Tom Donahue presents BROC Community Action awards to Commander Matt Prouty and Captain Mark Stockton.
At the recent annual meeting of BROC Community Action the 2020 Community Action Recognition Award recipients were announced. Those awarded were:
Richard Wobby
Since 2005 Richard Wobby has been a driving force behind the Wheels For Warmth initiative. The concept was launched by his lifelong friend, Governor Phil Scott. Wheels for Warmth has raised $558,000 for heating assistance to Vermonters in need, sold 23,000 tires at a bargain price and recycled 33,000 tires improving the environment.
The annual event held the last weekend in October works with the Community Action Agencies of BROC Community Action in Rutland, CVOEO in Burlington and Capstone in Barre. While the event has a strong steering committee and corporate partners; Richard Wobby provides the fire in the engine room. BROC Community Action in Rutland received over $21,000 last year in heating assistance funding.
Wobby’s commitment to raising funds to help other Vermonters in need with crisis fuel during Vermont’s long cold winters is undeniable.
Matt Prouty and Mark Stockton
Commander Matt Prouty with the Rutland City Police Dept. and Captain Mark Stockton of Stockton Security partnered with BROC Community Food Shelf to launch our first ever Stuff A Cruiser event in downtown Rutland. Matt Prouty and members of the Rutland City Police Dept.including Chief Brian Kilcullen were on hand along with Mark Stockton and Stockton employees and collected nearly $6,000 from our generous community to purchase food for local families in need. The one-day event also filled eight cruisers full of needed items to stock the food shelf.
Craig Hahn
For three years Craig Hahn has partnered with BROC Community Action to support its Toys Under the Tree Fund with the successful Galactic Toy Drop. The concept created by Craig Hahn was hatched out of his love for all things Star Wars. Hahn himself is a 1st Imperial Storm Trooper and member of the 501st Legion.
The event launched at the Diamond Run Mall and continued at the Rutland Public Schools cafeteria where hundreds of children and adults were entertained by everyone from Chewbacca to the Incredible Hulk. And of course, Santa Claus was on hand too.
The event blossomed into a huge comic character fest of sorts that had something for everyone. Hundreds of toys and thousands of dollars were collected by donations and sponsors.
The BROC Community Action Program – Toys Under The Tree – has served hundreds of families in need providing thousands of toys for children from infants to teens on Christmas.
Liz Noyes and Patt Donahue-McLaughlin
Noyes and Donahue-McLaughlin have been devoting hundreds of hours to the BROC Community Food Shelf. Beginning well before the pandemic and pausing briefly during the closure of inside activity, both volunteers have provided critical support to the food shelf staff at BROC Community Action.
Continuing through the languishing pandemic; their volunteer work has helped feed thousands of local people in need. These two volunteers have both followed all Covid-19 safety protocols carefully and presented a friendly, upbeat attitude each day. They have treated every person in need with the utmost respect and dignity.
