Okemo valley flood relief fund

Flooding that is said to happen once in a hundred years has now impacted our Ludlow community twice within 12 years. On July 10th, 2023 Ludlow, VT and many surrounding Vermont towns were hit with catastrophic flooding, much of which was worse than the flooding during Irene in August 2011. 

The flood has brought a lot of devastation and destruction to the Okemo Valley. Many people are without homes or running water and businesses have taken astronomical losses. 

As many say, Ludlow is a little town with a big heart, so let’s show our love to the community by supporting it in whatever way we can! 

Okemo Mountain School, along with OMARA, will direct 100% of donations made through this page to community organizations providing specific flood relief funding.  Community organizations include the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce (in conjunction with Ludlow Rotary) and Ludlow Police Department which are already working to provide support to those most in need. The Chamber of Commerce and Ludlow Police Department will distribute the money to help with cleanup and replacement costs for those unable to afford it, give food and gas to those in need, and purchase gift certificates from local businesses to re-distribute back into the community.  OMS will also support other organizations doing direct flood relief in Ludlow and the surrounding towns as they are identified.

Update - September 29, 2023:

Earlier this month, OMS decided to provide additional support to the Crown Point Board of Realtors in opening a second round of applications for individual flood relief grants.  Again, we are very grateful for the work that the CPBR has undertaken.  They continue to work to make sure that residents have funds to complete repairs on their homes, including restoring heating systems prior to the colder months.

In September OMS directed a portion of proceeds to the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce/Ludlow Rotary to support the work of the Okemo Valley Disaster Relief Fund Committee in providing business relief grants.  So many of our local businesses were devastated and most of them are very small and family owned and operated.   Supporting them is important now, and will continue to be as we enter the winter months.

Even though we are almost 3 months past the date of the flood, needs continue to arise and be identified.  OMS is working on determining the final allocation of the small balance of remaining funds and is hoping to support a community-wide project.

Update - August 16, 2023:

Okemo Mountain School decided to support the Crown Point Board of Realtors’ Disaster Fund with a significant contribution towards the individual flood relief grant process they undertook over the past week.  In the coming days, they will be using these funds and others to make grants to individuals whose homes were damaged in the flooding.  We are happy to have found a way to benefit the many who were personally impacted with direct financial relief.  We greatly appreciate the work of the Crown Point Board of Realtors in taking on the task of making grants to individuals in need.  Their organization has historically helped with supporting families and individuals in the area during times such as these, or even when tragedy strikes an individual, such as with a house fire.

Please continue to check back for more updates as we complete the disbursement of funds raised.  Again, your support in all of the many ways you’ve given it is so appreciated and making a huge difference.

Update - July 31, 2023:

We cannot emphasize enough how grateful we are for the incredible outpouring of support for flood relief in the Okemo Valley!  We are so inspired by all of the donations of time and money, as well as the general care and concern shown by so many.  To date, OMS has raised over $77,000 for flood relief, which we have begun distributing as outlined in the previous updates below.  Now that we are beyond the initial crisis phase of the flooding, and other pathways for supporting flood relief have become available, OMS is ending our official campaign for flood relief after today, July 31st.  Thank you again for such an outpouring of support in such a short amount of time.

However, the need in our area is still great and will certainly exceed the funds currently available from all sources, so we encourage you to still support flood relief if you haven’t yet.  We encourage you to to consider supporting the greater Ludlow area by donating to:

• The Okemo Valley Flood Relief Fund set up by the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce 

• Black River Good Neighbors Services - an organization in Ludlow that provides for those in need consistently throughout the year.  They are providing direct flood relief and their services will continue to benefit those impacted as the months go by.  

• Windsor County Youth Services or The Little School as mentioned below.

• The Cavendish Family Service Fund by mailing a check payable to the “Town of Cavendish - Cavendish Family Service Fund” (note “Flood Relief” in the memo) to PO Box 126, Cavendish, VT 05142.

You may also wish to directly impact one of your favorite businesses in the area.  Most that were impacted by flooding have set up GoFundMe pages or are requesting support in the form of purchasing gift cards to use when they re-open. Check out their websites to learn more.

As we continue to work through allocating 100% of the funds raised by this campaign to flood relief, we will update this page to share the news of where donations are being directed.  Currently, we are assessing how best to use funds to meet individual needs that are not being met by FEMA or insurance.   We will also continue to share information about how you can help as Ludlow and the surrounding towns continue down the long road to full recovery from the catastrophic flooding this July.  Thank you for being with us for the long haul!

Please note that should you still wish to direct a donation to Okemo Valley Flood Relief through OMS, we are happy to continue to accept and re-direct donations we receive for that purpose.  Please contact Mariel Meringolo or Kate Foster directly to make arrangements.

Update - July 27, 2023:

We have met, and far exceeded, our goal to raise $50,000 for flood relief in the Ludlow area - Thank you all! We continue to be blown away by all of the support.  The care and concern shown by all who have contributed to this fund, volunteered, donated items, or reached out to check in is so heartfelt and is making a world of difference!  Immediate needs of individuals are being taken care of through the hard work of volunteers at the Community Center here in Ludlow, and thanks to the generosity of you all and so many others.  In the last week, our committee made the decision to support two other local organizations that were hard hit by the flood as we continue to monitor the recovery process and find unmet needs.

OMS has made a donation to the Little School in Weston, an independent early childhood education center that is an invaluable community resource for young children and their families in Ludlow, Weston, Londonderry, Chester, and beyond.  The Little School basement was flooded significantly damaging their major mechanical systems, which will need to be replaced.  Additionally, their playground and outdoor space was completely devastated.  We hope that our contribution will help them towards their goal of being open for the 2023-24 school year in September.  Should you wish to learn more or donate directly, please visit their website HERE.

OMS also made a donation to Windsor County Youth Services (WCYS), which runs a short term youth shelter in Ludlow for teens experiencing homelessness.  The home that housed both the shelter and their organization's office was completely flooded and is currently uninhabitable. Additionally, they lost almost all the contents of the building.  WCYS provides a much needed and scarce service to vulnerable youth in our community.  Thankfully, they will be able to continue to operate out of another location nearby, but not at the same capacity as they were in Ludlow.  We hope that our contribution supports WCYS in returning to full operation as soon as possible.  If you would like to support them directly, you can do so HERE or reach out to us about how you can mail a check as OMS did.

As we see what other unmet needs arise and see how the Okemo Valley Flood Relief Fund through the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce takes shape, we will continue to make allocations until all funds raised through this page are exhausted.  

In the coming days, we will be ending our official campaign for flood relief since other options for direct donations have become more available.  However, OMS will continue to provide information about options for donations and other ways to help through this page.  You will be able to check back here for updates in the coming weeks and months.  The road to full recovery for the greater Ludlow community still stretches out far ahead and continued support will be crucial. 

Update - July 17, 2023:

We are so amazed, humbled, and grateful for the incredible outpouring of support.  The generosity of everyone who has contributed to this fund, volunteered to work in town helping folks, or donated much needed supplies is so greatly appreciated.

OMS has begun the work of directing funds to those in immediate need.  We are supporting individuals in Ludlow with gift cards to Wal-Mart and gas cards to help them get there, which are being distributed by the Ludlow Police Department.  OMS has also supported residents in Cavendish and Proctorsville through the Cavendish Family Service Fund, which is providing direct assistance to those impacted by the flood.  We will continue to update this page as we identify other organizations and flood relief efforts to support in addition to the fund through the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Okemo Mountain School is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational institution and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.  A donation in any amount is greatly appreciated. Don't forget to check with your employer about corporate matching gifts.

Other Ways to Help:

• Please note that should you still wish to direct a donation to Okemo Valley Flood Relief through OMS, we are happy to continue to accept and re-direct donations we receive for that purpose.  Please contact Mariel Meringolo or Kate Foster directly to make arrangements.

• UPDATE - The Ludlow Community Center is no longer accepting donations as the immediate needs have been met. Thank you to everyone for their generous donations! Donate water, gatorade, non-perishable food items, diapers, baby formula, baby wipes, and cleaning supplies to the Ludlow Community Center. William Raveis VT Properties is also accepting donations by mail and will bring them to the Community Center. Items can be dropped off or mailed to 29 Locust Hill Rd., Ludlow, VT 05149.

• Purchase gift certificates from local businesses to keep income rolling in. Gift certificates can also be donated back to the Ludlow Police Department or other community organizations to donate to those in need.

• Black River Action Team, a local river conservation group, is taking the lead on volunteer clean up efforts as the recovery process continues here in Ludlow and the surrounding towns.  To sign up to hear more about volunteer clean up opportunities, fill out their contact form HERE.   

Okemo Valley Flood Relief Fund Donors
Thank you to everyone in your support of the Okemo Valley Community!

Casey Abraham
Gabrielle Adams
Susan Allen
Steve, Fran, Nora Anderson
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jim Armbrust
Jennifer Bagnato
Chelsea Baum
Jeanine and Jonathan Baum
Suzanne Beilenson
Christie Bielmeier
Sammy Blanchette
The Bonnet Family
Scott and Karen Boyarsky
Laura Brett
Maggie Bridge
Tobi Britton
Thomas Buccellato
Elizabeth Buchbinder
Kelly Caffrey
Meredith Calhoun
Bob M Campbell Jr.
Nicholas CardiLynn Carnegie
Jeremi Carswell
Robin and Tom Caruso
Conor Cashel
Peter and Peggy Cherasia
Diana Chimbolo
Bob and Libby Christman
Sarah Coe
Matt Coffman
Amy Comey
Katie and Wayne Conn
Lori Crimmins
Lizzy Cronin
Richard and Aida Cyphers
Alwyn and Nadia Dawkins
Ian and Alexandra de Buy Wenniger
Elizabeth DelSignore
Alison DesLauriers
Rebecca Dobbin
The Dwyer Family
Rylee E.Betty Ann Easton
Gail and Matt Eilers
Fred Einhorn
Jan and Jill Faller
Beth Fergusson
Caroline Finizio
Maya and Justin Florence
Lori Ford
Rod Forter
William Fusco
Ulrike Gerdemann
Heidi Gilpin and Lorne Falk
Elizabeth Gilroy
Carole Greenberg
Robert Haskins
Lauren Haskins
Jeff Hauser
Derek Hayden
David Henderson
Elizabeth Hickey
Kathleen and Ken Hirdt
Alan Isaacson
Jennifer Joinnides
Jeanne Jones
Ruth Kalnitsky
Barbara Kasman
Dan and Diane Keating
Jason Kim
KK Kozik and Scott Stiffer
Lucas Ladden
Nicole Lawless
Bruce and Ellen Leicher
Andrea Lendaris
Kimberly Linonis
Bill and Laura Lovejoy
Mark Ludl
Dirk Ludl
Kyle Marchesseault
Courtey Matson
Hannah Maxwell and Patrick Rabdau
Devon Mccann
Jimmy McCarriston
David McCollum
Libby McCusker
Brian McDowell
Brenda McKeon
Heather McLaughlin
Heather Mooney
Chase Morsey
John Munch
Una Murdoch
Sharon Murray
Aditi Narayanan
Ashley Olstein
OMARA
Naomi Orensten
Michelle and Shawn Orr
Sean Owen
Margaret Peavey
Marc Pensabene
Erik Pearson
Laurel Pisani
Jessica Poodiack
William Potter
Juliet Price
Ted Reeves
Abigail Rhim
Rob Richard
Emily Richey-Stavrand
Elie Rivollier III
Gail Rosenberg
Sean Rotermund
Harold and Suzanne Schaff
Talbot Schaffer
Anna Serur
Steve Severson
Andrew Smith
Mo Smith
Rebecca Spitz
Jennifer Sroka
Jennifer St. Thomas
Geoff and April Stein
Joanne and Paul Stetson
Geoff Stowell
Paul Strauss
Jim Tatko
N Taylor
Gideon Taylor
Alexandra Tejtel
Thompson Family Foundation
Michael Tobin and Danna Greenberg
Barbara Trachtenberg
Phyllis Trager
Betsey and Gary Unger
Kathleen Valentine
Emilie van Eeghen
Amanda van Heyst
Cindy Visnic
Emily Wagenheim
Jonathan Washburn
Barbara and Jim Waters
Charlotte and Steve Weeple
James Whalen
Suzanne and Jim Whalen
Paul and Margy Whyte
Barbara Wiederecht
The Young Family