For Immediate Release
October 28, 2011
Contact
Caitlin Gildrien
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA Vermont)
802-434-4122
caitlin@nofavt.org
With the close of their online auction on Saturday, October 15, the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont’s fundraising total reached $170,000. This money, from direct donations as well as the auction, is slated for the organization’s Farmer Emergency Fund, and will go directly to help local organic farms rebuild after Tropical Storm Irene.
In the days after Irene, the NOFA-VT staff met to determine how best to help the organic farms that had been devastated by the storm. One obvious and critical need was funding – farms had lost greenhouses, equipment, livestock, and fields of crops, and needed money to pay their bills and get through the winter. NOFA-VT has had a Farmer Emergency Fund in place since 1997, though until now it had only been used to help with isolated disasters such as barn fires.
“We had never experienced such widespread need before,” said Enid Wonnacott, NOFA-VT’s executive director.
In response, NOFA staff members unanimously decided to redirect the proceeds of the online auction originally planned as part of their capital campaign. The auction attracted over 300 donations of items and experiences, and raised $23,000 for the Farmer Emergency Fund.
“It was the only choice to make,” said Wonnacott, referring to the decision. “If we were raising money, that money needed to go to support the organic farmers in Vermont who needed it right now.”
A total of $83,700 in grants and $17,500 in zero-percent-interest loans were awarded to a first round of 18 farmers in early October. The Fund committee, made up of NOFA-VT staff, board members, and farmers, will meet again in early November to review additional applications for a second round of awards.
One farmer responded, “It means so much to us to have such support and camaraderie from neighbors and friends. I know there are a lot of people who need help and we appreciate you all taking the time to help us.”
For more information on how to make a donation or how the funds will be used, visit www.nofavt.org or call 802-434-4122.
About NOFA Vermont
About NOFA Vermont: NOFA Vermont is member-based organization working to grow local farms, healthy food, and strong communities in Vermont. Our members are farmers, gardeners, educators and food lovers of all sorts – anyone who wants to help us create a future full of local food and local farms. Our programs include farmer and gardener technical assistance, farm to school support, organic certification, advocacy, an online apprentice and farm worker directory, an annual Winter Conference, and programs that work to ensure access to fresh, local food to all Vermonters, regardless of income.
