2026 Coins for Community Organization Voting

Vote now for your town’s monthly Coins for Community partners for April 2026 – March 2027!

Poll closes March 29th at 11pm.

Organization Info

Primitive Transport

Primitive transport is a community-focused bike organization working to make the Northeast Kingdom more walkable and bike-friendly. The group installs bike racks, host educational and safety seminars, and organizes walking and biking events that bring people together. By partnering with local organizations and communities, Primitive Transport promotes multimodal transportation and advocates for safer infrastructure on streets, in neighborhoods, and across local campuses.

Hope on the Rise

“Since 2012, Hope on the Rise has offered no-cost fly fishing retreats to women at any stage and with any type of cancer. Our retreat is held in Vermont and serve women who are residents of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. HOTR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our organization and our retreats are 100% volunteer managed.

Our Hope on the Rise (HOTR) retreats offer participants an opportunity to learn the essentials of fly fishing. As our weekend retreats unfold, a journey of healing begins. Participants immerse themselves in the excitement of a new adventure. Their worries fade with the cadence of their first cast. Friendships emerge and lives are enriched by the sharing of experiences. There is reflection, anticipation… hope.

As volunteer board members, 3 of 5 members live and work in the Northeast Kingdom. Kirby and St. Johnsbury. One of our founding members, Carroll Ruhlman has worked and served as a nurse for many years here. We serve many local women who are interested in connected with nature and each other as they go through the healing process.”

Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS)

Based in Newport, VT, Green Mountain Farm-to-School (GMFTS) is a nonprofit organization that strengthens Vermont’s local food systems by building economic relationships, education, and access between schools, farms, and communities. We advance this mission through three program areas: hands-on farm-to-school education for over 2,000 PreK–8 students; food hub operations that support 60 Vermont food producers and connect them to 133 institutional and retail markets; and food access initiatives that improve food security and food-based skills for over 1,000 community members. Together, these efforts expand access to healthy, affordable local food while strengthening farm viability in Vermont, particularly the Northeast Kingdom region.

Lyndon Youth Softball and Baseball League

“The Lyndon Youth Softball and Baseball League is a community-based program dedicated to providing local youth with the opportunity to learn, play, and grow through organized baseball and softball. Our league serves children and families in the Lyndon area and focuses on building teamwork, sportsmanship, confidence, and a love for the game in a positive and supportive environment.

The league is entirely community-driven, relying on volunteers, families, and local support to maintain our facilities and keep participation accessible for all youth who want to play. Our fields are an important gathering place for the community and serve as a space where young athletes can develop skills, build friendships, and stay active.”

Northeast Kingdom Cancer Action Network (NEKCAN)

“The Northeast Kingdom Cancer Action Network (NEKCAN) is a locally founded nonprofit created by Northeast Kingdom residents to help neighbors who are battling cancer. We understand how difficult a cancer diagnosis can be—not only physically and emotionally, but financially as well.

NEKCAN raises funds to provide direct financial assistance to cancer patients in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties who are currently undergoing treatment. These grants help families cover everyday expenses such as travel to medical appointments, groceries, heating fuel, rent, and other basic needs so patients can focus on healing rather than worrying about bills.

Since our founding in 2022, NEKCAN has provided more than $250,000 in grants to local cancer patients, including over $96,000 in 2025 alone. Every dollar raised stays right here in the Northeast Kingdom, helping local families during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

NEKCAN is powered by local volunteers, donors, and businesses who believe in neighbors helping neighbors. Together, we are working to make sure no one in the Northeast Kingdom faces cancer alone.”

Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium

The Mission of the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is to inspire wonder, curiosity, and responsibility for the natural world.

The Fairbanks Museum was founded in 1889 by St. Johnsbury industrialist Franklin Fairbanks.

Inside our classic Victorian building, you’ll find a dazzling array of animals and artifacts, gems and meteorites, shells and fossils, and much more! Take a trip through the cosmos in Vermont’s only public planetarium. A full calendar of events, workshops, lectures and field programs invites everyone to explore the nature of our world.

When Franklin Fairbanks opened the doors to this Museum in St. Johnsbury, Vermont over a century ago, he invited all of New England to see beyond the horizon by bringing exquisite examples of natural science and beautiful artifacts from around the world to his home town. His “cabinet of curiosities” grew to include our National Historic Register building, a triumph of Victorian architecture, the cornerstone of St. Johnsbury’s Victorian Main Street. Inside, our collections include:

natural science specimens (mounted birds, mammals, reptiles and fish; insects; nests and eggs; shells; fossils; rocks and minerals; herbarium) Fairbanks Family legacy (items reflecting the travels and business interests of Franklin and Frances Fairbanks; archival photographs and documents), ethnological items collected from Oceania, the Near East, Africa, Egypt, Japan and native North America during the Victorian era. In our Fred Mold Hall of Science and Soucy Family Exploration Station, interactive displays invite visitors to have fun with light, sound, gravity, motion, electricity, wind, and magnetism. Our Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium, Vermont’s only public planetarium, opened in 1961 and continues to offer guided tours of the cosmos every day.

Since 1981, meteorologists at the Museum have produced Eye on the Sky weather programming that is broadcast daily on Vermont Public and regional radio stations. 

Easterseals VT

For more than forty years, Easterseals VT has built a strong reputation for providing meaningful, family-centered support to children and families across our state. In collaboration with the Vermont Dept. for Children and Families (DCF), we work to promote safety, stability, and well-being for at-risk children, foster youth, and families formed through adoption or guardianship. Each year we serve nearly 200 children and their families throughout the Northeast Kingdom.

Village Improvement Society (Powers Park)

Village Improvement Society (Powers Park) has served area communities for over 105 years. Our mission is to provide fun, affordable and healthy recreation opportunities for local children and families and to promote physical activity in a safe and convenient outdoor setting. We ensure that all enrolled children are provided with high quality swim and tennis instruction during our 8 week summer program. We serve over 400 children from Lyndon and surrounding towns. We also have groups and businesses use the pool and picnic area for events like company picnics, graduations and family reunions.

Umbrella, Inc.

“Umbrella’s mission is to cultivate a Northeast Kingdom where all people thrive free from abuse and oppression. We believe that oppression and the systemic abuse of power is at the root of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, teen dating violence, human trafficking, as well as violence related to gender or sexual orientation – which in total we characterize as gender based violence. We seek to embody a world where those who have been disempowered by poverty, discrimination and other obstacles are able to live peaceful, self-directed lives. We offer a variety of programs that directly benefit this community, including:

Advocacy Programs – Providing support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Social Change Programs – Educating and engaging the community in prevention efforts.
Family-Based Services – Supporting families through childcare resources and supervised visitation.”

St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels and Meal Site

We are the St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels and Meal Site. This program delivers nutritional meals and does wellness checks for those who are unable to leave their home. Hot meals are delivered on Monday through Friday and when needed on weekends. WE ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN A MEAL. We cover the towns of St. Johnsbury, East St. Johnsbury Passumpsic, Waterford and Danville. We are also supporting the Gilman Meal Site with meals for their recipients. Our kitchen is at the St. Johnsbury House. We only have 3 staff members and 23 volunteers who ensure our meals are prepared, cooked, and delivered on time every day we serve them. Our excellent Chef’s meals meet the nutritional standards and guideline of the Older Americans Act as well as individual dietary needs such as gluten free, diabetic, and individual medically tailored meals. Each meal costs us around $10.00 with an average donation of less than $.76 cents per meals. In 2025 we served 32,206 meals. We also self paid 2,000 of those meals. Please support this much needed program in our community.

Neighbors in Action

Neighbors in Action is an organization that runs with a small staff and a huge volunteer base to provide food security to the people of the NEK. We provide bi-monthly food share boxes, as well as hosting events that help combat loneliness, and build stronger communities for residents in our area.

EB and Johnny’s Ticket to the Game

“EB and Johnny’s Ticket to the Game is a Vermont-based nonprofit dedicated to providing children and families the opportunity to attend live sporting events who otherwise may not be able to due to rising ticket costs and financial hardship.

Our mission is simple: create lasting memories through the power of live sports. By removing financial barriers, we give young people the chance to experience the excitement, inspiration, and connection that comes from attending professional and collegiate sporting events — often for the very first time.

Our mission is simple: create lasting memories through the power of live sports. By removing financial barriers, we give young people the chance to experience the excitement, inspiration, and connection that comes from attending professional and collegiate sporting events — often for the very first time.”

Locally Social Gives

We are a charitable organization committed to improving the lives and communities of individuals and families within Caledonia County, in times of need.

For the Love of Dogs

Vermont We help rescue dogs in Vermont as well as Southern States, where abandoned dogs are at an all time high. We are a completely volunteer organization. Last year we helped adopt out over 2,000 pups!

Discover St. Johnsbury

Discover St. Johnsbury’s mission is to stimulate and promote the vitality of downtown St. Johnsbury’s cultural, commercial, and community assets. We do this by producing beloved community events that bring thousands to our downtown, like St. J Final Fridays and Kingdom Maple Festival; by supporting local businesses through network building and direct support; and by promoting all that St. Johnsbury has to offer to locals and visitors alike.

St. Johnsbury Kiwanis

The St. Johnsbury Kiwanis is a local chapter of Kiwanis International. Kiwanis is an organization devoted to the serving children through improving childhood nutrition, health, education, literacy, and youth leadership development.

Fenton Chester Ice Arena

Fenton Chester Ice Arena provides skating for area youth hockey, figure skating, adult leagues, three high school hockey teams, learn-to-skate, school and homeschool skating, and public skating. In the spring and summer, turf is used to host indoor athletics as well as trade shows and concerts. Fenton Chester also operates a concession stand and pro shop.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Corpus Christi Parish Conference of Caledonia County, harnesses the power of community and partnerships to feed, clothe, house and heal individuals and families in our community who have nowhere else to turn for help. Our volunteer members, known as Vincentians, are compelled by our Catholic Christian Faith to serve those in our community who are in need and suffering. Vincentians provide immediate and direct relief to those who need food, rental assistance, fuel and utility bill assistance, transportation assistance, clothing for all seasons, bedding and more. Your donation will have an immediate impact to those in need and help to provide access to life saving partner organization services. The Corpus Christi Parish St. Vincent de Paul Conference serves Caledonia Country residents based on need and not religious affiliation. In Faith, Hope and Love of our neighbors we invite you to support this vital and local charitable Catholic Mission of Mercy.

Burke Senior Meal Site

The Burke Senior Meal Site provides nutritious meals to our seniors through MOW. We also serve meals in house to seniors who come to the meal site for a wonderful lunch, community activities and the socialization that is so important to their well-being. We deliver to seniors in Burke, Sutton and Newark. We have seniors come to the meal site from Burke, Sutton, Victory, Newark, Lyndonville, St. Johnsbury, Barnet, Danville and Concord. We offer Bone Builders Exercise Class, Line Dancing, Bingo, crafts, blood pressure checks and other activities and fundraisers.

Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA)

“NEKCA is a leading organization in the NEK addressing poverty through education, partnerships, and community organizing.

Believing in each individual’s potential for positive growth and change, NEKCA (Northeast Kingdom Community Action) is committed to empowering the most vulnerable Vermonters to improve the quality of their lives. We provide community-based activities, essential supports, connections to resources, and skill building opportunities to all members of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

NEKCA serves 1046 households and 1879 individual residents of Caledonia county annually with the following support programs: Fuel Assistance, Housing and Homelessness Services, Food Access, Financial Literacy Supports, Youth Programming, Parent Child Center Family Supports, Children’s Integrated Services, Head Start and Early Head Start Childcare.”

Cobleigh Public Library

The Cobleigh Public Library is a welcoming municipal library that provides programs, books, public spaces, computers, and other services (such as tax assistance, printing, copying, and even scanning) to our patrons. We serve residents in Lyndon, Vermont and neighboring towns, including Sheffield, Sutton, Saint Johnsbury, Burke, Kirby, Newark, Wheelock, and East Haven. The library connects people of all ages with opportunities to explore and develop a life-long love of reading. Built in 1906, the Cobleigh Public Library is more than just a place with books, as it also provides patrons with an opportunity to enjoy three story-time sessions per week, learn basic computer literacy skills every Tuesday morning, and socialize in groups like our monthly Book Club and weekly Chess Club and Dungeons and Dragons Team. Patrons can even check out several unconventional items from the library, including portable cell-phone chargers, wood moisture meters, laptops, a blood pressure monitor, footballs, basketballs, a microscope, snowshoes, board games, puzzles, and more.

Green Mountain Broadcaster: Magic 97.7 and Kix 105.5

We are 2 local radio stations: Magic 97.7 and Kix 105.5.

Sheffield Food Pantry

The Sheffield Food Pantry is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3, serving over 100 families in the nine town radius of Sheffield. Twice per month food is distributed to anyone in need. Staffed by a cadre of local volunteers, the Pantry provides fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry and canned goods. Emergency provisions and home delivery to shut-ins are also available.

Rhythm of the Rein

We are a 501c3 therapeutic horsemanship program who serves individuals with physical and emotional challenges. Most of our clients come from the northeast kingdom and north central Washington counties. We serve some of NKHS clientele as well. We have been serving our communities for 25 years now.

NVRH Auxiliary

NVRH Auxiliary is dedicated to serving the patients and medical staff of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. We raise funds to support volunteer efforts like knitting prayer shawls, cast covers and baby caps. We offer a wish list for items the medical team feel would enhance visitor experience, but outside thei budget. We also provide high school scholarships to students pursuing a career in medicine.

St. Johnsbury Recreation Department

The St. Johnsbury Recreation Department serves community members of all ages and abilities by offering a wide variety of programs, events, and experiences that promote a physically active and healthy lifestyle.

Northeast Kingdom Preschool and Childcare

Northeast Kingdom Preschool and Childcare provides safe, affordable, high-quality early childhood education and care, where learning begins with play, for families in Lyndonville and the surrounding communities. Our families are encouraged to be ambassadors of the program in support of this mission. NEKPC is a non-profit organization.

Helping Other People Everyday (HOPE)

H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday Inc.) has been in Lyndonville since 2009, and has been offering free services to those in our community that require life’s basic necessities. Our mission has always been to help in a loving and compassionate way, and in doing so, we hope to instill a desire to help others. We operate a thrift store in downtown Lyndonville, stocked almost entirely with donations from community members, where our charitable organization is based out of. Over 15 years ago, we started the first Backpack Program in our region, which provides bags of food to children from 9 area schools facing food insecurity over the weekends. This program has grown to be the most significant service we offer, and has the largest impact to our community. We also provide homeless services to those who find themselves suddenly homeless, emergency services for those facing a flood or fire, free clothing vouchers to anyone in need, and operate an emergency food pantry, all from within our thrift store location, just to name a few. We do all of this with no federal, state or local government funding; all of our work is funded through donation.

Lyndon Rescue

Lyndon Rescue is a non-profit ambulance service based in Lyndonville, serving nine communities in the Northeast Kingdom since 1972. It provides 24/7 emergency and non-emergency response and medical transport, and is striving to promote community health services, such as CPR education and child passenger seat checks and services. Our motto is “Caring for the Kingdom.”

Vermont Children’s Theater, Inc. (VCT)

The Vermont Children’s Theater (VCT) is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that provides free summer theater programs for NEK-youth aged 7-19. Every child or teen who auditions is included in one of the three casts, which present their productions to the community during the month of July. Our goal is to provide a safe place for children and teens to stretch their creativity, build confidence, and foster friendships, while improving empathy, teamwork, resilience, literacy, communication and problem solving. These skills not only contribute to the well-being of our young people now, but benefit them far into the future. In addition, we help support drama programs in local schools by lending them costumes, props, and set pieces.

Mustard Seed

The Mustard Seed soup kitchen serves those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity. The soup kitchen is serving food 6 days a week, as well as offering a safe space for those who need it. Our staff and volunteers are always available to provide not just a nutritious meal or a cup of coffee and a sandwich, but a listening ear and a safe caring environment.

Kingdom Animal Shelter

The Kingdom Animal Shelter is a cat only shelter in St. Johnsbury, VT.

Our mission statement is:

Kingdom Animal Shelter is a limited access, primarily volunteer, non-profit certified 501(c) (3), animal rescue organization. Our mission is to facilitate the placement of rescued, abandoned, abused or neglected animals in safe, life-long homes. We respect the inherent value of every animal in our care and we strive to prevent overpopulation and cruelty to animals.
Website is: www.kingdomanimalshelter.com

We are asking to be considered for Coins for Community for 2026-2027. All donations received will be used for the direct care of the cats, including spaying and neutering, vaccines, food, litter and necessary supplies. Thank you for considering our shelter.