Faith leaders, United Way create benevolence fund

The houses of worship will raise funds in their communities, including with a weekend of worship dedicated to supporting the Interfaith Benevolence Fund, while United Way will be responsible for administering the fund and distributing the aid in an equitable and effective way.

The Interfaith Benevolence Fund will provide an avenue for community members to donate within their faith traditions with the confidence that an experienced partner will ensure the funds are distributed with the support their neighbors need to resolve pressing issues.

“Despite serving our communities directly for years, our local places of worship are seeing unprecedented requests for help in our county right now,” said Rabbi David Fainsilber of the Jewish Community of Greater Stowe. “Families and individuals are struggling just with the basics. How can you drive to work in the winter here if you don’t have proper winter tires? Are we really asking people to choose between heating their homes and buying groceries? But we simply cannot meet the needs alone. We need to do this together.”

“United Way of Lamoille County has long demonstrated the relationships, resources and logistical support necessary to offer assistance to our community members,” Rev. Dr. Becca Girrell, pastor of the United Community Church of Morrisville, said. “United Way can leverage resources from multiple places, in a way a single faith community may not be able to manage. We place our trust in this broad network of community partners, including communities of faith, to offer greater assistance than any one of us can do on our own.”

Founding partners include Jewish Community of Greater Stowe, Stowe Community Church, Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish and United Community Church of Morrisville, but all faith communities in Lamoille County and beyond are invited to give to the fund and direct folks seeking assistance to the United Way.

“As people of faith, including our faith in one another, we have a moral responsibility to support the members of our community that are in greatest need,” Girrell said.

Those who want to donate to the fund can go to uwlamoille.org.