| Good afternoon COTS friends! Romy here, COTS Communications and Outreach Specialist. I would like to introduce myself to you if we haven’t met already and invite you to join us for our 33rd Annual COTS Walk, presented by Rice Lumber. I know the Walk feels far away, but I wanted to give you a heads up for planning purposes 🙂 This year’s COTS Walk kicks off April 1 with interactive activities weekdays, culminating with the traditional in person COTS Walk on Sunday, May 1st. We encourage educators to use our activities in their classrooms leading up to the walk. Our theme this year is painting a picture of homelessness. Vincent Van Gogh once said, “I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.” This quote resonates with us here at COTS. Many people experiencing homelessness are people like you and I, who have fallen on hard times. We are seeking, we are striving, we are in it with all our hearts. Our shelters have remained open throughout this pandemic, and we have adjusted all of services to keep guests and staff healthy and safe. The COTS Walk is a critical annual fundraiser for us—the majority of our budget comes from private donations generated through this event and our Phonathon. Our COTS Walk goal is to raise $205,000 through peer-to-peer fundraising. COTS activities will go live on April 1st and are tailored to teach students about homelessness in an engaging and powerful way. We are so excited to share these activities with you and your students. We are also available to speak with your class! There will be a new activity for each school day. The activities are arranged into a five-day framework: Mondays: Education & homelessness Tuesdays: Housing & homelessness Wednesdays: Health & homelessness Thursdays: Hunger & homelessness Fridays: Choose your own adventure (a weekly Walk suggestion) On May 1st- COTS Walk Day, you can walk with us in person or from your own phone or computer to take an interactive tour of COTS shelters, housing, and program spaces. Note: we will not be entering COTS shelter spaces, however we will have interactive features/ installations outside of each area. The COTS Walk has two purposes: To raise public awareness about homelessness in our community and to raise money to support COTS shelters and services for Vermonters who are homeless or are at risk of losing their homes. Walkers can receive community service by participating in this year’s walk. Not only do Walkers help raise the funds needed to end homelessness in Vermont, but they also engage with COTS in a unique and powerful way. To register as a team or as individual, please visit our website http://give.cotsonline.org/COTSWalk2022 Let me know if we can count on you to help us end homelessness in Vermont! I am here for you if you have any questions, need support- or anything at all. Thank you so much, Romy P.S.- Join our FB volunteer group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cotsvolunteersvt Romy Theisen COTS Communications and Outreach Specialist (802) 343-6903 RomyT@Cotsonline.org |