Latest / Aired Out / Wheels for Warmth 2026 with Alison Calderara, Capstone Community Action’s Executive Director.

Transcript

Wheels for Warmth 2026 with Alison Calderara, Capstone Community Action’s Executive Director. · Aired Out

• 1:24
  Speaker 1: All right, we're getting there, gang. It is almost Friday.
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: Let's call it Friday Eve, shall we? It is Thursday.
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: It is a pleasure to have you with us. It's
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: the 8th now of October. Watching that big old hurricane
• 1:39
  Speaker 1: that is moving through the Gulf and headed for some
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: of the Gulf states tomorrow. Going to post up about
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: that in a little bit, give you some details, some
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: information if you've got friends, family in that area. But
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: it looks like it's going to be going from a
• 1:56
  Speaker 1: Cat 1 to a Cat 2 before it makes landfall
• 1:59
  Speaker 1: sometime tomorrow. So watching that, watching a whole lot of stuff, actually.
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: There's a ton of stuff that's happening, not just in
• 2:09
  Speaker 1: the nation right now, but in Vermont. Tons of news happening.
• 2:15
  Speaker 1: Look out for some of the road construction projects on
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: the interstates and on some of our municipal roadways. It
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: is really, really busy out there. And a lot of
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: these road crews are just busting it, trying to hurry up, frankly,
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: and just get these jobs done. So pay attention to
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: the flaggers. Keep the cell phone down. Take a sip
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: of the coffee if you want, but just be paying attention.
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: There's a lot of stuff that's happening. There's some great
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: stuff that's happening in our community. I can't believe that
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: this is the 21st year of Wheels for Warmth that
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: is right in front of us. Allison Calderera is the
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: director over at Capstone Studios. Executive Director, it is an
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: absolute pleasure to have you in here. Thank you.
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: Well, thank you for having me, and especially to talk
• 3:18
  Speaker 2: about my very favorite special event, Wheels for Warm.
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: I know.
• 3:22
  Speaker 3: What could be better than that, J.D.
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: I'm telling you. You know, every year I say this
• 3:27
  Speaker 1: on the air, but every year I genuinely mean this.
• 3:31
  Speaker 1: It's like, you know, Allison, with all good things, there's pros,
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: there's cons.
• 3:39
  Speaker 2: Sure.
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: Right?
• 3:41
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: I can't think of one con when it comes to
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: Wheels for Warmth. It's nothing but pro.
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: You know?
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: It's helping the environment. It's helping people get good tires
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: on their car. I mean, it's amazing.
• 3:56
  Speaker 3: It's amazing. You know, with typical special events, they just
• 4:00
  Speaker 3: do one thing. Wheels for Warmth hits three really important
• 4:06
  Speaker 3: buckets of importance.
• 4:08
  Speaker 2: Yeah. And there's not many events that do all three
• 4:13
  Speaker 2: of those things. And Wheels for Warmth does that. And
• 4:17
  Speaker 2: is there any cons to it? I can't think of one.
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: I can't think of one except there's a heck of
• 4:25
  Speaker 2: a lot of work that goes on in the background
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: in order to make this. You know, we were discussing
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: whether it was the 21st or 22nd anniversary.
• 4:36
  Speaker 3: And you know what, J.D.
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: That is amazing no matter what. Most special events don't
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: have that standing strength over so many years. And I
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: think it speaks to the vision of Wheels for Warmth.
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: It speaks to the leadership. It speaks to the volunteerism.
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: And it speaks to something, what I would say is
• 5:00
  Speaker 2: very special about Vermont.
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: Big time.
• 5:03
  Speaker 3: Big time.
• 5:05
  Speaker 2: And so I think all of those things come together
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: and create an event that is unlike anything that I've
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: had any experience with.
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: Sure. Let's run down some of the basic staples for
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: this year because people, they want to know when and where.
• 5:26
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: It's running Thursday the 29th through Saturday the 31st. That's right.
• 5:30
  Speaker 4: And....
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: This thing has picked up so much momentum over the years,
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: and it started out with a real small and simple concept.
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: And frankly, Phil Scott should have known that this thing
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: was going to really take flight. Maybe he did. But
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: that first year, man, it was like, first and maybe
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: the second year, was fantastic. Fantastic. But, man, gas got
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: thrown on the fire, and all of a sudden this
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: thing is spreading all over the place. And now, I mean,
• 6:12
  Speaker 1: look what's happening down in Killington or Menden.
• 6:16
  Speaker 3: It is all over the state.
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: Kingdom now.
• 6:20
  Speaker 3: In the kingdom.
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: And every community action agency in the state is a
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: drop-off site. Plus, they receive funds for their very critical
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: heating assistance programs through this. And maybe we should, you know,
• 6:38
  Speaker 2: one thing, just to step back a little bit, if
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: people aren't familiar with Wheels for Warmth, the three beautiful
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: things about it.
• 6:44
  Speaker 3: First of all, if you.
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: Have a set of tires that are languishing in your garage,
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: maybe you bought a new car or you traded one,
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: you know, however that happened, and you've got a set
• 6:55
  Speaker 2: of good tires in your garage with at least one
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: season on them, you can put those to good use.
• 7:03
  Speaker 3: You can donate those.
• 7:04
  Speaker 4: Great use.
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: Great use.
• 7:05
  Speaker 3: Great use.
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: And if they're not good tires, then they will be
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: disposed of properly, which keeps them out of our waterways.
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: You know, this is an important thing. We keep Vermont beautiful.
• 7:18
  Speaker 2: So it has that aspect of it, right? So people
• 7:21
  Speaker 2: get to donate good tires. And the second part about
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: this is that folks who struggle to pay for tires,
• 7:31
  Speaker 2: and J.D., we had a great conversation about the cost
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: of tires today.
• 7:35
  Speaker 3: Insane. It is.
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: I will concur with that. They can buy a tire for,
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: now I think it's, is it $ 25 a tire? I
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: don't know what it is this year.
• 7:46
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: 15-inch or $ 15 a tire up to 17-inch for $ 25
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: a tire. And the highest price you can pay for
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: a tire.
• 7:51
  Speaker 3: Is $ 30. That means a lot to people.
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: That's the cap.
• 8:06
  Speaker 3: That's the cap.
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: And at the same time, all of the money raised
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: by the donations, and Casella even donates the disposal fees.
• 8:20
  Speaker 2: Every bit of sponsorship money, every piece of money that's donated,
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: including the money for the tires, goes to support heating
• 8:29
  Speaker 2: assistance programs all over the state, For Vermonters that are
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: struggling in the winter to stay warm. What's the downside
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: of any of that?
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: I know. I can't find one.
• 8:41
  Speaker 2: No.
• 8:41
  Speaker 3: I can't find one.
• 8:43
  Speaker 4: No.
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: It really is a fantastic event and does so much
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: good across so many different things.
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: Yeah. Maybe one con in that you may have to...
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: Bring an umbrella if it's raining.
• 9:01
  Speaker 4: Oh, yes.
• 9:04
  Speaker 3: Why, yes. Why, yes, you will. You'll have to bring
• 9:07
  Speaker 3: an umbrella.
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: Maybe I've heard tell the historical tales.
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: Please don't say snow.
• 9:14
  Speaker 3: I know, that dreaded word.
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: But there has been, though.
• 9:18
  Speaker 3: There has been, yes.
• 9:20
  Speaker 1: But so many Vermonters are like, don't care.
• 9:24
  Speaker 3: Nope, don't care.
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: I'll be there at stupid o'clock. I'll be waiting in line.
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: In the dark. I've got, I know which vehicles I need.
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: I've got them written down on a piece of paper.
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: I know exactly what I'm looking for. And look at
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: the number of volunteers that are right there saying, how
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: can I help you? What number do you need? All
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: season or winter?
• 9:47
  Speaker 3: That's right. And they'll help you find the tires.
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: Get you in and out.
• 9:51
  Speaker 2: They'll get you in and out. They'll help sling those
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: tires for you. They will help you get those tires
• 9:56
  Speaker 2: into the car.
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: They'll help you get a hot cup of coffee.
• 9:59
  Speaker 3: A hot cup of coffee.
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: And some food?
• 10:03
  Speaker 3: And some food. There's usually some good hot dogs and
• 10:05
  Speaker 3: things to eat there.
• 10:07
  Speaker 2: It's very much a community fun-based event.
• 10:11
  Speaker 3: There's a lot of fun.
• 10:13
  Speaker 2: And I think, J.D., one of the things you and
• 10:15
  Speaker 2: I did talk about was... Watching all the people are
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: there early.
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 10:21
  Speaker 3: Waiting in line.
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: It's become a tradition.
• 10:24
  Speaker 4: It has.
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: You know what's so cool is that Vermonters will get
• 10:29
  Speaker 1: up early, get there, get in line. Not necessarily for themselves, but.
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: For their neighbor.
• 10:37
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 10:37
  Speaker 1: Or their elderly neighbor who needs some tires. And they'll
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: be like, not here for myself. I'm here for my neighbor.
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: Got to get him some tires. Let's ding the bell
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: here on some folks at Capstone that are go-getters.
• 10:55
  Speaker 4: Yvonne.
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: Oh, yes. Yvonne, yes. Understatement.
• 10:59
  Speaker 3: An understatement, yes.
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: You said Sue Rossi.
• 11:03
  Speaker 3: Sue Rossi.
• 11:04
  Speaker 2: Has been working in our crisis fuel department. She is
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: the program manager there. She is phenomenal. And when I
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: say working in crisis fuel, I am not doing justice
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: to the level of knowledge that you have to have
• 11:23
  Speaker 2: about the ins and outs of these programs, what people
• 11:27
  Speaker 2: are eligible for, and Her team, Sue and her team,
• 11:34
  Speaker 2: are outstanding individuals that have a depth of knowledge that
• 11:39
  Speaker 2: I can't even fathom. But they know if you're eligible,
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: they will help you navigate. And I can't say enough
• 11:47
  Speaker 2: about what they do each.
• 11:50
  Speaker 3: And every day.
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: You know what else they know is the cost of.
• 11:58
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: What heating fuel has gone to.
• 12:00
  Speaker 3: That is exactly right.
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: Let's see. There's insane. There's absurd. There's ridiculous. There's, you know,
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: all kinds of words that you can pin on that. But,
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: I mean, I know, I know you do, several people
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: that are just like, oh, my God, the price of fuel.
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: I don't know how I'm going to do it.
• 12:22
  Speaker 3: I will tell you.
• 12:23
  Speaker 2: That when we were planning for this year's season, we,
• 12:27
  Speaker 2: of course, we know. I mean, all of us know
• 12:29
  Speaker 2: that the prices have gone up. I actually checked the
• 12:33
  Speaker 2: price change from last year to this year, and I
• 12:37
  Speaker 2: had to check it several times because I couldn't quite
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: believe it.
• 12:41
  Speaker 3: You too, 66%.
• 12:44
  Speaker 2: And kerosene is another one that people don't typically think about,
• 12:48
  Speaker 2: but we have folks that heat with kerosene, and kerosene
• 12:51
  Speaker 2: is up by 60%. So you think about, you know,
• 12:56
  Speaker 2: last year at Capstone, the average amount of an assist,
• 13:00
  Speaker 2: and that's someone filling their fuel tank, was around $ 630.
• 13:04
  Speaker 3: Okay. Now what's that going to get you this year?
• 13:11
  Speaker 3: And so that is where the real challenge comes in,
• 13:14
  Speaker 3: and that's.
• 13:15
  Speaker 2: Why events like Wheels for Warmth and our Fuel Your
• 13:20
  Speaker 2: Neighbors campaign and all of those other things This is
• 13:23
  Speaker 2: a year of great challenge for folks to stay warm.
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah. Understatement. We all need to pull together as Vermonters.
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: At the absolute least, even if you don't go to
• 13:36
  Speaker 1: Wheels for warmth, even if you're not part of it
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: in any way, check on your neighbors more. I say
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: it every October, November. I say it on the air
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: during every Colts nap. But, man, this winter more than ever,
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: you've got to check on your neighbors. And if they're
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: not doing well and you don't know where to begin,
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: make a phone call to Capstone and say, look, let's
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: start at the beginning. And if we strike out there,
• 14:06
  Speaker 1: which probably won't, they'll be able to help us.
• 14:11
  Speaker 3: That's right.
• 14:12
  Speaker 2: And I think that's such an important thing. And I
• 14:14
  Speaker 2: will tell you that the last month we've gotten probably
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: a couple hundred phone calls. And when I think about
• 14:20
  Speaker 2: a couple of those, at least a few of those
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: phone calls have been from people who are caretaking elderly folks.
• 14:25
  Speaker 1: Yep.
• 14:25
  Speaker 3: And they're really worried.
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: Yep.
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: And that, I think, is a really important thing to express.
• 14:33
  Speaker 2: The other thing I would also say is that, and
• 14:35
  Speaker 2: this is for to be a little proactive, is that
• 14:38
  Speaker 2: we weatherize homes as well, J.D.
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, you do.
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: And if you know anyone, maybe a senior that's trying
• 14:46
  Speaker 2: to stay independent in their home or someone that's really
• 14:48
  Speaker 2: struggling with high heating bills, it's really a good idea
• 14:52
  Speaker 2: to look into weatherization because weatherization is, you know, if
• 14:55
  Speaker 2: you meet the income guidelines, it's completely free and we
• 14:59
  Speaker 2: can reduce your heating bills. And, you know, there's a
• 15:03
  Speaker 2: wait list now, but it's never a bad thing to
• 15:06
  Speaker 2: be thinking about that. And especially if you're working with
• 15:10
  Speaker 2: elderly neighbors who are in their homes.
• 15:14
  Speaker 3: It's a good thing to think about.
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: Tell me about Erica Scott.
• 15:19
  Speaker 3: Oh, Erica.
• 15:21
  Speaker 2: Erica has been tireless in her work on Wheels for Warmth.
• 15:29
  Speaker 2: I have worked with her over the last few years
• 15:32
  Speaker 2: and She has just really worked so hard to make
• 15:37
  Speaker 2: this a success every year. If you go to the
• 15:41
  Speaker 2: Wheels for Warmth in Barry, there's Erica. You know, managing,
• 15:46
  Speaker 2: running back and forth, managing it all. And I can
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: tell you right now she's putting in a lot of hours.
• 15:53
  Speaker 2: And she really, really is one of those amazing volunteers
• 15:59
  Speaker 2: that make it all work. And I would be extremely remiss, J.D.,
• 16:03
  Speaker 2: if I did not talk about Richard Wabi either. Yes.
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: Same deal.
• 16:07
  Speaker 3: Same deal.
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: Yeah. And Richard has been doing this for, I think
• 16:11
  Speaker 2: he's been involved for the entire time.
• 16:13
  Speaker 1: Since the inception.
• 16:14
  Speaker 3: Since the inception.
• 16:16
  Speaker 2: And the work that he has done within his community
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: and the work that he has done to be able
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: to broaden this across the state, you know, it exemplifies
• 16:27
  Speaker 2: volunteerism for your community.
• 16:28
  Speaker 4: Sure.
• 16:29
  Speaker 2: And I can assure you that Wheels for Warmth, at
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: least in my eyes, I don't think that it would
• 16:34
  Speaker 2: have not have survived and thrived in the way that
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: we see it today without them.
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: Erica, throw some love back at Allison.
• 16:44
  Speaker 4: I was just going to say, I'm so glad you
• 16:46
  Speaker 4: asked Allison how she felt about me. Hi, Erica. Good morning.
• 16:51
  Speaker 4: I'm just glad Richard Wabi didn't have to answer that
• 16:54
  Speaker 4: question about me this morning.
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: Oh, my God. Oh, my God. I can only imagine.
• 16:59
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean, we're usually on good terms about now.
• 17:02
  Speaker 4: I mean, the beginning of October, but if you asked
• 17:04
  Speaker 4: in a couple more weeks, it would be, you know,
• 17:06
  Speaker 4: him and I are like, you know, we answer gruffly.
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: Yes. This is such an incredible event. Anything that you
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: want to add here to this conversation? I'm sure you
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: must have something.
• 17:22
  Speaker 4: I think the part that I love seeing the most
• 17:25
  Speaker 4: over the years, I mean, so Capstone has always been
• 17:28
  Speaker 4: a part of the wheels for warmth event since the beginning.
• 17:32
  Speaker 4: And now I love seeing that officially this year, we
• 17:36
  Speaker 4: are able to say that we have all of the, um,
• 17:40
  Speaker 4: the community action agencies as across the state as a
• 17:44
  Speaker 4: part of this event as partners. And I just think
• 17:46
  Speaker 4: that's a really, not only cool thing, but what a
• 17:49
  Speaker 4: great opportunity for other people in different parts of the
• 17:52
  Speaker 4: state to be able to participate in and, you know,
• 17:54
  Speaker 4: to watch our growth. So that's been fun to see.
• 17:58
  Speaker 1: This is something that, are we, we're like, what, either
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: side of a million dollars, I think, here, total.
• 18:09
  Speaker 4: So, yeah, lobby math would have already had us there.
• 18:14
  Speaker 4: But I think we truly are going to, I'm hoping
• 18:16
  Speaker 4: that we hit a million this year. We're over 900.
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: We're close. We're close. Yeah. And this is staggering. I mean, listen,
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: I don't need to tell both of you this because
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: you already know. Other states, surrounding states, and not just
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: on the outskirts of New England, but even further than this,
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: have been scratching their heads saying, wow, are you seeing
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: what these people up in Vermont, these crazy people up
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: in Vermont are doing? I mean, this is like, this
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: is unbelievable. And to think that the inception of this was,
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: you know, created on the back of a paper plate
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: of like hey let's do this let's do that and
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: then let's do this too let's let's get great tires
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: for people that are conforming for folks that have tires
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: laying around collecting dust taking a room in their garage
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: or their barn or whatever let's get those out and
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: and let's get them disposed of correctly or if they're
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: in good enough shape let's get them onto the vehicles
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: of where they could go. If, if it's an old size,
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: it doesn't fit anymore. You sold your car, whatever. Don't
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: let those tires take up room in your barn. Get them,
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: get them to someone who needs them. And then, you know,
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: the other idea of, well, let's get V trans involved.
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: Let's get this state involved and, and make sure that
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: these tires are really, truly classified as being safe. I mean,
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: it's just, it's unbelievable. And Casella, uh, um, the fact
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: that they, they brought in the, uh, the disposal disposal
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: machines to grind these tires up is just amazing. It's
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: all done right there. No fool.
• 20:00
  Speaker 4: Now we've got this. Yeah. Now we've got the state too,
• 20:03
  Speaker 4: that comes in and the department of agriculture. And now
• 20:06
  Speaker 4: they come in too, during the event and they will, um,
• 20:10
  Speaker 4: chop up some of the tires so that they can
• 20:12
  Speaker 4: use them for farms as well around the state, which
• 20:15
  Speaker 4: is awesome. So they slice them and use those top
• 20:18
  Speaker 4: parts there to put on the tops of the– oh, gosh,
• 20:22
  Speaker 4: I'm going to say it wrong. But, again, just another win.
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 20:27
  Speaker 2: That's a fourth benefit of Wheels for Warmth.
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: Oh, we could go five.
• 20:32
  Speaker 4: Yeah. Who loses? Nobody loses.
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: No, I know. So Saturday, October 31st.
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: 8 a.m. until noon, and that's a fast four hours.
• 20:43
  Speaker 3: That is a very fast four hours.
• 20:46
  Speaker 4: That's a circus.
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: Vermont Granite Museum in Barrie, Casella Construction in Pittsburgh, and
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: look at the agencies that are involved here. Brock, NECA,
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: I know I'm just mentioning two, but I know there's others.
• 21:05
  Speaker 3: SEVCO.
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: Oh, yes.
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: Yes, SEVCO. That's the new one.
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: Oh, yeah, SEFCA, yeah.
• 21:11
  Speaker 3: Five community action agencies all across the state.
• 21:15
  Speaker 4: Wow.
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: So the collection site, Vermont Granite Museum, from 2 until
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 29th, and Friday, October 30th.
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: You've got two days to get those tires over there.
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: Two days.
• 21:36
  Speaker 4: Yep. And if you're like my friends and you... You know,
• 21:39
  Speaker 4: you live in, like, the Lamoille County area. You work
• 21:43
  Speaker 4: in Washington County. You know, we've got other locations around
• 21:46
  Speaker 4: the state. You know, so we've got Stowe and Williston, Linden, Westminster,
• 21:51
  Speaker 4: and then Pittsburgh as well, too. So you've got so
• 21:54
  Speaker 4: many places to drop tires those Thursday and Friday, and
• 21:56
  Speaker 4: that's all on our website, too.
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: Look at these stats here. And I know you've got some, too, Allison.
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: But since 2005, right here, Wheels for Warmth has raised
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: more than $ 900, 000 in Sold 27,000 safe donated tires and
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: recycled 53,000 unsafe tires. 53,000.
• 22:21
  Speaker 3: Pretty amazing, isn't it?
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: That are going somewhere other than in our rivers and
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: streams and on the side of the road.
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: Right.
• 22:30
  Speaker 3: And my favorite statistic, over 25,000 volunteer hours. That's unreal.
• 22:39
  Speaker 3: It is unreal. 1,100 volunteers over the years.
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: Erica, anything you want to throw in here? I mean, Kelton,
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: we've got some great people that are.
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: We do. I mean, you said it before, but it's true. So,
• 22:55
  Speaker 4: I mean, Casella's been part of this event since 2005.
• 22:59
  Speaker 4: They never hesitate. We don't even ask. I mean, they
• 23:04
  Speaker 4: just do it. But we couldn't do it without them.
• 23:07
  Speaker 4: I mean, this wouldn't happen without them. But also, I
• 23:10
  Speaker 4: think we've got some other great partners that have joined
• 23:12
  Speaker 4: in the last five or 10 years, like East Rise.
• 23:16
  Speaker 4: They not only give us financial, you know, sponsorship money,
• 23:19
  Speaker 4: but then they have a great team of people that
• 23:21
  Speaker 4: helps us with marketing. And then they help with food
• 23:24
  Speaker 4: on the day of. And they're just, they're all about
• 23:27
  Speaker 4: making us better and whatever they can do to help.
• 23:29
  Speaker 4: And so anyways, we have a lot of good people.
• 23:32
  Speaker 4: Those are Those are two of the bigger ones. Obviously,
• 23:35
  Speaker 4: we've got others that we could not do this without, too,
• 23:38
  Speaker 4: like our partners like AGC.
• 23:40
  Speaker 2: Yep. The Granite Museum. Norwich sends wonderful volunteers.
• 23:46
  Speaker 3: Norwich is a fun one.
• 23:48
  Speaker 2: Associated General Contractors. The list is long, J.D.
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: Sure it is.
• 23:53
  Speaker 4: You know, the fun one, J.D., is Norwich. So this
• 23:56
  Speaker 4: year is going to be great. So we used to
• 23:58
  Speaker 4: get the Norwich women's hockey team would come and volunteer
• 24:02
  Speaker 4: on the day of the event. Yes. And they're incredible.
• 24:05
  Speaker 4: I know.
• 24:06
  Speaker 3: They are great.
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: Animals.
• 24:08
  Speaker 4: And they're fun. They like to laugh and they have
• 24:10
  Speaker 4: a good time. Well, anyways, unfortunately, this year they have
• 24:13
  Speaker 4: a game. But their coach reached out to the men's
• 24:17
  Speaker 4: hockey coach and was like, you know, you guys don't
• 24:19
  Speaker 4: have a game. You should do this. And so they're
• 24:21
  Speaker 4: going to come this year, see if they can, you know,
• 24:24
  Speaker 4: even hold a candle to the girls. But they also,
• 24:27
  Speaker 4: we're going to add in this year the lacrosse team too.
• 24:29
  Speaker 4: So we're going to have a lot of muscle this
• 24:32
  Speaker 4: year to help. I'm excited about that.
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: I'm excited about that too. It's so much fun to
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: be at these events. There's so much good energy and
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: the young people, they bring so much fun and good cheer.
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: Hey, let's give a tip of the hat to Mike Casella.
• 24:50
  Speaker 4: Oh, yeah.
• 24:51
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 24:51
  Speaker 4: Good old Mike. He's one, he's kind of like, Oh,
• 24:57
  Speaker 4: so he's not one that I'll call three months in
• 24:59
  Speaker 4: advance for things. He's the one that just like a Richard,
• 25:02
  Speaker 4: where if everything is kind of seems to be going
• 25:05
  Speaker 4: crazy the day before, he's the one I call and
• 25:07
  Speaker 4: he's like, Erica, it's fine. It's fine. We're just going
• 25:10
  Speaker 4: to do this, this, and this, and it's going to
• 25:12
  Speaker 4: be fine. And he does, he makes it happen. He's,
• 25:14
  Speaker 4: he is a, let's make it happen. He doesn't like get,
• 25:19
  Speaker 4: he doesn't get anxious the way I do or, like,
• 25:23
  Speaker 4: you know, feeling like I can't breathe. He just makes
• 25:25
  Speaker 4: it happen. And I love that about him.
• 25:27
  Speaker 1: The thing is, and you both know this, it is,
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: it's really one thing to have a great idea. I mean,
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: I've sat before and penned out some great ideas. I
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: know y'all have too, but it's a whole nother thing
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: to actually have execute that great idea and let it
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: fall together.
• 25:53
  Speaker 4: 100%.
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: It's a whole other bag. And if you don't have, frankly,
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: an army of people behind you who believe in this
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: to pull the weight and say, I know what this does.
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: I mean, we've got folks that have benefited from this
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: emergency heating program who are now volunteering.
• 26:16
  Speaker 4: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Oh, absolutely.
• 26:19
  Speaker 1: Full circle. Yeah, that's it.
• 26:22
  Speaker 4: But the thing is, is that it's so hard nowadays
• 26:25
  Speaker 4: to find people that want to, you know, volunteer their time.
• 26:28
  Speaker 4: And we are fortunate that we have such a good
• 26:31
  Speaker 4: group of people. They don't want the limelight. Like if
• 26:33
  Speaker 4: Mike knew that we were complimenting him, he would be mortified.
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: That's why I did.
• 26:38
  Speaker 4: Yeah, these people, they're doing it because it's the right
• 26:41
  Speaker 4: thing to do. They truly want to. And our group
• 26:44
  Speaker 4: of volunteers, that is why they do it. It has
• 26:46
  Speaker 4: nothing to do with, you know, they just, that's who
• 26:49
  Speaker 4: they are. So we're very lucky.
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: Yeah, we are.
• 26:52
  Speaker 2: There's nothing better than seeing the folks lining up to
• 26:56
  Speaker 2: get their tires. And running to find their tires and
• 27:02
  Speaker 2: their excitement in finding just.
• 27:04
  Speaker 3: The right set of tires.
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: Unreal.
• 27:06
  Speaker 3: For a price they can afford.
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: I know.
• 27:08
  Speaker 3: There's nothing better than that.
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: Yep. I'll be there. I'll be there this year. Can't wait. Oh, good.
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: Can't wait.
• 27:15
  Speaker 4: I always love that.
• 27:17
  Speaker 1: So, we got drop-off days. Thursday, October 29th. Friday, October 30th. Barrie. Pittsburgh, Stowe, Williston, Lindenville, Westminster.
• 27:31
  Speaker 1: I'm going to get all of this. As a matter
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: of fact, I'll drop it into the comments right here.
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: I'll get with the address and everything. Everything you need
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: to know. And then the tire sale Saturday, October 31st,
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: which is Halloween morning, from 8 till noon. Not from
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: 8 to 8. 8 till noon.
• 27:50
  Speaker 3: 8 till noon.
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: And then here's the other thing, Erica, and I almost forgot.
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: Right around like 10 o'clock-ish.
• 28:00
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes.
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: Something happens.
• 28:02
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes.
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: What happens? Tires.
• 28:06
  Speaker 4: Half-price tires.
• 28:07
  Speaker 3: That's right. Half-price tires.
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: Starting at 10 o'clock.
• 28:11
  Speaker 4: Like it wasn't a good enough deal already. I know.
• 28:14
  Speaker 4: And then we flash them in half at 10.
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: What were you saying, Allison? $ 30 cap on tires?
• 28:18
  Speaker 4: Yes. Nuts. Yep.
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: 18 inches are $ 30. And 13 and 14 inches in
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: singles are free.
• 28:27
  Speaker 3: So it runs the gamut.
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: Erica, thank you for hopping on with us this morning.
• 28:32
  Speaker 4: Hey, thanks for doing this. I meant it when I
• 28:35
  Speaker 4: said in my email last night, and you're another one,
• 28:37
  Speaker 4: that you do it because you truly think it's the
• 28:39
  Speaker 4: right thing to do. But if it's not for people
• 28:42
  Speaker 4: like you helping to promote our event, we wouldn't be
• 28:45
  Speaker 4: as successful as we are. So thanks for following us
• 28:48
  Speaker 4: all these years and for everything that you do behind
• 28:50
  Speaker 4: the scenes and in front of the scenes to support us.
• 28:52
  Speaker 4: We appreciate it.
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: Great pleasure. And you've got a microphone waiting here any
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: time for you if you want it. But Facebook, Wheels
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: for Warmth. Instagram at Wheels for Warmth. The Crisis Fuel
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: Assistance Program is the beneficiary here. Our environment is the
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: beneficiary as well.
• 29:15
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: You go right ahead. I know you've got things you
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: want to say, Allison.
• 29:18
  Speaker 4: Sure.
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: I just want to say how important it is for
• 29:22
  Speaker 2: heating assistance programs across the entire state. I think that
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: this is a really rough year for people. We are
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: seeing that the average cost of an assist, $ 600 last year.
• 29:37
  Speaker 2: This year, we're seeing that people are going to need
• 29:40
  Speaker 2: help to fill their fuel tank. It will be $ 1, 400, $ 1, 500.
• 29:42
  Speaker 2: We're going to need a lot of extra support in
• 29:49
  Speaker 2: order to be able to meet the needs that are
• 29:50
  Speaker 2: out there in the community. Most years, last year we
• 29:55
  Speaker 2: served 828 households. That's probably 1,100 adults and maybe 300
• 30:04
  Speaker 2: kids included in that. And these heating assistance funds kept
• 30:09
  Speaker 2: them warm. It's a basic human need that people need
• 30:13
  Speaker 2: to keep warm. And with the increase in the cost
• 30:17
  Speaker 2: right now, it's where we are and we need to
• 30:21
  Speaker 2: face it head on. And one of the ways that
• 30:23
  Speaker 2: we face it head on is through the generosity of
• 30:26
  Speaker 2: our community. And I saw yesterday our governor is talking
• 30:33
  Speaker 2: about increased funds for LIHEAP. I heartily applaud that. All
• 30:39
  Speaker 2: hands on deck for that this year. And so if everyone,
• 30:42
  Speaker 2: if we all do our part and we all contribute
• 30:46
  Speaker 2: as we can, we can help get through what might
• 30:49
  Speaker 2: be a really tough winter for some of our folks.
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: I don't know if it's that I'm getting older or
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: what the deal is. But it just seems like the
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: winters are getting longer and harder.
• 31:04
  Speaker 3: It sure felt that way last year, didn't it?
• 31:07
  Speaker 1: Absolutely did.
• 31:09
  Speaker 3: It did.
• 31:10
  Speaker 2: I feel like winter started in November and then ended
• 31:12
  Speaker 2: at the end of April.
• 31:14
  Speaker 3: So I know.
• 31:16
  Speaker 2: And I do think that there's something important to be
• 31:19
  Speaker 2: said about that because.
• 31:22
  Speaker 3: If you don't have heat... And you do not.
• 31:25
  Speaker 2: Want to turn on your furnace because you can't afford
• 31:28
  Speaker 2: to expend precious fuel oil. It feels pretty cold in
• 31:32
  Speaker 2: your house at the end of October and November.
• 31:35
  Speaker 1: Well, look at what we're all contending with. And I always,
• 31:40
  Speaker 1: in my mind, when I get talking about this, I
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: always tend to kind of think of the elderly folks
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: that are disabled.
• 31:49
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 31:49
  Speaker 1: But it's broader than that now.
• 31:55
  Speaker 3: Oh, it's broader than that.
• 31:57
  Speaker 2: I mean, you take a young, you know, I think
• 31:59
  Speaker 2: it all has to do, too, with it's not just
• 32:02
  Speaker 2: the cost of fuel.
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: No.
• 32:05
  Speaker 2: You know, you couple that with food. You couple that
• 32:09
  Speaker 2: with rent.
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: Gas.
• 32:11
  Speaker 3: Gas.
• 32:11
  Speaker 2: An affordable apartment. What we consider an affordable two-bedroom apartment
• 32:15
  Speaker 2: is $ 1, 400. That's no small thing, J.D.
• 32:19
  Speaker 4: No.
• 32:20
  Speaker 2: So, you know, I think, and there's lots of Vermonters,
• 32:22
  Speaker 2: according to the data, that are actually paying more than that.
• 32:25
  Speaker 2: So it's not just one single thing, but you put
• 32:28
  Speaker 2: together all of those things, and it's making affordability a
• 32:32
  Speaker 2: challenge right now. And this is just an added incredible
• 32:38
  Speaker 2: challenge and struggle for folks.
• 32:40
  Speaker 1: We know that, and I talk about this every year,
• 32:44
  Speaker 1: that Vermonters have to decide what's going to give. Is
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: it their medication?
• 32:53
  Speaker 2: Is it?
• 32:56
  Speaker 1: What is it? And, you know, a lot of Vermonters
• 33:00
  Speaker 1: are like, when it comes to their pets, that's priority
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: over even themselves. That's right. Even over their own medications.
• 33:12
  Speaker 1: And yes, even over their heat. We just got a
• 33:17
  Speaker 1: comment here. Tank of oil from a listener listening. $ 1, 360.
• 33:24
  Speaker 1: To fill the tank?
• 33:25
  Speaker 3: To fill the tank.
• 33:27
  Speaker 1: Yep.
• 33:28
  Speaker 3: Yep.
• 33:32
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 33:32
  Speaker 1: Man, you could.
• 33:34
  Speaker 3: That's a lot of money, J.D.
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: You could go on a vacation for that.
• 33:36
  Speaker 3: That's a lot of money.
• 33:37
  Speaker 2: We see people who are making those very difficult choices
• 33:41
  Speaker 2: every day. And I think one of the things that
• 33:44
  Speaker 2: we did touch upon before we went on the air, J.D.,
• 33:46
  Speaker 2: was talking about, you know, particularly seniors on fixed incomes. Yeah.
• 33:53
  Speaker 3: That's really tough.
• 33:54
  Speaker 2: You could have retired on your pension, you know, Social
• 33:58
  Speaker 2: Security 20 years ago, and it was fine then. But
• 34:02
  Speaker 2: now you find yourself in the situation where you can't
• 34:07
  Speaker 2: make it work anymore. And we see a lot of
• 34:10
  Speaker 2: seniors at our food shelf. Sue, through Crisis Fuel, she
• 34:15
  Speaker 2: works with a lot of seniors who are feeling, who are,
• 34:18
  Speaker 2: they just can't, They just can't pay their bills. And
• 34:22
  Speaker 2: that's not because of poor choices. That's just because of changes.
• 34:28
  Speaker 2: And I think that those are things that, in particular,
• 34:32
  Speaker 2: worry about the elderly folks, worry about young families with
• 34:36
  Speaker 2: small children and the expenses that they're facing. But yes, $ 1, 300
• 34:43
  Speaker 2: to fill your fuel tank, that's a big expense for
• 34:46
  Speaker 2: a family.
• 34:47
  Speaker 1: Let's... Let's put in the comments here some of the
• 34:55
  Speaker 1: businesses and sponsors that have– and I'm going to put
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: them– We're going to list them off here.
• 35:03
  Speaker 3: Thank you.
• 35:04
  Speaker 1: I've got the list, but we're going to put it
• 35:06
  Speaker 1: in the comments here.
• 35:07
  Speaker 2: That would be great. There's a long list of people
• 35:10
  Speaker 2: that make this happen.
• 35:11
  Speaker 1: Yeah, but they need the ding-ding here.
• 35:14
  Speaker 3: They do.
• 35:15
  Speaker 1: Casella Waste Management, of course, Waste Systems, right at the
• 35:19
  Speaker 1: top of the list. Yes, East Rise.
• 35:21
  Speaker 2: AT & T, Jet Service Envelope and Acura Printing, Associated
• 35:26
  Speaker 2: General Contractors, Vermont Granite Museum. Kinsella Construction, Norwich University, with
• 35:33
  Speaker 2: all those wonderful volunteers, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, they
• 35:37
  Speaker 2: always show up, ADA Traffic Control, Sunbelt Rentals, WDEV and
• 35:43
  Speaker 2: the Vermont Radio Group, G-Stone Motors, Pulteney Pools, Bennington Sheriff's Department,
• 35:50
  Speaker 2: Greenup Vermont, Borns Energy, Vermont Auto Dealers, and Vermont Fuel Dealers. Now,
• 35:57
  Speaker 2: isn't that a lengthy list? And absolutely amazing list of
• 36:03
  Speaker 2: Vermonters stepping up.
• 36:06
  Speaker 1: And all fees collected for tire disposal donated to wheels.
• 36:12
  Speaker 1: Nobody is lining their pockets with anything here.
• 36:16
  Speaker 2: Everything is donated to help Vermonters pay for their heat.
• 36:22
  Speaker 1: Incredible. It really is.
• 36:23
  Speaker 3: Does it get any better than that, JD?
• 36:25
  Speaker 1: It's just amazing. Listen, we're going to be... banging the
• 36:30
  Speaker 1: drum on this, um, between now, uh, and the, uh, 29th, uh, pretty,
• 36:38
  Speaker 1: pretty heavy. You're going to see it a lot on
• 36:40
  Speaker 1: the aired out Facebook page. You're going to hear it
• 36:42
  Speaker 1: in the microphone. Uh, but kudos to, uh, to Phil
• 36:47
  Speaker 1: Scott for, for sitting down and saying, this is a
• 36:51
  Speaker 1: great idea.
• 36:52
  Speaker 3: Yes.
• 36:53
  Speaker 1: Um, Yes. But let's turn this great idea into something real.
• 36:58
  Speaker 3: Something real, yes.
• 36:59
  Speaker 1: That's going to get traction, grow some legs, and look
• 37:02
  Speaker 1: at all these businesses that are jumping on board.
• 37:05
  Speaker 4: Yes.
• 37:05
  Speaker 1: There's the proof in the pudding right there.
• 37:06
  Speaker 3: There is the proof in the pudding. It's the Vermont way.
• 37:10
  Speaker 1: Yeah, it is. Take care of one another, but also
• 37:14
  Speaker 1: take care of our environment. And take care of yourself.
• 37:19
  Speaker 1: Get yourself a good set of tires. Get yourself.
• 37:22
  Speaker 3: Good, safe tires.
• 37:23
  Speaker 1: Yeah, good, safe tires that are DMV approved. Get yourself
• 37:29
  Speaker 1: a little bit of extra space in your garage or
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: your barn.
• 37:33
  Speaker 3: Donate those tires.
• 37:34
  Speaker 1: Donate those tires.
• 37:36
  Speaker 3: There's no downside.
• 37:37
  Speaker 2: You can get a deduction if the tires are good
• 37:40
  Speaker 2: and they can be sold. And it's a very inexpensive
• 37:45
  Speaker 2: way to dispose of tires that may not have any
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: useful life left.
• 37:48
  Speaker 3: So there's all good things.
• 37:50
  Speaker 1: The DMV inspectors will be right there to check your tires,
• 37:55
  Speaker 1: to make sure they're safe and can be resold when
• 37:58
  Speaker 1: you come on the 29th and 30th. And, you know,
• 38:04
  Speaker 1: I think Yvonne has a great point here by saying,
• 38:07
  Speaker 1: you know, listen, they know what they're doing. This is
• 38:10
  Speaker 1: what they do for a living. Respect their decision. And,
• 38:15
  Speaker 1: you know, bring... Bring a little bit of cash. Bring $ 5, $ 10, $ 15.
• 38:20
  Speaker 1: You can throw in the pot. And get rid of
• 38:22
  Speaker 1: the tires. You really want to bring these filthy, dusty,
• 38:28
  Speaker 1: dirty old tires back? Put them back in your car? No.
• 38:31
  Speaker 4: No.
• 38:32
  Speaker 2: And, you know, I think we want to make sure
• 38:34
  Speaker 2: that people who buy the tires.
• 38:38
  Speaker 3: Really do get at least one good season. Out of
• 38:42
  Speaker 3: the tires.
• 38:43
  Speaker 2: I think that's an important commitment we make to the
• 38:45
  Speaker 2: folks that pay for these tires.
• 38:49
  Speaker 1: And again, all tires are half-priced starting at 10 a.m.
• 38:53
  Speaker 3: That's right. There's no better deal.
• 38:56
  Speaker 1: So let's run it down again for you. This is
• 39:00
  Speaker 1: the big moment, the tire drop-off days. And Donna, I'm
• 39:05
  Speaker 1: going to put this right in the comments here so
• 39:07
  Speaker 1: that you can see this so there's no confusion. Thursday,
• 39:11
  Speaker 1: October 29th, and Friday, October 30th. That's when you can
• 39:17
  Speaker 1: drop off your tires. I'm going to give all the locations. Bang.
• 39:22
  Speaker 1: It's right there in the comments. Granite Museum in Barrie, Pittsburgh,
• 39:27
  Speaker 1: Casella Construction in Stowe. You got the Stowe Events Field.
• 39:32
  Speaker 1: So awesome that that's happening there. Williston at Casella Waste Systems.
• 39:39
  Speaker 1: Lindenville on Peckham Materials Group property. Westminster, Sevka. And I
• 39:48
  Speaker 1: think that's it. Those are the drop-off days, Thursday the
• 39:52
  Speaker 1: 29th and Friday the 30th. And then, again, the actual
• 39:56
  Speaker 1: sale is going to be the 31st from 8 until noon.
• 40:01
  Speaker 3: That's exactly right, J.D.
• 40:02
  Speaker 1: Right here in Barry.
• 40:03
  Speaker 3: Right here in Barry.
• 40:04
  Speaker 1: Granite Museum. Anything else? Do you have anything? I want
• 40:09
  Speaker 1: to make sure we're covering all of our bases here.
• 40:13
  Speaker 3: Well, I'd like to thank you.
• 40:14
  Speaker 1: I don't need Erica yelling at me now.
• 40:18
  Speaker 2: No, we don't.
• 40:19
  Speaker 3: No, we don't want Erica yelling. Not that I've ever
• 40:22
  Speaker 3: heard her do that.
• 40:25
  Speaker 2: No, I want to thank you for giving light to
• 40:29
  Speaker 2: this wonderful event, for raising awareness about the needs in
• 40:34
  Speaker 2: the community, helping us, giving us a wonderful opportunity to
• 40:40
  Speaker 2: thank volunteers and our community members and You know, making
• 40:48
  Speaker 2: it really just bringing it out there how important this
• 40:53
  Speaker 2: is and how Vermont this is. And how when we
• 40:57
  Speaker 2: all come together, we can make something really special happen
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: for over 20 years.
• 41:03
  Speaker 1: Amazing. Do you know of any other states who are
• 41:06
  Speaker 1: trying to copycat here?
• 41:08
  Speaker 3: I hope so.
• 41:09
  Speaker 4: Yeah.
• 41:11
  Speaker 3: I hope so, but I don't know about that. Maybe
• 41:13
  Speaker 3: Richard might know a little bit more about that.
• 41:15
  Speaker 1: I wouldn't be surprised if other states were following suit here.
• 41:20
  Speaker 1: I mean, we're really on to something here. We got
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: something figured out.
• 41:23
  Speaker 3: I think we do.
• 41:24
  Speaker 1: Hey, tip of the hat to you for being the
• 41:28
  Speaker 1: new executive director of Capstone.
• 41:30
  Speaker 2: Boy, thank you. It's my honor and privilege.
• 41:33
  Speaker 1: Raised right here in Barrie.
• 41:35
  Speaker 2: Raised right here in Barrie. Proud graduate of Spalding High School.
• 41:39
  Speaker 2: It's really great to be back home.
• 41:42
  Speaker 1: Wow.
• 41:43
  Speaker 3: I love being here.
• 41:44
  Speaker 1: What a family over there of people at Capstone.
• 41:48
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 41:49
  Speaker 1: What an incredible building, too. We could talk about that
• 41:51
  Speaker 1: all day.
• 41:52
  Speaker 2: Oh, yeah.
• 41:53
  Speaker 3: Yes, it is.
• 41:54
  Speaker 2: It's a welcoming space for people. Do you know, J.D.,
• 41:57
  Speaker 2: that we're going to serve 10,000 people? 10,000 people will
• 42:02
  Speaker 2: find a door at Capstone, and they'll walk through it.
• 42:07
  Speaker 1: Wow.
• 42:08
  Speaker 3: It's a beautiful mission.
• 42:09
  Speaker 2: You know, the thing that really speaks to me is
• 42:13
  Speaker 2: we meet people where they are. We will help people
• 42:17
  Speaker 2: in crisis. But that's not our real mission. Our real
• 42:22
  Speaker 2: mission is to help people find a place where they
• 42:26
  Speaker 2: can hope and have a plan for more. That they
• 42:31
  Speaker 2: can improve their lives. And we do that in so
• 42:35
  Speaker 2: many different ways. We help people with their household budgets.
• 42:40
  Speaker 2: We weatherize their homes. We help educate their kids. We
• 42:45
  Speaker 2: have an alternative high school right over at Brook Street.
• 42:48
  Speaker 2: We help pregnant and parenting teens get a high school diploma.
• 42:55
  Speaker 2: Those are all things that I think don't get talked
• 42:57
  Speaker 2: about enough. that that is really the higher mission that
• 43:01
  Speaker 2: we have every day when we walk through the door.
• 43:03
  Speaker 1: I love that.
• 43:04
  Speaker 3: And that's an important, important piece of who we are.
• 43:07
  Speaker 1: I love that so much.
• 43:09
  Speaker 3: Me too.
• 43:10
  Speaker 1: Christy Swenson was just in here.
• 43:14
  Speaker 4: Oh, yes.
• 43:15
  Speaker 1: She was just in here. Yes. She's one of my heroes.
• 43:19
  Speaker 1: Everything that she said on the air, when we were done,
• 43:23
  Speaker 1: kind of like this morning, I was just like, What.
• 43:28
  Speaker 3: They do, it's amazing.
• 43:32
  Speaker 2: Head Start is one of the most, it's been one
• 43:36
  Speaker 2: of the most satisfying programs for me to get to know.
• 43:38
  Speaker 3: I think we talked a little.
• 43:40
  Speaker 2: I came from a healthcare background, and we had worked
• 43:43
  Speaker 2: with Head Start programs, but I did not fully appreciate
• 43:46
  Speaker 2: until I spent some time in a classroom.
• 43:49
  Speaker 4: Wow.
• 43:51
  Speaker 2: The work that is being done to help and support
• 43:55
  Speaker 2: young families, invest in their kids, and really help break
• 44:00
  Speaker 2: the cycle of poverty and support people and support their
• 44:05
  Speaker 2: kids to better lives. And Head Start is a 60-year-old
• 44:11
  Speaker 2: program that is based on the data and best practice,
• 44:18
  Speaker 2: and I don't think there's anything else like it.
• 44:20
  Speaker 3: And.
• 44:21
  Speaker 1: We know. Christy painted a pretty good picture. We know
• 44:28
  Speaker 1: that there's some stuff coming down the pipe.
• 44:30
  Speaker 3: There is.
• 44:31
  Speaker 1: And there's some great concern. We've got to hang on tight.
• 44:35
  Speaker 3: We've got to hang on tight.
• 44:37
  Speaker 1: And we need to.
• 44:40
  Speaker 4: Vote.
• 44:42
  Speaker 1: We can sit and complain and worry all day, but
• 44:49
  Speaker 1: we need to get out and vote.
• 44:51
  Speaker 3: I heartily support that.
• 44:52
  Speaker 1: And it will make a difference if enough of us do.
• 44:59
  Speaker 1: I love having you in here. It has been an
• 45:02
  Speaker 1: absolute pleasure to meet you and put a face to
• 45:06
  Speaker 1: your name. I hope that Capstone continues to come in here,
• 45:12
  Speaker 1: take advantage of these mics, which don't belong to me.
• 45:16
  Speaker 1: They belong to our community. And anything you guys have
• 45:19
  Speaker 1: going on, that needs some push, you always got a
• 45:23
  Speaker 1: mic ready for you. It's always turned on, ready to go.
• 45:26
  Speaker 3: I appreciate that so much, J.D. Thank you so much.
• 45:29
  Speaker 1: Thanks for coming in here, and let's do it again soon.
• 45:32
  Speaker 1: I'll see you at whatever.
• 45:34
  Speaker 3: At Wheels for War.
• 45:35
  Speaker 1: I don't know when and what time, but I know
• 45:37
  Speaker 1: I'll see you there. Save a donut for me.
• 45:39
  Speaker 3: I will save a donut for you, J.D. Thanks so much.
• 45:42
  Speaker 1: Thank you, Allison. Thank you. Thank you.