming by The Media Factory
TICKET ORDER FORM
Name ________________________________________________________________ Special thanks to our Sponsors:
Address _______________________________________________________________ Platinum
City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________________
Hickok & Boardman Insurance Group
UVM Medical Center
Daytime phone _________________________ Email ______________________________
Gold
I/We plan to attend: Storytelling Event tickets @ $40 each = $_______ Langrock, Sperry & Wool
I would like to make a donation to HomeShare Vermont = $_______ Stark Law
In Person o
Home & Away raffle tickets @ $20 each or 6 for $100 = $_______ Silver
Online o
AARP-VT
Total Amount = $_______
Enclose check, payable to HomeShare Vermont, or pay by credit card. EverNorth
Mercy Connections
Visa/MasterCard # ___________________________________ Exp. Date _______________
Northfield Savings Bank
Total Amount = $ _________________________________________________________ Peet Law Group
Cardholder’s name (please print as listed on card) ______________________________________ People’s United Bank
Signature (required only for credit card transactions) _____________________________________ Bronze
The fine print on tax-deductibility: $20 for event tickets, and $0 for raffle tickets. Margaret & Bert Cicchetti
VHFA
TO ORDER TICKETS BY MAIL: TICKETS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SALE:
HomeShare Vermont, 412 Farrell St., Suite 300 On our website: HomeShare Vermont.org
South Burlington, VT 05403 Or by calling our office at (802) 863 -5625
HomeShare Vermont: Improving lives and communities
by bringing Vermonters together to share homes.
412 Farrell Street, Suite 300, South Burlington, VT 05403
Thank You Judy !
and Going Strong I n 2006, a devoted group of volunteers
worked to get HomeShare Vermont
services up and running in Addison
This year we are celebrating our 40th Anniversary. It all
County. Shortly thereafter, Judy Sperry
started with Sally Conrad and the RSVP Program
Photo by Karen Pike
looking for ways to help older neighbors continue to
Gibbs got involved as a Staff Volunteer
stay at home with a bit of help and Project HOME was with the program. She proved to have the
born! With the assistance of amazing volunteers like perfect skillset for interviewing Home-
Polly Rowe and Dorothy Black, and UVM researchers share Hosts and Guests and making great matches. Judy
Fred Fengler and Nick Danigelis, they developed this says, “I think my combination of being a registered nurse and
program from scratch. Today we are one of the
a realtor was helpful. I knew my way around the county and
strongest and largest homesharing programs in the
country and provide technical assistance to others who I loved meeting the people and t1rying to help them.” Judy’s
want to get a program started in their communities. thoughtful and direct personality—combined with her dedica-
Over this next year we will be celebrating our suc- tion to fitting volunteering into her busy schedule—have made
cesses and acknowledging the many people who were her truly invaluable to HomeShare Vermont. Judy is now re-
so instrumental in growing this tiny but mighty pro-
tiring from this role, but you’ll still see her volunteering at Neat
gram. We hope you will join us either in person or on-
line for our Storytelling event on Thursday, April 14th. Repeats. Thank you, Judy, for the time and energy you have
shared for so many years!
HomeShare Vermont (802) 863-5625 www.HomeShareVermont.orgYou can also read
