Mr. President, November and December bring with them a contagious holiday spirit. During a time when many Vermonters are struggling to feed their families and heat their homes, community members across Vermont are stepping forward to provide a helping hand to their neighbors. I am proud that Vermont takes to heart our country's great tradition of offering a helping hand to those in need. While many of us were at home with our families this Thanksgiving, the staff and volunteers at the Vermont Boys & Girls Clubs of America were busy organizing food donations and cooking meals for the holiday to provide hot meals to those who might not otherwise have had a Thanksgiving dinner at all. In Rutland alone, the Boys & Girls Club cooked enough food to feed 100 people, with many of the ingredients donated by local farms. In Montpelier, the Washington County Youth Service Bureau and Boys & Girls Clubs staff and volunteers prepared turkey dinners to feed homeless Vermonters and financially secure residents alike, producing a real community dinner. In these tough economic times, community resources are vital to the well-being of all Vermonters. As these resources become scarcer, donations and volunteers become indispensible. Rutland and Montpelier are just a few examples of where Vermonters are volunteering in their communities this holiday season. I am proud to call Vermont home and to count these volunteers among my friends and neighbors.…
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