Paul Sweeney Memorial Coat Drive Helps Community Members Prepare for Winter
Volunteers from NVRH, Passumpsic Savings Bank, Community National Bank, and the community at large helped distribute coats and other winter ware at the Paul Sweeney Memorial Coat Drive at the Good Shepherd Catholic School on Saturday, November 5, 2022. L-R: Diana Gibbs, VP Marketing and Community Health Improvement, NVRH; Kathy Zita, Corporate Secretary, Passumpsic Bank; Phyllis Sweeney; Amanda Sweeney; Michelle Cleveland, Office Manager, Community National Bank; Tina Smith, Customer Service Representative, Community National Bank; Cynthia Waldner, NVRH; Robert Ruffner, Courier, Passumpsic Bank; Stacy Allen, Marketing Assistant, Passumpsic Bank; Mary Cote, SVP Head of Retail Banking & Customer Support, Passumpsic Bank; Michelle Fenoff, Asset Recovery Specialist, Passumpsic Bank and Samantha Zita, Administrative Assistant, Passumpsic Financial Advisors.
ST. JOHNSBURY, VT (November 8, 2022) – 665 coats; 176 hats, gloves, and scarves; 17 pairs of boots; and 20 blankets found new homes during the annual Paul Sweeney Memorial Coat Drive, which was held at the Good Shepherd Catholic School on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
Paul Sweeney had a 27-year career with Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS). As Senior Energy Use Advisor, his duties included home visits where he would suggest ways to make homes more energy efficient. In November 2003, Rev. Jay Sprout and Paul Sweeney organized the first coat drive in memory of Sandy Broughton, a woman who organized previous coat drives and passed away that year from cancer. Coats were collected and distributed (with the help of the Salvation Army) to people in need in the Northeast Kingdom. Two months later, Paul Sweeney passed away at the age of 50. The following year the coat drive was renamed in Paul’s honor. Daughter, Amanda Sweeney, and her mother, Phyllis continue to support the coat drive in his memory.
For community members who could not make it to the coat drive, Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA) will have the remaining items available for any individuals looking to add some warm clothing to their winter collection. Visit them at nekcavt.org.