Homelessness Awareness Day: Remembering Those We’ve Lost

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The Addison County Housing Coalition (ACHC) invites 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.

 Addison County Homelessness Awareness Day 2026: Remembering Those We’ve Lost is an event organized by the Addison County Housing Coalition (ACHC) and 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 will gather for a candlelight walk through town, culminating at the Middlebury Town Green Gazebo for a brief vigil to memorialize those who are often forgotten.

LED candles will be provided for those attending the event, with gratitude from the Porter Family Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation. Warm drinks and snacks will be provided at the gathering on the green, compliments of Middlebury College. We are also grateful to United Way of Addison County for providing material support for signage.

If you are interested in making signs, please come to United Way of Addison County, located at 175 Wilson Road, Suite 101, in Middlebury, from 10:30 to 11:30 am on January 22nd. All are welcome, and we will have supplies available; feel free to bring your own.

When

  • Date: Thursday, January 22nd, 2026
  • Location: Downtown Middlebury & Middlebury Town Gazebo
  • Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
  • 4:30 pm: Gather at College Park (across from Academy Street Bus Stop) in Middlebury
  • 4:45 pm: Candlelight walk down Main Street, culminating at the Town Green Gazebo
  • 5:15 pm: Candlelight vigil at the Middlebury Town Green Gazebo
  • 5:30 pm – 5:40 pm: Opening remarks (Heidi Lacey, Charter House Coalition Executive Director)
  • 5:40 pm – 5:45 pm: Naming of the those we’ve lost, followed by a moment of silence
  • 5:45 pm: Closing Remarks (John Daigan Widell, Breadloaf Mountain Zen Community)

CVUUS Unhoused Support Group Organizing to Expand Options

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 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.

Gather – Middlebury’s Community Living Room

Open Tues/ Thurs/ Fri/ Sat 10 am – 2 pm at 76 Court St.  If you are interested in serving as a host, contact Colleen Brown (jishu@breadloafmountainzen.org) and if you can offer a lunchtime casserole for Gather guests, contact Dinah Smith (dinah.smith@med.uvm.edu). CVUUS rapidly responded to the call for volunteers needed to open on Monday Dec 15 & 29 when there was need 10-2 for Charter House guests who reported feeling exceptionally welcomed. Gather is mulling expanded hours in 2026, especially evening thematic events inviting community groups to share their cultures or gifts.

Charter House Coalition

Charter House could use cold weather items, especially adult GLOVES, snow pants, hand warmers, listed on their entry bulletin board and in our lobby.  Drop them off on their porch or in the RE collection lobby bin by the ornaments. 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?

CVUUS Charles Ave Community Cupboard

Open Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sun 9-5 for anyone to take what they need.  Please leave items in the shopping cart located by the name tag board. Please avoid canned or glass jar goods in winter that can freeze. Snacks & breakfast cereals are popular.  See Cupboard wish list 12.25for desired items which are also posted in the lobby. Interested in helping out with the Cupboard?  We’re hoping to expand hours after the holidays…especially Saturday when food shelves are closed. See Hannah or Abi Sessions, Mike Greenwood or Karen or Evan Cooper.

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:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_SjcjEu3V8IP0kmdY9AqsAkIYddpL4rC/view?usp=sharing

Not ready for that commitment? Our list of critical needs for neighbors in care is still pretty full. See what’s needed right now: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15MLM6HI0C2G2UUG5htbl1D1RUM_iU3gd/edit

Questions? Contact Tom Morgan at tom@greenmountainjustice.org, Jason Duquette-Hoffman, Gordon Gibson,  Carol Kulczyk whose contact info is in our Breeze directory.

Green Mountain Justice is a Vermont UU Community Justice Ministry building beloved community through Care, Connection, and Collaboration.

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