Vermont Critical Access Hospital Funds Mini Grants to Address Community Needs
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH), a 25-bed critical access hospital in St. Johnsbury, Vt., is committed to providing “a lifetime of health and well-being” that extends beyond its walls through community health initiatives aimed at keeping people healthy.
The Community Health Fund is among NVRH’s many community health improvement initiatives. This fund awards mini grants to area organizations that not only promote health but also address an identified community need. Additional selection criteria for the mini grants include demonstrating a collaborative approach to delivering services and having measurable goals and objectives.
In fiscal year 2024, organizations and programs that received mini grants included:
- H.O.P.E. Backpack Program, which works with nine area schools to provide students experiencing food insecurity with “shelf-stable meals that bridge meal access over weekends and school breaks.”
- St. Johnsbury Community HUB’s Hygiene and Health Project, which supports laundry needs and good hygiene for the St. Johnsbury community, helping eliminate “the stress and stigma associated with limited access to clean clothing.”
- The Licensed Nursing Assistant Program at Lyndon Institute, which will support high school students and adults to complete an LNA program, including covering exam and related fees. This initiative more broadly supports health care workforce development in the area.
Since it was created in 2012, the NVRH Community Health Fund has awarded more than $115,000 in mini grants to local organizations. The fund is supported by donations and by the hospital itself, which has a long-standing commitment to community health improvement.