Dear Readers,
The reality is that cold weather doesn’t affect all Vermonters equally. For families already struggling to afford heat, a single cold snap can become life threatening.
This winter, VTDigger is launching a two-week campaign to keep Vermonters warm and informed through a partnership with the Warmth Support Program of Vermont’s Community Action Agencies.
Donate to VTDigger by Dec. 25 and your gift will help heat a home for a day and keep our journalism free for everyone.
How the Warmth Support Program works
For nearly four decades, Vermont’s community-funded Warmth Support Program has filled critical gaps in heating assistance, especially during the early and late winter months when federal and state programs aren’t running.
Warmth assistance is administered by Vermont’s five Community Action Agencies. For the Warmth Support Program, trained staff work directly with households who are running out of bulk fuel or at risk of electric or gas disconnection. The program is also accessible to those just above eligibility thresholds for federal programs, but still unable to afford essential heat.
To date, the program has delivered more than 95,000 emergency disbursements to Vermonters, with staff describing the impact bluntly: warmth literally saves people’s lives every year.
How your gift today does double duty
Donating to the Warmth Support Program is a concrete way that neighbors can help neighbors stay safe and warm through the winter.
Warmth Support funds go directly to fuel suppliers to prevent shutoffs and ensure households don’t run out of heat. No administrative fees are taken from contributions, a model designed to amplify the impact of every donation.
At the same time, Vermonters rely on VTDigger for clear, fact-based reporting on the issues shaping daily life, from energy and housing costs to legislative debates, climate resilience, school funding and local government decision-making. Reader support ensures this reporting remains accessible to all, without a paywall.
Right now, your donation supports trusted local news and provides warmth to a household in need.
Donate by Dec. 25 and your gift will have double the impact. It will fund independent journalism and thanks to our partnership sponsor, Vermont Gas, it will also provide one day of heat for a low-income Vermont home through the Warmth Support Program.
Thank you for your readership and for helping keep Vermonters safe, warm and informed.
Sincerely,
Libbie Sparadeo
Director of Membership and Engagement, VTDigger
