Interested in volunteering with Vermont CARES? From supporting our syringe service program to drop-in support at our Burlington office, and more; our volunteer opportunities are expanding!
We host a monthly Volunteer Night on the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30 - 8:00 pm at our Burlington office; our next event will be on Tuesday, February 11th where we will be assembling Safer Use Kits. While no prior experience is required to attend, we ask all volunteers to be respectful of our participants and mission.
If you have not volunteered with us before, please submit a Volunteer Form at our website (vtcares.org/volunteer) or reach out directly to our Volunteer Coordinator at vtcaresvolunteers@gmail.com
Can’t make it this month? Don’t worry, we have these events every month and have other opportunities to volunteer! These opportunities are a great way to get to know your local harm reduction organization better and learn about the work we do. Your support will go a long way to ensuring our neighbors have the tools they need to stay safe and healthy. Thank you for your support!
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✨LESS THAN TWO WEEKS UNTIL "ResistDANCE and RevoluSHINE: Celebrating 30 Years of the Winter is a Drag Ball" on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Higher Ground in South Burlington presented by Mike Oxready. ✨
💰 SAVE WHEN YOU BUY A FOUR-PACK OF TICKETS! (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)
🔗 Tickets available at: highergroundmusic.com/events/winter-is-a-drag-ball/
Do current events have you clutching your pearls? Join us for ResistDANCE and RevoluSHINE, honoring three decades of fierce drag, amazing performances, and a community united in love, resistance, joy, and unrelenting sparkle. 30th anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with pearls and diamonds, but we welcome all sparkle, glitter, and glam! Dress to impress and channel your inner royalty.
There will be live entertainment in both rooms, plenty of time for dancing, and a costume contest.
This event benefits Vermont CARES and we could not be more honored by the community support we have received over the years. We can't wait to see you!
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Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which includes syringe-injected hormones, is medically necessary for many transgender people to be themselves. Vermont CARES is proud to share about an expansion of our services that provides supplies for folks on injectable HRT. For some, the cost of transition-related care is a financial hardship, forcing them to go outside the health care system for the supplies they need to live freely and openly. We hope this expansion of our services helps transgender people in Vermont access lifesaving, gender-affirming care.
We offer syringes for subcutaneous and intramuscular HRT and can support folks with safe disposal of syringes. Ask about our compact (and colorful!) sharps containers!
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Once monthly, we'll highlight a Wishlist item and share a bit about how these supplies support the communities we work with. These items are available to purchase on our Amazon Wishlist for convenient delivery directly to our offices. If you prefer to donate these items after purchasing from another retailer, please reach out at melissa@vtcares.org to coordinate drop off.
Access to water is recognized by the United Nations as a human right – fundamental to everyone’s health, dignity and prosperity. Individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity often struggle to find clean drinking water sources and must often access water in public space. These spaces are increasingly closed, limited, or policed. Public drinking fountains may be inaccessible or insufficient in number and businesses often decline requests for water or charge for it. Financial constraints can make it difficult for people to access clean drinking water consistently. Providing bottled water is a way to reduce the barriers and harm people in our community experience.
Donating an item from our wishlist is a great way to have a direct and positive impact on the wellbeing of our participants and some of the most-vulnerable members of our communities. Thank you for your support!
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Our Syringe Service Program (SSP) is a free and anonymous, low barrier service offering many kinds of supplies; designed by and for people who use drugs.
Our mobile SSP allows us to meet at the location of your choice where you'll receive the same non-judgemental services and safer use supplies that are offered at our physical locations.
Where do we go? We provide mobile services in these counties: Orleans, Essex, Caledonia, Orange, Washington, Lamoille, Addison, Rutland, Chittenden, Franklin, & Grand Isle.
Learn more at: vtcares.org/programs-services
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✨ LESS THAN ONE MONTH UNTIL "ResistDANCE and RevoluSHINE: Celebrating 30 Years of the Winter is a Drag Ball" on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Higher Ground in South Burlington presented by Mike Oxready. ✨
💰 SAVE WHEN YOU BUY A FOUR-PACK OF TICKETS! (LIMITED AVAILABILITY)
🔗 Tickets available at: highergroundmusic.com/events/winter-is-a-drag-ball/
Do current events have you clutching your pearls? Join us for ResistDANCE and RevoluSHINE, honoring three decades of fierce drag, amazing performances, and a community united in love, resistance, joy, and unrelenting sparkle. 30th anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with pearls and diamonds, but we welcome all sparkle, glitter, and glam! Dress to impress and channel your inner royalty.
There will be live entertainment in both rooms, plenty of time for dancing, and a costume contest.
This event benefits Vermont CARES and we could not be more honored by the community support we have received over the years. We can't wait to see you!
... See MoreSee Less
Vermont CARES is seeking a visionary leader with a deep commitment to harm reduction, racial and social justice, and community empowerment to serve as the next Executive Director.
They will provide leadership, vision, and strategic direction for the agency and oversee all operations, programs, financials, and technical systems. They will support fund development, grant writing, management and compliance, and represent the organization on national, state, city, and community levels.
Now in its 36th year, Vermont CARES began as a grassroots HIV/AIDS service provider and has evolved to be one of the largest harm reduction services organizations in Vermont, serving thousands of individuals each year. Our organization provides harm reduction services, education and resources to Vermonters affected by HIV, Hep C and substance use by increasing access to care, reducing social stigmas, and building relationships. Our services are designed to reduce opioid overdose death, prevent injection-related disease transmission, and improve the lives of people who use drugs.
View the full job description at: vtcares.org/join-our-team
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Mike Oxready presents "ResistDANCE and RevoluSHINE: Celebrating 30 Years of the Winter is a Drag Ball" on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at Higher Ground in South Burlington! ✨ Get your tickets at: highergroundmusic.com/events/winter-is-a-drag-ball/
Do current events have you clutching your pearls? Join us for ResistDANCE and RevoluSHINE, honoring three decades of fierce drag, amazing performances, and a community united in love, resistance, joy, and unrelenting sparkle. 30th anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with pearls and diamonds, but we welcome all sparkle, glitter, and glam! Dress to impress and channel your inner royalty.
There will be live entertainment in both rooms, plenty of time for dancing, and a costume contest.
This event benefits Vermont CARES and we could not be more honored by the community support we have received over the years. We can't wait to see you!
... See MoreSee Less
Interested in volunteering with Vermont CARES? We host a monthly Volunteer Night on the second Tuesday of the month from 5:30 - 8:00 pm at our Burlington office.
Our next event will be on Tuesday, January 14th at our Burlington office; we will be assembling Safer Use Kits. Please reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer01@vtcares.org if you have not volunteered with us before. (note: we received feedback that some emails to this address were bouncing back and believe we have fixed the issue!)
Can’t make it this month? Don’t worry, we’ll have these events every month! These volunteer evenings are a great way to get to know your local harm reduction organization better and learn about the work we do! Your support will go a long way to ensuring our neighbors have the tools they need to stay safe and healthy. We ask all volunteers to be respectful of our participants and mission. No prior experience is required to attend. Thank you for your support!
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Our compassionate and knowledgeable staff at Vermont CARES are critical to the success of our services and the wellbeing of our clients. Today, we’re highlighting a member of our staff so you can get to know them and our organization a little better!
Phoenix (they/them/ask) has been working off and on throughout their personal and professional life in client care and helping those around them in need. Being able to help others is something that has been near and dear to their heart for the majority of their life. Phoenix stepped out of that role for a number of years to work in the legal field, and is so happy to be back helping members of our society in need.
Phoenix lives with their three cats (Miss Bits, Skonk, and Button) and a cockatiel (Gonzo). In their spare time, Phoenix loves to work on crafts, hang with friends and family, listen to music, kayak, travel, and teach classes on enthusiastic consent, among other topics. Phoenix is always on the go, much to the chagrin of their animal babies, but they wouldn’t change a thing!
Reader note: Skonk's name is not misspelled!
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