How does CVUUS want to meet the urgent needs of our unhoused neighbors, especially in freezing days? Thanks to the many who came to a special Congregational Conversation Sunday Dec 14, 2025 to learn about current efforts and propose new ones and to Margy Young for tracking our conversation in google docs where more can be added regarding this new CVUUS Social Ministry seed group. See here. We invite CVUUS congregants to join any of the community efforts listed below. Several are taking Homeless training coordinated by Michele Lowy in trauma-informed conflict resolution and de-escalation responses to skill up to support these and be ready if CVUUS wants to offer drop in hours itself.
Gather – Middlebury’s Community Living Room
Open Tues/ Thurs/ “Wellness” Fri/ “Music Jam” Sat 10 am – 2 pm at 76 Court St. If you are interested in serving as a host, contact Colleen Brown (jishu@breadloafmountainzen.
Charter House Coalition
Charter House could use outdoor weather items, especially adult GLOVES, hats, socks, hand warmers, rain gear listed on their entry bulletin board and in our lobby. Drop them off on their porch. CVUUS does Charter House Meal Prep every 2nd Monday of month 10 am and Wed following that 9:30 am. Thanks to those who help with making meals and baking cookies for Friday night community supper which you can see on the sign-up link or by asking Alan Moore, Michele Lowy or Revell Allen. Do you want to help expand our offerings? Some provide rapid response rides to cold weather emergency shelters or motel rooms arranged by Charter House. Contact office@cvuus.org if you’d like to be added to list of drivers or become a TVT Dial-a-Ride driver.
CVUUS Charles Ave Community Cupboard
Green Mountain Justice: An Invitation to Relational Ministry
Too many of our neighbors face the compounding forces of poverty, housing insecurity, and isolation. They need more than services. They need connection. Green Mountain Justice’s Neighbor Care Network links vetted volunteers with specific neighbors who need relational support. We call these volunteers “Neighbor Care Neighbors.” Your role? Be present. Listen. Open your heart to someone who needs to know they matter. This isn’t for everyone. We curate our volunteer network carefully. But if you feel called to help end the relational poverty at the core of so many struggles, we’d love to hear from you.
Learn more about what it means to be a Neighbor Care Neighbor here.
Hear powerful Voices from the Edge podcast stories here.
Questions? Contact Tom Morgan at tom@greenmountainjustice.
Green Mountain Justice is a Vermont UU Community Justice Ministry building beloved community through Care, Connection, and Collaboration.
Interfaith Affordable Housing Alliance
Formed by CVUUS after COVID to consider what could be done to relieve the housing shortage. Promotes HomeShare VT, ADUs, tiny houses and is mulling a development project. Follow its efforts here. Come to next meeting Mon March 16 at 7 pm in lower level.
Sharing Our Offering Plate
See the many related groups we’ve supported recently and over the years by sharing our worship service donation collection plate here
Homelessness Awareness Day of Remembrance
The Addison County Housing Coalition (ACHC) invited community members to participate in a candlelight walk and vigil to commemorate Vermont Homelessness Awareness Day 2026 on January 22, 2026, 4:30 pm – 6 pm in downtown Middlebury. See pictures taken by Jason Duquette-Hoffman here.
Addison County Homelessness Awareness Day 2026: Remembering Those We’ve Lost was planned in tandem with statewide Homelessness Awareness Day events on January 22, 2026. In recognition of those from the unhoused community who have died in Addison County, we we gathered for a candlelight walk through town, culminating at the Middlebury Town Green Gazebo for a brief vigil to memorialize those who are often forgotten.
Opening remarks by Heidi Lacey, Charter House Coalition Executive Director were followed by remarks from John Daigan Widell on behalf of the Breadloaf Mountain Zen Community) and the Naming of the those we’ve lost, followed by a moment of silence, then a closing prayer read together composed by BMZC’s Joshin Byrnes . See the names and prayer here: Homelessness Awareness Vigil Peace Prayer and Names