Local First Vermont Gives Back to Fuel Your Neighbors – For every Local First Vermont Coupon App sold in January, LFVT will donate $2 to the Fuel Your Neighbors Program-

Winter isn’t easy in Vermont, with temperatures frequently dropping below 0 and fuel costs rising, many Vermonters make difficult choices when budgeting their family’s basic needs. No one should have to choose between heating their home and feeding their family, that’s why Capstone Community Action offers food shelf and emergency heating assistance to Vermonters in need with the Fuel Your Neighbor’s Campaign. Local First Vermont (LFVT), a Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) program that advocates on the importance of supporting locally owned businesses, knows how crucial programs like Fuel Your Neighbors are. Financial struggles are often quiet struggles; the families of small business owners will also be faced with making tough choices this winter. LFVT will donate $2 to the Fuel Your Neighbors campaign for each Buy Local Coupon App activated with the code ‘FUEL19’ during the month of January.  

 The $2 donation by LFVT will immediately be doubled thanks to the Fuel Your Neighbors program partners, The Alchemist, National Life Group, Hickock & Boardman Insurance, North Country Federal Credit Union, The Point, Front Porch Forum, Cork Wine Bar & Market, and VSECU.  

 Capstone Community Action was founded in 1965 and works to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty and to create economic opportunity for people and communities. Their staff is committed to ensure that no Vermonter goes cold or hungry, Capstone operates the 3rd largest food shelf in the state. “Winter is a challenging time for thousands of Vermonters who may be forced to choose between basic necessities like food and heat,” states Sue Minter, executive director at Capstone Community Action. “We will help over 5,000 individuals and families with emergency food and heating assistance this year. We are asking those who can to take action and support our Fuel Your Neighbors  campaign to prevent our fellow community members from going to bed cold or hungry this winter.” Vermonters in need can call Captone’s emergency heating assistance hotline for help at any time day or night. 

 This year will mark the 3rd for Fuel Your Neighbors. Last year $91,000 was raised for the campaign, surpassing the first year’s $67,000, and this year’s fundraising goal is $100,000. The Fuel Your Neighbor campaign runs through March. “Fuel Your Neighbors not only keeps our most vulnerable Vermonters warm and well fed, but reminds us of the collective power we have as communities when we work together toward a common goal,” said Simeon Chapin, Director of Social and Community Development at VSECU, a Champion Member of VBSR. “It’s exciting to have Local First joining this powerful effort by empowering a network of local-loving Vermonters to support both our downtown businesses and our neighbors in need.”  

 “We have the chance to empower our neighbors and strengthen our communities by supporting programs like Fuel Your Neighbors” said Local First Vermont Program Manager Melissa Kosmaczewski. “Here at Local First we’re excited to help Capstone meet this year’s fundraising goal by donating with each mobile app sold in January.  All Vermonters deserve to be warm and well fed, every Winter.”