Good morning, Folks.
A week ago today, the rain started. Many of us were caught off guard by this extraordinary storm. Most of us made it home safely and have persisted, doggedly, through the crisis. We learned today, however, that we lost a Barre resident to the water, Stephen Davoll. He is described by family as a man willing to do anything for his community. He will be sorely missed by those who knew his generosity. RIP Stephen. If you are family of Stephen and still need assistance with cleanup or supplies, please reach out to us. Today and everyday, we are grateful to be able to serve.
It has been a tough week. Don’t forget to sleep, eat, hydrate, BREATHE. We will overcome through perseverance. This challenge is an endurance marathon. Safety requires clear-headedness, patience, sustenance, and the strength to perform the difficult work we’re doing.
Let’s get to our UPDATE FROM THE FIELD:
There are poor people out here with absolutely nothing. Which includes the ability or the time to retrieve supplies. Mobile teams like the Rainbow Response are REQUIRED to get to our most vulnerable people. City of Barre, where you at? There are poor people working tirelessly to drain their homes, one bucket at a time if needed. We need portable power. We need generators and the fuel to power them. We need pumps. Hell, we need buckets and helping hands if that’s what it takes (and it’s often what we’re doing). We need dumpsters and help with removal. THE PEOPLE ARE STUCK. We need to bring them what they need and remove what is harmful to their health or inhibiting their ability to live with dignity, attend their wounds (physical and emotional), loved ones, etc. When the people are healed, the community is strengthened.
There are poor people in our city with wet floors, supplies delivered by The RBCC and neighbors, and NOTHING ELSE. There are kids living in wet squalor and NOTHING ELSE. We have got to do better. The Rainbow Response is learning a route through the city that hits our most impacted neighborhoods. Ground Zero appears to be the north end of main street, first and second streets, vine street, etc. LOTS of families, LOTS of need, LITTLE support. And of course there is widespread destruction beyond the north end.
Lastly, there are Barre residents that were displaced via evacuation or total destruction. They are in the smaller towns or woods surrounding our city and we would be wise not to forget them. Some are blessed with a vehicle, others are stranded. Again, a mobile response team will be necessary for leaders to fulfill their role as public servants.
We will be working hard again today with the help of so many new friends. If you want to volunteer for labor relief, please come to The Center at 81 N. Main Street in Barre, VT. There is a table set up just outside that is managing all incoming labor needs and dispatching folks as available. I wish I could say the list is small. Please join us if you can.
If you want to contribute in other ways, here is the UPDATE FROM THE CENTER:
NEEDS:
Baby Wipes, diapers
Deodorant
Razors
Paper towels, toilet paper
Toiletries
Dish soap
Bleach
Bleach wipes/antibacterial wipes, antibacterial cleaning spray
Flood buckets
Cat food and litter
Backpacks
Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, gifts for the kiddos
Gas cans (empty or filled with gas)
A generator (one that we can borrow and lend to community members – we will assume liability- or the donation of a generator or the funds to purchase one).
What’s happening TODAY?
There will be hot meals coming around lunch time from new friends. There will also be our food truck friends from World Central Kitchen (wck.org). Lawson’s Finest will be serving clean water in refillable bottles (lawsonsfinest.com). And our friends from Rose Core Collective will have free herbal medicine (rosecorecollective.org). BIG THANKS to all of these amazing people with generous hearts looking out for the people of Barre and central Vermont! <3
If you need supplies, please visit the center. If we don’t have what you need, just ask. If you need help cleaning or hauling or pumping, just ask. If you are concerned about your neighbor and would like us to do a wellness check-in, just ask. If you need a friend, an ear, a hug, community, JUST GET HERE. Otherwise the mobile team will be moving around the community looking for folks to serve.
OTHER NOTES:
Amy’s Armoire is generously giving away clothes for free (amysarmoire.org). If we don’t have what you need at The Center, just ask a volunteer and tell them what you need. We can make sure you get it! (Thank you, Amy!) <3
The Rainbow Relief Fund is live. If you would like to donate money to this and future disasters in Barre and central Vermont, The RBCC has created a special fund for that purpose. Every dollar goes towards relief efforts. And every dollar you donate to The RBCC goes directly to the community. There is ZERO administrative costs at The RBCC as everything is currently volunteer run. THANK YOU. Please click HERE to make a donation and send us an email at info@rainbowbridgevt.org if you would like it to go to the Rainbow Relief Fund.
The auction to kick off the Rainbow Relief Fund is coming. We are hoping to have it up before the end of the day.
THANK YOU ALL and WE WILL SEE YOU OUT THERE <3
