Many residents of Vermont are having a hard time getting their basic
needs met. With the rising cost of food as well as rent increases, many
people are barely able to live from paycheck to paycheck. Vermont has an
aging population, with people 65 and older comprising 20 percent of the
population. People with disabilities under the age of 65 is over 10
percent, and veterans comprise 5 percent of Vermont’s current
population.
Thankfully there is Ottauquechee Health Foundation (OHF) to help these
and other Vermonters in their catchment area who are in need. Through
financial assistance, community partnerships, and wellness initiatives
as well as education opportunities, OHF has assisted in health care
needs for the last 27 years. The core towns they work with are Barnard,
Bridgewater, Hartland, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Quechee, Reading,
and Woodstock. Providing Access to Wellness Funding
OHF was created in 1996 seeded by the estate of Gertrude Mertens to
carry out her wish to ensure that all community members continue to
receive health care in the community. She was driven by a strong
conviction that community matters, neighbors should look after one
another, and those who have the means should share. Because of Mrs.
Mertens and her family’s legacy, OHF has granted millions of dollars for
health care in their catchment area.
Many service providers for these communities work alongside OHF to offer
discounts to grant applicants. OHF grants of $225,000 enabled access to
over $302,000 in health and wellness services in 2022. The health care
providers and organizations offer help with obtaining hearing aids, new
glasses, mental health support, prescription drugs, and dental work.
Around 70 percent of the population served by OHF is under 200 percent
of the federal poverty level (FPL). If a household of one is within 200
percent of FPL or $29,160 annual income, you can imagine how great an
impact it would be if that individual receives a grant, for an example,
to help pay for hearing aids that can cost $5,000 to $7,000. Grants from
OHF can also help pay for dental work, optometry, and elder care. They
have home-care grants for up to $3,000 that can help pay caregivers. (To
understand the guidelines on the federal poverty level, visit
aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines.)
An Open-Door Policy
Beth assists a good neighbor grant applicant. OHF's welcoming reception area with posted office hours.
Hali Robinson has been the new director of OHF since February 2023. “We
are a privately funded nonprofit organization and want to serve the
needs of individuals in their catchment area,” Hali says. “OHF is
involved in two different work groups that arose from the 2018 Community
Health Needs Assessment performed by Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health
Center. We are involved with the Food Security work group and the
Strengthening Families work group. I act as representative for our
community in these work groups.”
As a young mother with an eight-month-old son, Hali understands how
difficult it might be for postpartum mothers. “OHF is here to help by
providing community grants to doulas: one provides home visits and
another facilitates a postpartum support group. We have provided
community grants for midday snacks at a local elementary school to
address food insecurity, we have provided a grant for an author to visit
Thompson Senior Center, and many more. I grew up in Woodstock with a
strong sense of community. I like helping people and love being a part
of an organization that helps people in need.”
Beth Robinson (not related to Hali) has been OHF’s grants coordinator
for the last seven years. Beth worked in a private dental practice for
25 years before coming to OHF. “I came to the foundation to see how they
could help me navigate medical bills and the high cost of prescriptions
after my husband was diagnosed with cancer. They were so wonderful,
kind, helpful, and supportive during that time.” Soon after her husband
passed away, Beth stopped by OHF to thank the foundation for all the
support they had given. Ironically, that same day, the current grants
coordinator was leaving the foundation and Beth was offered a job.
Both Hali and Beth are deeply committed to offering services to those in
need. They want people to know OHF is here and that they have an
open-door policy during office hours. People can come to the office for
information and to get an application to apply for assistance. They will
make time outside of office hours if need be.
Here for the Community
Folks are often greeted by Chance, Beth’s friendly office dog.
Through word of mouth from schools, nurses, social workers, senior
centers, and food shelves, OHF strives to get the word out that they are
here for the community. They are updating their website and will have a
room in the Pleasant Street building for laptop use to sign up for
resources and to fill out applications or attend telehealth
appointments.
OHF has a grants committee that is made up of three to five of the ten
board members. There are 500 members of OHF that act as advocates for
the foundation. They are the voice of the community and vote on the
bylaws, attend the annual meeting, and vote on new board members.
Hali and Beth’s energetic commitment and passion are evident in all they
do at Ottauquechee Health Foundation. Hali says, “I want to thank all
our donors, members, and the board for all the work they do. We are
always looking for new members and volunteers and donors to help us keep
OHF alive for another 27 years.”
Ottauquechee Health Foundation
30 Pleasant Street
Woodstock, VT
(802) 457-4188
ohfvt.org
