Vermont Connector

10/14/2026

Did you know that 1 in 2 U.S.families (half of all families!) with young children struggles to afford diapers? You can help Vermont families keep their littles clean, dry, and comfortable in Vermont Connector's fall diaper drive.

You can help! For two more days you can leave your (unopened) packages of diapers and/or wipes inside the lobby of NorthCountry Federal Credit Union at 1049 North Ave, Burlington, during business hours

You can also ship diapers directly to us through our Gift Drive platform 👉 https://www.giftdrive.org/drive/285

Donations will support a community baby shower and help restock the North End Food Pantry.

10/11/2026

Burlington Elks Lodge 916, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union, and Vermont Connector are teaming up to host a community baby shower for 50 families nominated through COTS, Head Start, and Burlington School District. Families will receive diapers, wipes, baby-proofing supplies, and board books.

You can help!

Donate diapers and wipes October 8–16 at North Country Federal Credit Union, 1049 North Ave, Burlington. PLEASE NOTE: Drop-off is in the lobby DURING BUSINESS HOURS ONLY.

Prefer to shop from home?

Order through Gift Drive, and your donation will be delivered straight to us to share with families!

👉 https://www.giftdrive.org/drive/285

Thank you for helping local families feel supported! 💛

10/07/2026

🍼 Have you swapped with Vermont Connector or received gear from the Baby Product Exchange? Join our drawing for a spot at an upcoming Community Baby Shower we’re co-hosting with the Elks Club in Burlington!

If chosen, you’ll receive diapers, wipes, baby-proofing supplies, and board books, and enjoy a sing-along and kids’ activities.

To be eligible, you must have a child ages 0–3 and attend in person. Comment below with what you appreciate about the Exchange and you'll be entered into our raffle.

💛 Ten eligible families will be randomly selected. We’ll reach out to selected participants via Messenger with details!

10/07/2026

Earlier this year we partnered with Voices for Vermont's Children to create a 2026 Election Issues Guide. Designed for caregivers, parents, and community members to learn more about the candidates running for statewide office like governor, state senator, or state representative, as well as where they stand on the issues that affect kids and families.

Download the full guide here: https://www.voicesforvtkids.org/2026-election-issues

10/06/2026

We're partnering with NorthCountry Federal Credit Union to host a diaper and wipe collection!

WHERE: 1049 North Ave, Burlington, IN THE LOBBY
WHEN: October 8-16 during business hours
WHAT: Unopened packages of diapers (all sizes) and wipes

Look for the Vermont Connector collection tote inside the lobby.

PLEASE NOTE: The credit union will be closed October 12 for Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

PLEASE DO NOT leave donations outside the credit union outside business hours.

Your donations will help our upcoming community baby shower and restock the New North End Food Pantry. Every contribution helps!

10/01/2026

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. 💙🩷
And while not every loss is visible, the grief is real.

For many families, a pregnancy or infant loss means grieving a child they loved, a future they had already begun imagining, and milestones that may continue to carry weight for years to come.

It can also be an incredibly lonely kind of grief—especially when people don’t know what to say and end up saying nothing at all.

This month, we’re holding space for the parents and families in our communities who've experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, pregnancy loss, or the death of an infant.

You don’t need the perfect words to support someone. And sometimes you don't need any words at all: just be present and listen without trying to fix the grief. And keep checking in long after everyone else has stopped asking.

💙 Need support—or know someone who does?

Empty Arms Vermont offers free peer support for individuals and families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, infant loss, or termination for medical reasons.

National support is also available through Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support, Inc. including online groups, peer support and free grief resources.

09/30/2026

🤝 Want to get more involved in your community?

Vermont Connector’s VT Nonprofit Volunteer Directory has been updated! It’s a simple way to find organizations across Vermont that could use your time, skills, and support.

Whether you want to:
🌱 Get more involved in your community
💪 Help your favorite nonprofit fill capacity gaps
⏰ Volunteer a few hours or share a specific skill
📋 Find opportunities to meet community engagement requirements for public benefits

There are lots of ways to make a difference.

🔎 Explore the updated directory:
https://www.vermontconnector.org/vt-nonprofit-directory

Small contributions of time can add up to stronger organizations and stronger communities.

09/29/2026

📋 Work requirements for some public benefits are changing.

New federal rules will require some Medicaid recipients to complete 80 hours per month of qualifying activities, such as work, education, or community service. The requirements are expected to begin in 2027, with exemptions for many individuals.

✅ Find out if the requirements may apply to you:
https://dvha.vermont.gov/medicaid-work-requirements-screening-tool

🤝 And explore our updated directory to find a volunteer opportunity here:
https://www.vermontconnector.org/vt-nonprofit-directory

Beginning in January 2027, a new federal law makes many Vermonters complete work requirements (also known as community engagement requirements) to get or keep Medicaid.

09/25/2026

What better way to draw attention to 9/25 than highlighting Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and diving into a good book with a young reader?

The Imagination Library started with a simple idea: give children books of their very own and help foster a love of reading long before they ever walk into a classroom.

Today, that idea reaches children and families all over the world — including right here in Vermont.

Through the Imagination Library, enrolled children receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail every month from birth until age five.

That means more bedtime stories.
More “read it AGAIN!”
More favorite characters.
More little imaginations getting bigger every month.

And behind every book is something even bigger: the chance to build language, curiosity, connection, and a lifelong relationship with reading.

Know a Vermont family with a child under five who would love to participate? Tag them below or share this post so they can sign up.

And thank you to Dad Guild and the Burlington Rotary Club for sponsoring the Imagination Library in Chittenden County!

To find a partner near you, check out

Find Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Affiliates In The USA