The end of the year is traditionally a time when Americans give to charities. Many nonprofit organizations launch fundraising campaigns the week after Thanksgiving on Giving Tuesday, which falls on December 2 this year.
In advance of that, Kids VT compiled a list of 15 organizations working to improve the lives of Vermont children and families. Some have a statewide reach, while others work on the local level. Some support activities for kids; others aid parents and caregivers. They all enrich the lives of young people and families in our largely rural state.
As the giving season approaches, consider supporting the next generation of Vermonters, whether by donating to these groups or to others closer to home. Investing in healthy kids and families can make a difference for generations to come.
Good Beginnings of Central Vermont
Location: Montpelier
Serves: Prenatal individuals and postpartum families with babies ages 0-18 months
Founded: 1991
Info: goodbeginningscentralvt.org, 802-595-7953
As central Vermont’s hub of information, support and connection for prenatal individuals and postpartum families, Good Beginnings hosts parenting workshops, caregiver meetups and babywearing consultations free of charge. It’s staffed by three dedicated mothers of young children and also runs a drop-in space called the Nest for caregivers and babies.
Ronald McDonald House
Location: Burlington
Serves: Families of hospitalized children
Founded: 1984
Info: rmhcvt.org, 802-862-4943
Vermont’s only Ronald McDonald house, located a mile from the University of Vermont Medical Center, helps families manage the tremendous stress that accompanies a child’s hospitalization by offering a comfortable place to stay with nourishing meals prepared by volunteer chefs and bakers. The historic brick house features communal lounge areas, playrooms for siblings and even a certified therapy dog named Mike.
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont
Location: Montpelier, works statewide
Serves: Ages 0-18
Founded: 1976
Info: pcavt.org, 802-229-5724
The local chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and the national Circle of Parents provides a wealth of information and resources, all aimed at creating safer and healthier relationships within families. In addition to publishing the Vermont Parents’ Home Companion & Resource Directory, the organization runs a variety of evidence-based and research-informed programs focused on parent education, child sexual abuse prevention and family support.
Vermont Family Network/Puppets in Education
Location: Williston, works statewide
Serves: Families of children with special needs
Founded: 2008
Info: vermontfamilynetwork.org, 802-876-5315
No family should face the challenge of advocating for a child with special needs alone. The Vermont Family Network connects these families with a free statewide helpline, a database of disability and family support resources, and transition services to prepare for the move from school to adulthood, as well as leadership training and advocacy programs. It also runs Puppets in Education, a unique, interactive presentation in schools that addresses safety, inclusion and understanding differences.
King Street Center
Location: Burlington
Serves: Ages 18 months to 18 years
Founded: 1971
Info: kingstreetcenter.org, 802-862-6736
King Street Center, located in Burlington’s downtown King Street neighborhood, is a one-stop shop for youth resources, including early education, afterschool, and middle and high school programs. To many kids, it’s a second home. The center’s holistic model encompasses the whole family, addressing housing stability, food security, health navigation and financial coaching.
Camp Ta-Kum-Ta
Location: South Hero
Serves: Ages 7-17
Founded: 1984
Info: takumta.org, 802-372-5863
Camp Ta-Kum-Ta provides a safe and loving environment for children with cancer and their families free of charge. Year-round programs provide experiences that create a supportive community built on values of safety, connection and joy.
DREAM
Location: Operates programs in the Northeast; Camp DREAM is in Fairfield
Serves: School-age children and teens
Founded: 1998
Info: dreamprogram.org, 802-338-8979
Fostering connections at 41 sites across the Northeast, DREAM aims to close the opportunity gap and help kids achieve their full potential through mentoring services, afterschool and summer enrichment programs, and experiential education at Camp DREAM.
Boys & Girls Club of Burlington
Location: Burlington
Serves: Ages 5-18
Founded: 1942
Info: bandgclub.org, 802-864-5263
The Burlington chapter of the Boys & Girls Club, located in the city’s Old North End, helps 250 kids every day to develop character and life skills by providing a safe place and supporting academic success throughout the year.
Come Alive Outside
Location: Rutland
Serves: Ages 4-18
Founded: 2014
Info: comealiveoutside.com, 707-867-5969
Come Alive Outside was founded with a simple goal: to help people live healthier lives outside. The organization works with schools, municipalities and community partners, hosting programs that connect people to the outdoors in joyful, meaningful ways — including Rutland Winterfest in February.
The Hub
Location: Bradford
Serves: Teens in grades 7-12
Founded: 2018
Info: bradfordteencenter.org, 802-449-3046
A safe, inclusive and empowering space for teens to gather, the Hub offers games, food, Wi-Fi, exercise equipment and organized activities like trivia nights, contests and seasonal activities, all provided free of charge.
Elevate Youth Services
Location: Barre
Serves: Ages 12-24
Founded: 1974
Info: elevateyouthvt.org, 802-229-9151
To help young people navigate the challenges of adolescence and the path to adulthood, Elevate provides family counseling, emergency shelter, transitional housing support, a drop-in teen center, substance-use prevention and treatment, and assistance with education and employment. The organization serves more than 14,000 young people each year.
Kids on the Ball
Location: South Burlington
Serves: Ages 6-17
Founded: 2000
Info: kidsontheball.com, 802-503-7597
Kids on the Ball helps kids discover the power of play and the value of being active. Its coaches teach “tennis” with less emphasis on forehands and backhands and more on fun, engagement, connection and opportunity. During the school year, its free programs take place in schools around the region; in the summer, all the action is on the courts at Roosevelt Park in Burlington’s Old North End.
Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF)
Location: Waterbury
Serves: Ages 0-12
Founded: 1998
Info: clifonline.org, 802-244-0944
Serving underresourced children across Vermont and New Hampshire, the Children’s Literacy Foundation provides free books and literary experiences to help kids form positive connections with reading and writing. The organization collaborates with more than 50 professional authors, illustrators, graphic novelists, poets and storytellers who give in-person presentations, showing children how everyday ideas can grow into stories they can hold in their hands.
Dad Guild
Location: Burlington
Serves: Dads and families with children ages 0-10
Founded: 2019
Info: dadguild.org, 802-318-4231
Northern New England’s largest fatherhood community, Dad Guild connects a network of more than 2,000 dads and masculine-identifying caregivers across Vermont, offering a wide range of activities, from dads-only basketball games to dads and kids outings to events for the whole family. Find its monthly podcast, “Dad Pod,” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Parent Child Centers
Info: Find a full list at dcf.vermont.gov/contacts/partners/pcc.
All of Vermont’s 14 counties have access to at least one Parent Child Center, where parents and caregivers can access playgroups and parent education, among other types of support. Centers include the Lamoille Family Center, Milton Family Community Center and Family Center of Washington County, among others.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Lend a Hand | Looking for ways to support Vermont children this season? Here are 15 places to direct your donations.”
This article appears in Kids VT Winter 2025.
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