Supporting The Community That Supports Us
March 26, 2020
Kingdom Trails donates $25,000 to organizations directly serving community members during this time of unprecedented need.
We encourage all to donate along with us by
Giving Together
Kingdom Trails knows that our trail users are drawn to the area for epic outdoor recreation experiences, stunning landscapes, and welcoming Vermont villages. Nevertheless, the Northeast Kingdom remains the poorest region of the state, with the lowest median household income, and vulnerable populations such as seniors and one in three children is food insecure. We can help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with immediate and direct support of organizations on the front lines.
Coronavirus is named as such because its molecular structure looks like a crown. Let’s reclaim the crown for the Kingdom, as a force of good in our community.
Kingdom Trails is asking those who enjoy our trails to join us with further individual donations to any or all of these community organizations. Help us say thank you to our landowners and the communities that have been hosting you and our trails for the past 26 years. We’re proud to say that members of the Kingdom Trails Board of Directors and Staff have also committed to contributing individual donations along with the organization. Giving Together has a greater impact.
We are beyond grateful to all those working so hard to serve those in need.
$7,500
NVRH - Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital
1315 Hospital Dr. St. Johnsbury, VT - 802-748-8141
Providing clear, consistent advice and communication, as well as direct medical care if COVID-19 is suspected. NVRH, the local hospital in the area, is dedicated to improving the health of all people in the community, and to providing compassionate care. NVRH provides high quality healthcare services focused on community needs at the lowest cost consistent with excellent care.
Donate at: https://nvrh.org/
Or mail: NVRH Philanthropy Department PO Box 905 St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
$5,000
NEKCA - Northeast Kingdom Community Action
115 Lincoln St. St. Johnsbury, VT - 802-748-6040
62 Cross St. Island Pond, VT - 802-723-5276
Serving grab and go breakfasts every day 8am - 9:30am. Open 8:30am - 4pm for food, fuel, utility, housing, and childcare assistance, plus navigation of other needs. NEKCA is committed to empowering those who seek assistance to improve the quality of their lives. They provide direct program activities, referrals, advocacy and education in a non-judgmental manner to the people of the communities in the Northeast Kingdom.
Donate at: http://nekcavt.org/
Or mail: NEKCA 70 Main Street PO Box 346 Newport, VT 05855
$2,500
H.O.P.E. - Helping Other People Everyday
136 Church St. Lyndonville, VT - 802-626-3228
By appointment only, HOPE is providing services for Emergency & Homeless Crisis, their Diaper Bank, and they are coordinating with area schools to continue getting meals to school-aged children through their Backpack Program. Contributions of non-perishable food, diapers, and monetary donations are needed.
Donate at: https://www.hopevermont.com/
Or mail: H.O.P.E. P.O. Box 403 Lyndon Center, VT 05850
$2,500
Faith in Action
101 Main St. Lyndonville, VT - 802-626-1212
Community members can call and arrange pick up or if needed, delivery, of food. Faith in Action’s mission is to eliminate hunger and offer socially enriching programs to the communities of the Northeast Kingdom by providing residents in need with programs that deliver food, promote social connections, increase self-sufficiency, and instill hope.
Donate at: https://www.faithinactionvt.org/
Or mail: Faith in Action PO Box 515 Lyndonville, VT 05851
$2,500
Burke Community Meal Site
Community Building - 212 School Street West Burke, VT - 802-467-3423
Homemade meal and food delivery Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Donations can be mailed: Burke Senior Meal Site 212 School St., West Burke, VT 05871
$2,500
Lyndon Area Senior Meal Program
The Darling Inn - 76 Depot St. Lyndonville VT - 802-626-8700
Meals on Wheels Monday thru Friday.
Donations can be mailed: Lyndon Senior Meal Program 76 Depot St. Lyndonville VT 05851
$2,500
Lyndon Area Food Shelf
51 Elm St. Lyndonville, VT - 802-626-5705 / 802-626-5586 / 802-626-9977
All community members in need are welcome every Wednesday 10am - 2pm. Come to the door, knock and someone will come out to assist you, handing off a pre-made meal bag, following social distancing guidelines. Both non-perishable food and monetary donations are appreciated.
Food donations can be dropped off before 1:00p on Wednesdays.
Donations can be mailed: Lyndon Area Food Shelf PO Box 609 Lyndonville VT 05851
Giving Together
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Dear KT Community, I write to you today as I begin a transition in my relationship with Kingdom Trails. I have made the difficult decision to take the next step in my professional journey and step away from my role as Executive Director. Serving Kingdom Trails and this incredible community over the past eight years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply proud of the work I’ve led and supported, from navigating immense global challenges and natural disasters, to forging incredible relationships, with our landowners and community. And throughout this journey, the Northeast Kingdom has become not just where I live, but truly my home. It’s the place I chose to become a mother and where my family has put down roots. That said, I am ready to explore new ways to serve this community, ways that will allow me to continue growing as a leader. I’ve accepted the role of Interim Executive Director for the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, where I will carry forward the work I fell in love with through Kingdom Trails: strengthening our communities and supporting thoughtful economic development. In this new role, I’ll have the opportunity to advocate not only for outdoor recreation, which is so essential to the heart of our region, but also for the many sectors that make the Northeast Kingdom such a unique and vibrant place. Please know I remain deeply committed to Kingdom Trails. This is my home, and it will remain my home. I wish to always be an ambassador for KT, including playing a role in ensuring a graceful, responsible transition with care. The Board of Directors and I have committed to this, to ensure continuity, stability, and the trust you hold in this organization. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to have served my community through this role, and I look forward to closing this chapter with the same heart and good intention with which I began it. Georgia Gould is stepping in as interim Executive Director to lead the organization through this transition. Georgia has served on the KT Board of Directors since 2021, leading both the Landowner and Trail Advisory Committees. She is a KT Landowner with an impressive mountain biking and cyclocross resume - including a bronze medal in one of her two Olympic bids on Team USA and five career national championships in cross-country and short track mountain biking. Georgia, her husband Dusty, and their two young children are engaged members of the Burke community and the KT team. Her deep ties to the sport of cycling, dedication to providing great trails for all skill levels, and her love of this community make her the perfect choice to lead KT in its next phase. The Board and I are thrilled that Georgia has agreed to lead KT and feel confident that she will hold the mission of the organization at the center as she has throughout her Board service. You can reach Georgia directly and welcome her to this new role at ED@kingdomtrails.org . With deep gratitude, Abby ### Kingdom Trail Association The mission of the Kingdom Trail Association is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. Kingdom Trails strives to accomplish this mission by offering a 100+ mile network of quality, non-motorized, multi-use trails for all levels of ability, incorporating the best of our local scenery and natural diversity. The Kingdom Trails are made possible through the generosity of 106 private landowners. Northeast Kingdom Collaborativ e The mission of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative is to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development as the vision is a strong, vibrant Northeast Kingdom where we all thrive. The NEKC brings people together to spark positive change in our communities, creating structures that bring partners together across service areas, sectors, municipal and political boundaries to provide solutions for the renewal of the Kingdom. The NEK Collaborative serves as the backbone organization for the federally designated NEK REAP Zone and community partner for USDA Rural Development.
Cannondale Dirt Party a Success
KT is taking action—on the trails and in the Statehouse!
This 2025 Legislative Session, KT is teaming up with other amazing trail organizations through the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council, to advocate for H.147 a bill to establish the Recreational Trails Compensation Study.
Why does this matter?
Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy generates $2.1B annually, nearly 5% of the state’s GDP, that's 2nd in the nation after Hawaii (Go VT!) KT alone drives $10M in economic impact annually. Therefore, the state must recognize and incentivize these generous private landowners, including the 106 who make KT possible and allow public access to trails.
