The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) in Middlebury has announced 43 disaster recovery and relief grants totaling more than $4.4 million in response to the flooding in July, which devastated homes, businesses, and farmland across the state.

The foundation’s VT Flood Response & Recovery Fund, which has raised more than $11.3 million—with support from the TD Charitable Foundation, the National Life Group, and Vermont Public—has focused on bolstering organizations directly assisting people whose homes or businesses were damaged by the flood waters. Recipients include Vermont Legal Aid ($100,000), which will fund additional case workers providing legal services and outreach for flood victims, particularly those with a disability, over the age of 60, or living in poverty; Lamoille County Mental Health Services ($75,000), which will provide crisis counseling, mental health case management, and housing contingency funding for flood survivors with mental health challenges; Woodstock Community Trust ($70,000), which will redirect funds to affected individuals and families in Windsor County; and Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont ($588,000), which will provide direct aid to farmers.

“At this stage in the grantmaking strategy we are moving deep into the recovery work, and helping individuals and families to recover,” said VCF vice president of grants and community impact Holly Morehouse. “This stage is also about making sure that we have strong, coordinated networks for recovery and assistance to support Vermonters through the long process of building back.”

For a complete list of recipients, see the Vermont Community Foundation website.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia/U.S. Air National Guard)