December 2, 2025 • 29 mins
CVHHH has been a year-long presenting sponsor of the AO Podcast! This morning - Chief Advancement Officer at Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice Emily McKenna stops by to promote the kick-off to the year-end appeal - the biggest fundraising effort of the year for CVHHH! Giving is open now at cvhhh.org, by calling 802-223-1878, or on their Facebook page!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:40):
Anything in.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Well, good morning everybody. Listen. If you are, first of all,
happy Tuesday, it's Giving Tuesday. We have some snow coming down.
We'll give you the forecast here in just a little bit,
but listen. If you're looking for a holiday gift that
everybody is going to appreciate this year, we've got one
until the twenty second of December. Only fifty dollars gift
(02:36):
certificates for forty bucks over at Optical Expressions, and one
hundred dollars give certificates for seventy five bucks. So if
you got an appointment coming up in the year, or
you know someone who maybe needs some new specs, this
is a great opportunity quality eye care that you can
see Optical Expressions. Get over to the fourth floor of
(02:57):
the Blanter Block or give them a ring two three
twenty ninety. They're open eight to five Monday through Friday.
So one of our presenting sponsors, I am so happy
to tell you that it is going to be a
(03:17):
white Christmas at least if we don't get you some
fifty degree days here. But a winter storm warning from
Rutland to Orange County, winter weather advisories elsewhere into early Wednesday,
snow is going to be moderate to heavier times across
central Vermont, especially across southern Vermont. Accumulations here in central
(03:41):
Vermont two to five inches, says Roger Hill. Most of
Vermont expecting anywhere from four to eight inches, slightly less
in the Champlain Valley. Tonight, clouds, light snow showers continuing.
We'll get down into the mid two upper teens Wednesday,
(04:03):
Lots of clouds, partial sunshine in the afternoon, hies into
the mid twenties, and then blustery on Thursday. Scattered snowshowers
in early high of around twenty five to thirty, but
attempts can be falling through the twenties Thursday afternoon, and
that's going to be setting us up for a real
cold one on Friday. Highs only into the teens on Friday,
(04:25):
with mostly sunny skies going to be frigid, though it
is giving Tuesday, and within the hour you're going to
be learning about how you can support two critical local
agencies that do the most good in our community for
thousands of Vermonors seven days a week, twenty four hours
(04:48):
a day. We have a lot to talk about. Emily
McKenna is with us, our guest from the Central ver
Mountain Home Health and Hospice. I'm so happy to have
you you back, How are you.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I'm doing great? Thank you so glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
This is this is an opportunity for folks to jump
on the global movement of Giving Tuesday, kind of the
the post Thanksgiving Black Friday, and I think yesterday was Monday,
Cyber Monday. Yes, Giving Tuesday is massive, and some people
(05:26):
emily wait until Giving Tuesday before they know that they're
going to give to something on Giving Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah. I think a lot of organizations like ours sort
of capitalize on this movement, which I think in part
is an antidote to all of the post Thanksgiving frenzy,
like you said, and for some people they wait for
Giving Tuesday to give. We've had several people call and
say they wanted to give their gift today really already already. Yeah,
(05:54):
So we sent out our letter, we got out our communications,
and they called and said, I really want my gift
to be applied to this wonderful match that we have.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
And we're grateful because it gives us an opportunity to
talk about our year end appeal and to get people
excited as we are about making a gift to our organization.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
You know that I could easily talk for hours about
all of the things that Central Vermont Home Health and
Hospice does and has done for how many.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Years now, since nineteen eleven, So do the math for me.
It's still still really a long time, over one hundred years. Yes,
I know that for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah, that's unbelievable. Yes, yeah, a lot of people don't
know that, they don't realize that.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, we have a really interesting history. We started out
with one visiting nurse in Montpellier in nineteen eleven who
was accompanying a physician, and really over time we have
grown and expanded our service area to encompass twenty three
towns in Central Vermont, all of Washington County we serve,
and three towns in Orange County Blamestown, Washington and Orange.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And that's something, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
It's pretty impressive.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
So many FRO honors have benefited from aging in place,
staying at home. It is so important. There's all kinds
of different care that Central from Home Health and Hospice
gives around the clock.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Yeah, as you said, twenty four hours a day, seven
days a week, we are always open. We have care
on the weekends on holidays, So if you are in
the hospital or have surgery and need to come home
really any time, we will accept a referral if you
qualify for our services. And as you said, we have
care for people of all ages, from new parents and
(07:42):
children and families to healthy active adults who may need
surgery a joint replacement and want to have that rehabit home,
or if you end up in the hospital for whatever reason,
we can take care of you when you're ready to
come home, so you don't have to stay in the
hospital or go to a facility. And we have our
end of life care program, our hospice program, and our
consultative palliative care program, which helps people who are experiencing
(08:08):
or living with a serious illness and they need some
pain and symptom management, education, help, connecting with resources, and
advanced care planning. So we really we do a lot.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I was just hearing you at some point I would
love to chat with Kelly. Oh, well, what an amazing
resource and team member that you guys have there. She
does so much.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Agreed, She's amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah, let's just mention here before we get into the
thick of it here for a few minutes. We're not
going to do a long episode here this morning, but
we want to give this official launch to the end
of Year Appeal on Giving Tuesday. Last year was massive.
(08:50):
But let's say this, it was very successful last year.
You met your goal, but I think it was I
think the important thing to mention here is that we're
not necessarily looking for big hitters, big heroes. The power
in numbers is what's huge.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yes, And we try to say this often really not
just not Giving Tuesday or for the year end appeal.
Every day every dollar counts literally, yes, it does. Yeah.
I mean today we happen to have every dollar is
doubled because of this generous match that we have. But
we have Sandy Versus. Our CEO likes to mention and
often mentions how how supportive our community is, and they
(09:35):
come and support us. They come out in so many
different ways by giving a five dollars or twenty five
dollars donation or many many times that they appreciate and
they value what we do and our presence. And I
think what we like to say is that you really
don't know when you might need CVH, but when you do.
We will be there and we really are there for
(09:59):
there for the commun unity.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Speaking of fundraising efforts, you had a really successful golf
tournament this past summer.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yes, it was our twenty ninth annual Hospice Memorial Golf Tournament.
The net fundraising was just shy of forty thousand dollars.
We had amazing supporters come in as sponsors. I can't
even remember how many sponsors we had, but really it's
a fun, fun day for everyone to come and to
(10:30):
reconnect at the beginning of the summer, and you can
feel people sort of you know, getting out of the
winter mud season feelings and getting out in the golf
course and just really enjoying the day and the opportunity
to support an organization they care about, to come together
and reconnect with one another. And our thirtieth golf tournament
(10:50):
will be next June. We hosted the country Club of Berry,
so planning for that will remarkably begin begin very soon,
even though there's snowing down, so we'll start.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah. A couple of times over the last several years,
you have partnered with some local businesses right here in
central Vermont to launch this end of year appeal a
huge campaign, a huge fundraiser, and can you tell us
(11:23):
about some of them.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yeah, we always have an honorary chair of our appeals.
This year we're very lucky and honored to have Tom
McLay as the honorary chair of the appeal. In the past,
we decided to put a little effort into the Giving
Tuesday movement and partner with a local business. We had
Ruben Bennett and his wife, Shalen, who were absolutely wonderful.
(11:49):
I can still remember going to their house to take
just the really beautiful photos of the family together outside.
Rubin and his wife and family have been great supporters.
So that was really our first Giving Tuesday match in
twenty nineteen, and then last year speaking of the golf tournament,
Jeff Gould is just you know, he has been a supporter,
a player, a sponsor of that event so many years.
(12:12):
Gold Plumbing and Heating. He came in with a Giving
Tuesday match and we exceeded the goal several times over.
And his mother was cared for by our home health
program and our hospice program, and she herself was a
nurse who cared for the community for many years, and
so he and his sister were the honorary chairs of
(12:33):
an appeal and then decided to partner with us for
a giving Tuesday match. He is just so generous and
I finally got to meet him in person for the
first time. I hadn't met him at the golf tournament
last year, and I felt like gave him a hug.
I felt like I was meeting an old friend because
we communicate all the time, just had never happened to
meet in person.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, and these aren't these aren't one hitters. These are
people that they're linked in and locked in with Central
for mount Home Health and Hospice always they are.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
They've been generous. We're very lucky. Again, we have really
consistent generous supporters and generous not just in the dollar
amount that they're giving us, but their time, their volunteerism,
their support doing all sorts of things for us. So correct. Yeah,
we're really lucky here in Central from mom.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Now this year you are teaming up with the brothers
and the partners at Connor Contracting. Yep, tell me about them.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
I want to get all the names, Fred, Stephen, Michael
and John Connor. They are the partners and brothers behind
Connor Contracting, which is a very successful local general contracting
and building business. John could probably describe what they do
in more detail and better than I can. But they
have offices in Saint Albans and Berlin. Several of the
brothers live in this community, and as John and Stephen
(13:54):
shared with me, they are committed to supporting local organizations
in the communities where they're employees live and work and
where they have offices. And over the years, the Connors
Connor Contracting has been super super supportive of CVJH.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, we get John Connor with us right now, John,
good morning. Can you hear us? Well, I'm not sure
why we can't hear him. Are you there? John? We'll
try him back here in just a little bit, but
he is. He's stepping up in a big way. Yeah,
Share yeap.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
The organ the company, and the four brothers have pledged
a twenty five hundred dollars Giving Tuesday match challenge for
our community and donors. So if we raise twenty five
hundred dollars today on Giving Tuesday, December second, Connor Contracting
will match that amount dollar for dollar, which means that
cv AH is the beneficiary of five thousand dollars for
(14:54):
the care that we provide in the community, and again,
just a really great way for us to kick off
and add some energy to our year end appeal.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Amazing, John, I think we got you here right, Yes,
good morning, this is John.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
How are you today?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
John? You know, Emily's just tell me what you guys
are willing to do here, and please you do tell.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
How much time you have? No, I'm just kidding. We
are so jad, We're so happy to be involved in this.
Home Health and hospice is such an amazing organization there,
the folks that they employ, the care that they provide,
the respect and dignity and professionalism with which they provide
the services to patients and need is second to none.
(15:44):
So my brothers and I are very proud and very
happy to be able to share some financial resources to
hopefully assist them in kicking off a good campaign and
providing some you know, greatly needed recent sources that they
can then pay forward to other patients in need.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
So we're talking about it potentially five grand here coming
in in a short period of time. If that's that's awesome, John.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Yeah, it is great. We're like, as I said, we're
very happy to be part of it.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Why what's what's uh, what hits a nerve with you
with Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Well, our experience has been several decades long, started with
an extended family member receiving some end of life care.
Certainly at that time, the impression that was made from
the care that was given is, you know, it is lifelong,
and they provide that the services and care at a
(16:49):
time when families and individuals are are so vulnerable, and
more often than not, people are going through it for
the very first time, so there's a just a sea
of unknown and these folks are the common you know,
they bring in the care and the professionalism to a
very chaotic, challenging time of life and not only care
(17:15):
for the patient, but care for the family as a whole.
I've also had a firsthand experience with a family member
who has been cared for bi Central of them on
home Health and hospice, and it is just incredible that
you know, they they come in and they'll they'll help
you through post surgical or care at home to get
you back on your feet. And as I said, they
(17:38):
not only care for the patient, but they provide care
what as they provide care for the family they're providing
care for the whole for the whole family through the
care for the patient, and it's just a great organization.
And you know, our state of Vermont is all built
on community. It's built on relationships and folks helping each
(17:59):
other and neighbors and et cetera. And and that's who Center
from on Home Health and Hospice is. They are our neighbors.
They are their caregivers live in our community. We live
in the community, our team members and our employees live
in the community. So it just makes great sense to
be able to continue that cycle of care by providing
(18:19):
whatever we can to help them help others.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
H just a big thank you. I mean, I don't
know what else to say other than thanks for stepping up.
And yeah, we don't.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Yeah we don't. We're not we don't. We're not looking
for the thanks. You know, We're just happy to be
able to help them because they do such incredible work.
They're they're the heroes here. They're the ones that deserve.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
To be thanked. Emily's here with us this morning, and
I know she's quite grateful for you.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Great. We're we are happy to help them. They're they're
a great organization. Again, I think you know the connections
that that they make with people, and that you know
the care that they provide. It just it goes forward
from one person to the next. And the knowledge, the compassion,
the care, the professionalism that they provide.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
It is.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
It's a wonderful thing in a trying time and have
that level of care in our community is very valuable.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Well listen, man, I know you got a snowy job
site this morning. Yeah, we'll let you get back to it.
But thank you ever so much, John, Thank.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
You, John, so so happy, so happy to have a
few minutes together. Thank you for assisting with the campaign,
JD for all you do in the community as well,
and we look forward to talking further. I hope everybody
has a wonderful holiday season.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Thanks John. Wow, what a great guy. Incredible. We should
mention that giving is open right now on your website.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Giving is open right now, correct, yep, we can. You
can call the agency at eight oh two two two
three one eight seven eight, go to our website at
CVHHH dot org or on our Facebook page. There will
be plenty of links and reminders today.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Okay, uh cv HHH dot org. And again that phone
number eight oh two two two three, eighteen seventy eight.
I'll put that up in the comments here. I mean,
bottom line, you could just call and say, hey, here's
my card, throw ten bucks on it.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Uh. And like I said earlier, the power of numbers
is massive. If enough people do that, we're gonna hit
twenty five hundred bucks in no time.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yep, Yes, this is wonderful. Please get back in here soon.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
I will. We have I will come back said.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Yes, there's so much, there's so much that is so
much more that you guys are doing, and we should
we should say this isn't something that closes at midnight tonight.
This is going to be going on, as we said,
through the end of the year.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yep, Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a single day match challenge. However,
we are our year end appeal does go through the
end of the year. And I do want to just
throw a plug to Tom McClay and his wonderful letter
that he wrote.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Amazing. I read it last night.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Yeah, and he I will say quickly. He closes the
letter by saying, in this community, neighbors take care of neighbors.
It's just what we do. And I think that idea
is what motivates everyone who works at CVHHU, the Connors.
It brings us together and I think it's really important.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
And his wife, Charlotte, what a testament to the real
spirit behind caregiving.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Absolutely, yeah, Charlotte was a They have a really a
really nice story. They were married for forty nine years.
They met, they lived in neighboring towns in Vermont, went
to college and reconnected and got married after college. And
he said to me when they moved to Phoenix, I
think somewhere in Arizona, he said. He can still remember
(22:05):
her going out to her first job in pigtails, just
eager and excited and passionate. And she took that, you know,
I think wherever she was, as did Tom. And when
he was talking about his upbringing and he was talking
about Charlotte's Charlotte's mother was the head nurse at Mount
Ascutney Hospital, overseeing the ED and he said, Charlotte grew
up in a house where everyone called her mother Laurie
(22:27):
if they needed anything, and she was sort of the
go to person. And Tom had a different experience growing up.
Based on what he said to me, but they both
shared this commitment to just doing what you can to
help the people around you. And when Charlotte and Tom
settled in Central Vermont, Charlotte volunteered for CVHHH giving flu shots.
(22:47):
She was a hospice volunteer, she was on our board,
and she was really involved in the movement supporting childbirth
and formalizing childbirth education. She was always very committed to
public health, maternal and family, child health, and education.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
So Tom, if you're listening, I would first of all
thank you, and secondly, I would love to have you
share our microphones here. You are very clearly keeping the
legacy of your wife alive. And well, I just got
a text from a guy here in the comments, Brian
(23:22):
McDonald says he gives away his profits from his company
and he's done this for the last twenty years and
he's got a check coming your way.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
So I'm very appreciative. Thank you, Brian.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Amazing. I just love it. I love stuff like this.
Let's give an update as we get closer.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
I will keep you posted.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yeah, as we get closer to the end of the year.
And thanks to the all of the Connors for being
for stepping up this year. All that's fine, that's fine.
They are a huge, huge part of Central Vermont Home
Health and Hospices twenty twenty five year end fundraising appeal.
(24:09):
We appreciate them so much. Listen, be well. We're gonna
chat with Downstreet Housing and Community Development here in just
a little bit. But they also have some big, big
things to share with you this morning, and we're gonna
get to it. We're gonna do it all, We're gonna
get through it. We have so much to talk about.
(24:31):
We have a community calendar that is just burst in
at the seams. We have a Toys for Tots toy
drive that's going to be happening Saturday from noon to
five up at the Berlin Mall at five below. I'll
be there part of that. We have some great businesses
that are teaming up with that, and of course the
(24:52):
Central Vermont Christmas for Kids, the big coin drop coming
up Saturday, just two of so many events, and of
course the Battle and Barry eighteen. And they've got some
stuff on the Donningbruk Fight Promotions page about Central Vermont
Christmas for Kids and your opportunity to help that cause
(25:18):
during the main event Saturday night at the Burry Auditorium.
We'll be back in just a little bit, appreciate your
eyes and your ears. Thank you so much. God bless
and thank you so much to the Central Vermont Home
Health and Hospice, not only a presenting sponsor here of
the aired out podcast, but also an integral part of
(25:39):
our community that we need so so much. We'll talk
to you in just a little bit here in the
aired out podcast.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
To PAS
Anything in.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Well, good morning everybody. Listen. If you are, first of all,
happy Tuesday, it's Giving Tuesday. We have some snow coming down.
We'll give you the forecast here in just a little bit,
but listen. If you're looking for a holiday gift that
everybody is going to appreciate this year, we've got one
until the twenty second of December. Only fifty dollars gift
(02:36):
certificates for forty bucks over at Optical Expressions, and one
hundred dollars give certificates for seventy five bucks. So if
you got an appointment coming up in the year, or
you know someone who maybe needs some new specs, this
is a great opportunity quality eye care that you can
see Optical Expressions. Get over to the fourth floor of
(02:57):
the Blanter Block or give them a ring two three
twenty ninety. They're open eight to five Monday through Friday.
So one of our presenting sponsors, I am so happy
to tell you that it is going to be a
(03:17):
white Christmas at least if we don't get you some
fifty degree days here. But a winter storm warning from
Rutland to Orange County, winter weather advisories elsewhere into early Wednesday,
snow is going to be moderate to heavier times across
central Vermont, especially across southern Vermont. Accumulations here in central
(03:41):
Vermont two to five inches, says Roger Hill. Most of
Vermont expecting anywhere from four to eight inches, slightly less
in the Champlain Valley. Tonight, clouds, light snow showers continuing.
We'll get down into the mid two upper teens Wednesday,
(04:03):
Lots of clouds, partial sunshine in the afternoon, hies into
the mid twenties, and then blustery on Thursday. Scattered snowshowers
in early high of around twenty five to thirty, but
attempts can be falling through the twenties Thursday afternoon, and
that's going to be setting us up for a real
cold one on Friday. Highs only into the teens on Friday,
(04:25):
with mostly sunny skies going to be frigid, though it
is giving Tuesday, and within the hour you're going to
be learning about how you can support two critical local
agencies that do the most good in our community for
thousands of Vermonors seven days a week, twenty four hours
(04:48):
a day. We have a lot to talk about. Emily
McKenna is with us, our guest from the Central ver
Mountain Home Health and Hospice. I'm so happy to have
you you back, How are you.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I'm doing great? Thank you so glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
This is this is an opportunity for folks to jump
on the global movement of Giving Tuesday, kind of the
the post Thanksgiving Black Friday, and I think yesterday was Monday,
Cyber Monday. Yes, Giving Tuesday is massive, and some people
(05:26):
emily wait until Giving Tuesday before they know that they're
going to give to something on Giving Tuesday.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Yeah. I think a lot of organizations like ours sort
of capitalize on this movement, which I think in part
is an antidote to all of the post Thanksgiving frenzy,
like you said, and for some people they wait for
Giving Tuesday to give. We've had several people call and
say they wanted to give their gift today really already already. Yeah,
(05:54):
So we sent out our letter, we got out our communications,
and they called and said, I really want my gift
to be applied to this wonderful match that we have.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
And we're grateful because it gives us an opportunity to
talk about our year end appeal and to get people
excited as we are about making a gift to our organization.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
You know that I could easily talk for hours about
all of the things that Central Vermont Home Health and
Hospice does and has done for how many.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Years now, since nineteen eleven, So do the math for me.
It's still still really a long time, over one hundred years. Yes,
I know that for sure.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah, that's unbelievable. Yes, yeah, a lot of people don't
know that, they don't realize that.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, we have a really interesting history. We started out
with one visiting nurse in Montpellier in nineteen eleven who
was accompanying a physician, and really over time we have
grown and expanded our service area to encompass twenty three
towns in Central Vermont, all of Washington County we serve,
and three towns in Orange County Blamestown, Washington and Orange.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
And that's something, Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
It's pretty impressive.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
So many FRO honors have benefited from aging in place,
staying at home. It is so important. There's all kinds
of different care that Central from Home Health and Hospice
gives around the clock.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
Yeah, as you said, twenty four hours a day, seven
days a week, we are always open. We have care
on the weekends on holidays, So if you are in
the hospital or have surgery and need to come home
really any time, we will accept a referral if you
qualify for our services. And as you said, we have
care for people of all ages, from new parents and
(07:42):
children and families to healthy active adults who may need
surgery a joint replacement and want to have that rehabit home,
or if you end up in the hospital for whatever reason,
we can take care of you when you're ready to
come home, so you don't have to stay in the
hospital or go to a facility. And we have our
end of life care program, our hospice program, and our
consultative palliative care program, which helps people who are experiencing
(08:08):
or living with a serious illness and they need some
pain and symptom management, education, help, connecting with resources, and
advanced care planning. So we really we do a lot.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
I was just hearing you at some point I would
love to chat with Kelly. Oh, well, what an amazing
resource and team member that you guys have there. She
does so much.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Agreed, She's amazing.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Yeah, let's just mention here before we get into the
thick of it here for a few minutes. We're not
going to do a long episode here this morning, but
we want to give this official launch to the end
of Year Appeal on Giving Tuesday. Last year was massive.
(08:50):
But let's say this, it was very successful last year.
You met your goal, but I think it was I
think the important thing to mention here is that we're
not necessarily looking for big hitters, big heroes. The power
in numbers is what's huge.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yes, And we try to say this often really not
just not Giving Tuesday or for the year end appeal.
Every day every dollar counts literally, yes, it does. Yeah.
I mean today we happen to have every dollar is
doubled because of this generous match that we have. But
we have Sandy Versus. Our CEO likes to mention and
often mentions how how supportive our community is, and they
(09:35):
come and support us. They come out in so many
different ways by giving a five dollars or twenty five
dollars donation or many many times that they appreciate and
they value what we do and our presence. And I
think what we like to say is that you really
don't know when you might need CVH, but when you do.
We will be there and we really are there for
(09:59):
there for the commun unity.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Speaking of fundraising efforts, you had a really successful golf
tournament this past summer.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Yes, it was our twenty ninth annual Hospice Memorial Golf Tournament.
The net fundraising was just shy of forty thousand dollars.
We had amazing supporters come in as sponsors. I can't
even remember how many sponsors we had, but really it's
a fun, fun day for everyone to come and to
(10:30):
reconnect at the beginning of the summer, and you can
feel people sort of you know, getting out of the
winter mud season feelings and getting out in the golf
course and just really enjoying the day and the opportunity
to support an organization they care about, to come together
and reconnect with one another. And our thirtieth golf tournament
(10:50):
will be next June. We hosted the country Club of Berry,
so planning for that will remarkably begin begin very soon,
even though there's snowing down, so we'll start.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Yeah. A couple of times over the last several years,
you have partnered with some local businesses right here in
central Vermont to launch this end of year appeal a
huge campaign, a huge fundraiser, and can you tell us
(11:23):
about some of them.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Yeah, we always have an honorary chair of our appeals.
This year we're very lucky and honored to have Tom
McLay as the honorary chair of the appeal. In the past,
we decided to put a little effort into the Giving
Tuesday movement and partner with a local business. We had
Ruben Bennett and his wife, Shalen, who were absolutely wonderful.
(11:49):
I can still remember going to their house to take
just the really beautiful photos of the family together outside.
Rubin and his wife and family have been great supporters.
So that was really our first Giving Tuesday match in
twenty nineteen, and then last year speaking of the golf tournament,
Jeff Gould is just you know, he has been a supporter,
a player, a sponsor of that event so many years.
(12:12):
Gold Plumbing and Heating. He came in with a Giving
Tuesday match and we exceeded the goal several times over.
And his mother was cared for by our home health
program and our hospice program, and she herself was a
nurse who cared for the community for many years, and
so he and his sister were the honorary chairs of
(12:33):
an appeal and then decided to partner with us for
a giving Tuesday match. He is just so generous and
I finally got to meet him in person for the
first time. I hadn't met him at the golf tournament
last year, and I felt like gave him a hug.
I felt like I was meeting an old friend because
we communicate all the time, just had never happened to
meet in person.
Speaker 2 (12:49):
Yeah, and these aren't these aren't one hitters. These are
people that they're linked in and locked in with Central
for mount Home Health and Hospice always they are.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
They've been generous. We're very lucky. Again, we have really
consistent generous supporters and generous not just in the dollar
amount that they're giving us, but their time, their volunteerism,
their support doing all sorts of things for us. So correct. Yeah,
we're really lucky here in Central from mom.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
Now this year you are teaming up with the brothers
and the partners at Connor Contracting. Yep, tell me about them.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
I want to get all the names, Fred, Stephen, Michael
and John Connor. They are the partners and brothers behind
Connor Contracting, which is a very successful local general contracting
and building business. John could probably describe what they do
in more detail and better than I can. But they
have offices in Saint Albans and Berlin. Several of the
brothers live in this community, and as John and Stephen
(13:54):
shared with me, they are committed to supporting local organizations
in the communities where they're employees live and work and
where they have offices. And over the years, the Connors
Connor Contracting has been super super supportive of CVJH.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Well, we get John Connor with us right now, John,
good morning. Can you hear us? Well, I'm not sure
why we can't hear him. Are you there? John? We'll
try him back here in just a little bit, but
he is. He's stepping up in a big way. Yeah,
Share yeap.
Speaker 3 (14:29):
The organ the company, and the four brothers have pledged
a twenty five hundred dollars Giving Tuesday match challenge for
our community and donors. So if we raise twenty five
hundred dollars today on Giving Tuesday, December second, Connor Contracting
will match that amount dollar for dollar, which means that
cv AH is the beneficiary of five thousand dollars for
(14:54):
the care that we provide in the community, and again,
just a really great way for us to kick off
and add some energy to our year end appeal.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Amazing, John, I think we got you here right, Yes,
good morning, this is John.
Speaker 4 (15:07):
How are you today?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
John? You know, Emily's just tell me what you guys
are willing to do here, and please you do tell.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
How much time you have? No, I'm just kidding. We
are so jad, We're so happy to be involved in this.
Home Health and hospice is such an amazing organization there,
the folks that they employ, the care that they provide,
the respect and dignity and professionalism with which they provide
the services to patients and need is second to none.
(15:44):
So my brothers and I are very proud and very
happy to be able to share some financial resources to
hopefully assist them in kicking off a good campaign and
providing some you know, greatly needed recent sources that they
can then pay forward to other patients in need.
Speaker 2 (16:04):
So we're talking about it potentially five grand here coming
in in a short period of time. If that's that's awesome, John.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Yeah, it is great. We're like, as I said, we're
very happy to be part of it.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Why what's what's uh, what hits a nerve with you
with Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
Well, our experience has been several decades long, started with
an extended family member receiving some end of life care.
Certainly at that time, the impression that was made from
the care that was given is, you know, it is lifelong,
and they provide that the services and care at a
(16:49):
time when families and individuals are are so vulnerable, and
more often than not, people are going through it for
the very first time, so there's a just a sea
of unknown and these folks are the common you know,
they bring in the care and the professionalism to a
very chaotic, challenging time of life and not only care
(17:15):
for the patient, but care for the family as a whole.
I've also had a firsthand experience with a family member
who has been cared for bi Central of them on
home Health and hospice, and it is just incredible that
you know, they they come in and they'll they'll help
you through post surgical or care at home to get
you back on your feet. And as I said, they
(17:38):
not only care for the patient, but they provide care
what as they provide care for the family they're providing
care for the whole for the whole family through the
care for the patient, and it's just a great organization.
And you know, our state of Vermont is all built
on community. It's built on relationships and folks helping each
(17:59):
other and neighbors and et cetera. And and that's who Center
from on Home Health and Hospice is. They are our neighbors.
They are their caregivers live in our community. We live
in the community, our team members and our employees live
in the community. So it just makes great sense to
be able to continue that cycle of care by providing
(18:19):
whatever we can to help them help others.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
H just a big thank you. I mean, I don't
know what else to say other than thanks for stepping up.
And yeah, we don't.
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Yeah we don't. We're not we don't. We're not looking
for the thanks. You know, We're just happy to be
able to help them because they do such incredible work.
They're they're the heroes here. They're the ones that deserve.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
To be thanked. Emily's here with us this morning, and
I know she's quite grateful for you.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
Great. We're we are happy to help them. They're they're
a great organization. Again, I think you know the connections
that that they make with people, and that you know
the care that they provide. It just it goes forward
from one person to the next. And the knowledge, the compassion,
the care, the professionalism that they provide.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
It is.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
It's a wonderful thing in a trying time and have
that level of care in our community is very valuable.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
Well listen, man, I know you got a snowy job
site this morning. Yeah, we'll let you get back to it.
But thank you ever so much, John, Thank.
Speaker 4 (19:33):
You, John, so so happy, so happy to have a
few minutes together. Thank you for assisting with the campaign,
JD for all you do in the community as well,
and we look forward to talking further. I hope everybody
has a wonderful holiday season.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Thanks John. Wow, what a great guy. Incredible. We should
mention that giving is open right now on your website.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Giving is open right now, correct, yep, we can. You
can call the agency at eight oh two two two
three one eight seven eight, go to our website at
CVHHH dot org or on our Facebook page. There will
be plenty of links and reminders today.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Okay, uh cv HHH dot org. And again that phone
number eight oh two two two three, eighteen seventy eight.
I'll put that up in the comments here. I mean,
bottom line, you could just call and say, hey, here's
my card, throw ten bucks on it.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Uh. And like I said earlier, the power of numbers
is massive. If enough people do that, we're gonna hit
twenty five hundred bucks in no time.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
I agree.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yep, Yes, this is wonderful. Please get back in here soon.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
I will. We have I will come back said.
Speaker 2 (20:47):
Yes, there's so much, there's so much that is so
much more that you guys are doing, and we should
we should say this isn't something that closes at midnight tonight.
This is going to be going on, as we said,
through the end of the year.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Yep, Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is a single day match challenge. However,
we are our year end appeal does go through the
end of the year. And I do want to just
throw a plug to Tom McClay and his wonderful letter
that he wrote.
Speaker 2 (21:16):
Amazing. I read it last night.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Yeah, and he I will say quickly. He closes the
letter by saying, in this community, neighbors take care of neighbors.
It's just what we do. And I think that idea
is what motivates everyone who works at CVHHU, the Connors.
It brings us together and I think it's really important.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
And his wife, Charlotte, what a testament to the real
spirit behind caregiving.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
Absolutely, yeah, Charlotte was a They have a really a
really nice story. They were married for forty nine years.
They met, they lived in neighboring towns in Vermont, went
to college and reconnected and got married after college. And
he said to me when they moved to Phoenix, I
think somewhere in Arizona, he said. He can still remember
(22:05):
her going out to her first job in pigtails, just
eager and excited and passionate. And she took that, you know,
I think wherever she was, as did Tom. And when
he was talking about his upbringing and he was talking
about Charlotte's Charlotte's mother was the head nurse at Mount
Ascutney Hospital, overseeing the ED and he said, Charlotte grew
up in a house where everyone called her mother Laurie
(22:27):
if they needed anything, and she was sort of the
go to person. And Tom had a different experience growing up.
Based on what he said to me, but they both
shared this commitment to just doing what you can to
help the people around you. And when Charlotte and Tom
settled in Central Vermont, Charlotte volunteered for CVHHH giving flu shots.
(22:47):
She was a hospice volunteer, she was on our board,
and she was really involved in the movement supporting childbirth
and formalizing childbirth education. She was always very committed to
public health, maternal and family, child health, and education.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
So Tom, if you're listening, I would first of all
thank you, and secondly, I would love to have you
share our microphones here. You are very clearly keeping the
legacy of your wife alive. And well, I just got
a text from a guy here in the comments, Brian
(23:22):
McDonald says he gives away his profits from his company
and he's done this for the last twenty years and
he's got a check coming your way.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
So I'm very appreciative. Thank you, Brian.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Amazing. I just love it. I love stuff like this.
Let's give an update as we get closer.
Speaker 3 (23:45):
I will keep you posted.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
Yeah, as we get closer to the end of the year.
And thanks to the all of the Connors for being
for stepping up this year. All that's fine, that's fine.
They are a huge, huge part of Central Vermont Home
Health and Hospices twenty twenty five year end fundraising appeal.
(24:09):
We appreciate them so much. Listen, be well. We're gonna
chat with Downstreet Housing and Community Development here in just
a little bit. But they also have some big, big
things to share with you this morning, and we're gonna
get to it. We're gonna do it all, We're gonna
get through it. We have so much to talk about.
(24:31):
We have a community calendar that is just burst in
at the seams. We have a Toys for Tots toy
drive that's going to be happening Saturday from noon to
five up at the Berlin Mall at five below. I'll
be there part of that. We have some great businesses
that are teaming up with that, and of course the
(24:52):
Central Vermont Christmas for Kids, the big coin drop coming
up Saturday, just two of so many events, and of
course the Battle and Barry eighteen. And they've got some
stuff on the Donningbruk Fight Promotions page about Central Vermont
Christmas for Kids and your opportunity to help that cause
(25:18):
during the main event Saturday night at the Burry Auditorium.
We'll be back in just a little bit, appreciate your
eyes and your ears. Thank you so much. God bless
and thank you so much to the Central Vermont Home
Health and Hospice, not only a presenting sponsor here of
the aired out podcast, but also an integral part of
(25:39):
our community that we need so so much. We'll talk
to you in just a little bit here in the
aired out podcast.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
To PAS
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