As Vermont communities grapple with lack of housing, inflation and the opioid epidemic, more than 30 organizations will gather at Rutland Middle School next week to offer resources aimed at supporting area students and their families.
The Rutland City School District has organized its first “Community Resource Night and Coffeehouse,” a free event Tuesday evening that will include stage performances.
Public and private organizations will be available to help people in search of jobs, affordable housing and free food. Assistance will also be offered for those looking to reduce their electricity costs, find treatment for substance use disorder and work with a mentor, according to school district officials.
“Our students are gonna do better when their whole selves are taken care of, not just their educational or academic needs,” said Chris Van Sciver, a Rutland Middle School teacher who is spearheading the event.
Participating organizations will include Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Rutland Mental Health Services, the anti-domestic violence group NewStory Center, the LGBTQ+ youth organization Outright Vermont and Come Alive Outside, which promotes outdoor activities.
Organizers hope the school community — and other Rutland area residents — can benefit from the event by learning about resources “to make their lives more manageable,” Van Sciver said.
The Rutland City School District has held other types of community resource events in the past decade, but Tuesday’s fair could be the biggest, said Superintendent Bill Olson.
So far, 34 organizations have signed up to present their products or services to a school community that enrolls about 2,000 K-12 students. Van Sciver said a caterer will be preparing food for around 200 people at the event, scheduled to run from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Olson acknowledged there’s a greater need now for schools to support the overall well-being of students and their families, given the local challenges brought by lack of housing, illicit drugs and the higher price of goods and services.
“There’s a lot of these organizations out there that are trying to do good work,” Olson said, “and sometimes the easiest connection is through the school.”
Rutland Mayor Mike Doenges has emphasized the need for proactivity in solving local problems, rather than waiting for solutions from the state government or federal officials. He said the upcoming school district event is an example of Rutland-area residents’ initiative.
“We are a community of givers in a community that’s also in need, and that’s a good match,” Doenges said. “It’s just a reflection of how this community helps itself out constantly.”
The school fair will feature a “coffeehouse,” where attendees can get coffee, tea and hot chocolate as local performers play music and read poetry. This is a distinct feature of Tuesday’s inaugural event, which organizers hope would draw more people to check out the available community resources.
Around 20 teachers and administrators are among the volunteers who will run the event, Van Sciver said, including serving as greeters, baristas and stage managers.
Vermont Agency of Education spokesperson Ted Fisher said other school districts in the state have offered or established social support programs for their students. He lauded the Rutland City School District’s efforts, saying the event is a good opportunity to match community needs with the community’s assets.
