The HUB: Connecting people to resources in times of crisis
As Woodstock and surrounding towns are continuing the recovery process after recent historic flooding, a new local group is playing an important role in helping those who are impacted.
The HUB, a project of the Woodstock Community Trust, connects people with assistance and key resources in times of crisis, whether on the individual or community level. It serves the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading and Woodstock.
The HUB can assist with bills directly, but can also direct the applicant to resources and assistance for a variety of needs. A number of local volunteers work with The HUB, led by the leadership team of Jill Davies, Marian Koetsier, Denise Lyons and Meg Seely. Those in need can simply reach out to The HUB directly, and volunteers are ready to coordinate assistance.
Seely said part of the value of The HUB is that it communicates with other organizations that can help.
“We streamline things for the applicant, so they don’t have to tell their story over and over and over again,” she said.
For health-related needs, for example, The HUB can connect applicants with the Ottauquechee Health Foundation. Oftentimes, people may not know which organization to reach out to.
“I think it’s crucial,” Seely said about the work of The HUB, “and it’s not so much about the grant making we’re doing, it’s just that a lot of residents don’t have a lot of the personal connections.”
Though The HUB had its official start within the past year, the concept grew out of prior efforts. Woodstock volunteers created a local relief fund in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, and they did so again during the recent pandemic with the Woodstock Area Relief Fund (WARF). The experience during the pandemic gave more impetus to the idea for The HUB.
“We came out of it thinking, ‘We should create a permanent organization. We should be ready for the next disaster,’” Davies said, adding that The HUB also helps people experiencing an individual crisis.
It so happened that, seven months after The HUB was officially formed, extreme rains brought catastrophic flooding to Vermont on July 10 and 11. There was significant damage in Woodstock and surrounding towns, and some lost their homes and businesses. During it all, The HUB set about its work and was ready to help the community. Now, The HUB is assisting over 70 applicants.
In one example, Davies said, there was a couple in Plymouth that needed to rebuild their driveway after the flooding, and The HUB was able to pay for that. The couple is working with FEMA and other organizations as well, since there are a lot of home repairs needed, too. Aside from coordinating funding, The HUB is also able to help people with their FEMA paperwork, Davies added.
In another example, an individual had lost his wages after the flood and couldn’t afford a fee to return to nursing school.
“We paid the school deposit and a few of his bills, so he could stay on track,” Davies said.
The HUB is comprised entirely of volunteers, except for one part-time strategist and one part-time administrator. Every dollar that comes in as a donation goes right back out in the form of a grant to help an applicant, Seely noted.
Seely, who spent 10 years with the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) and has chaired its board, said her friends at VCF describe The HUB as unique in the state, and they want to stay informed of its progress. Seely said a key feature of The HUB is that the applicant is at the center of the work. Many times, she said, volunteers end up being “a listening ear” at a time when people need that most, while also being a connector to resources.
“It’s not a top-down model,” Seely said. “I think that’s what motivates us as volunteers. We’re looking at things differently, listening to people instead of telling them what to do.”
— Gareth Henderson
Go to WoodstockCommunityTrust.org, scroll down slightly, and click on “Apply for Assistance” to apply to The HUB, or click on “Give Today” to donate to the effort.
