Hi All,
First, gratitude. Thank you all so much for the outpouring of support! This has manifested in donations of supplies, time/energy, LOVE, and money. Please know every dollar goes right back to the community. The Rainbow Response Team is working hard to assist as many as we can reach in the downtown Barre area. Please reach out to us if you have needs, stop by the center at 81 N. Main Street (just across from Subway), or wave us down if you see our teams around town. We are here for you. BIG thanks to all the awesome volunteers going above and beyond to support this community. The center will be opening at 10am today (Friday) and will be open ’til at least 5pm. In addition to our amazing PEOPLE POWER, we have available for FREE to our community:
bottled water
clothing (adult sizes Large, medium, and kids stuff is on the way!)
shoes/sandals
linens
FOOD (Fresh, canned, and packaged options)
basic hygiene and medical supplies
pads/tampons
toys and stickers for the kiddos.
Batteries
and more
Finally, we offer COMMUNITY. If you need a place to connect, chat, link up with resources, etc. please come by The Center and see what we got!
COMMUNITY ASSESMENT:
The demand for water remains high. Many are still impacted by the lack of electricity, running water or clean running water. Many are still experiencing disruptions to their access to healthcare, pharmaceuticals, family/support networks, housing, supplies and so on. This disruption is powerful and will have to be addressed now and in the future. PEOPLE POWER remains in high demand. The Team is moving through the city, assisting when and how they can.
WHAT’S NEXT? Despite all the work needing to be done, other challenges are on the horizon and action should not be delayed if we wish to honor our people and our Earth. This is why we are calling on local leaders to fight for human-centered policy. Now is the time to survive and repair, but what of thriving? What of policy and investment and action that adds to the sustainability and dignity of human life in Barre and beyond? In addition to all the work we have before us, now is also a time to LEARN. The devastation we’ve experienced… it doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t need to repeat. But it will if we do not learn and act accordingly.
KNOWLEDGE WE NEED:
Socioeconomic: What are the effects of the flood on people that were already unhoused? For those fortunate enough to have shelter when the storm hit, who was affected by the flood? Where do they live and how does poverty factor into their ability to survive, recover and thrive? Our work in the field has shown poverty to be an exacerbating factor in recovery. Is destruction and disruption disparate in our community based on household wealth? Did discrimination or racism factor into relief or recovery efforts, or capabilities?
Environmental: The local water system has been inundated with hazardous materials. What can we expect the short, medium and long term effects of this to be? What of microplastics? What was the impact to our air quality?
Disruption analysis:
-Healthcare (Access to Providers, caregivers, respite, and pharmaceuticals)
-Transportation
-Physical Infrastructure (Electric, potable water, sewage/drainage, internet)
-Social Infrastructure (COMMUNITY, support groups, education)
Information on these questions can be turned into investment and policy-making guidelines for years to come. WE CANNOT WAIT. Right now, in the midst of the ruin and trauma, is a tiny glimpse into the future of our world if we REFUSE TO LEARN and REFUSE TO ACT. Even if you do not believe that climate change has anything to do with this, it should be obvious we can do better with our infrastructure and support to uplift humanity in our region and protect the small slice of earth we occupy. We are caretakers here on this planet, whether we like it or not. Refusal to embrace that understanding from policymakers will limit our ability to adapt and overcome. It aint personal folks, but it is LIFE, and the clock is ticking.
One last, important need we have right now from LOCAL LEADERS:
We all know that Barre is a hub for human support services. Many of our amazing nonprofits were impacted by the flooding. Some will be unable to resume services quickly, and for some the future is even more uncertain. We need a safe, functional community space for these organizations to hold their services, their meetings, their support groups, etc. We are here to serve the people, but we need the space to do it. We are asking local leadership to source a home that local nonprofits can use for this purpose. Please help us, so we can do what we do best.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Connect with us online, message us anywhere, email info@rainbowbridgevt.org. Come by The RBCC (81 N. Main Street) 10 am-5pm. Call or text 802.355.6316. Donate- we have a good amount of supplies but we could use money. We are providing direct relief, on delivery, when and where we can. We can do more with your support. The RBCC is a 501(c)(3) and donations are tax deductible under the full extent of the law.
Thank you, and love to you all.
Yours,
Shawn
