So many children help COTS in so many ways. In the past few years more and more children have been showing up at our doors with donations and gifts they have created and/or collected. The cumulative impact of their small acts of kindness is tremendous, and their concern for others is an inspiration to us all.

The kids from the Heartworks/Renaissance School in Williston collected and donated 11 packages of new twin flat sheets for the Waystation, 3 packs of diapers for family shelters, dozens of toothbrushes and tubes of tooth paste, a large assortment of wool socks and rain ponchos, and $200 worth of grocery store gift certificates.

Girl Scout Troop #626 from Essex Town chose COTS for their "Cookie Share Program" and donated 36 boxes of cookies to COTS shelter and service programs.

A group of students called Student Voice from Browns River Middle School created "Move-In Kits" specifically for teens moving out of the shelter and into their own home with their families. They raised money, purchased materials and assembled 16 kits. These kits included books, diaries, pens, clocks, clock radios, reading lamps, pillows & towels, and everything in between.

For his very first birthday, in lieu of presents, friends and family of Nolan Simon were asked to make a donation to COTS (in honor of Nolan's birthday) "to be used for kids who find themselves celebrating a special occasion in the shelter."

The 7th & 8th grade Student Board (Kaila Merril, Liz Spier, Ben Chasse, Nikki Sturges, Calvin Sanderson, Owen Davies and Morgan Hubbard) at Folsom School in South Hero raised $850 for COTS by organizing an auction at their school.

COTS Family Shelters received the gift of warmth from the South Burlington Girl Scout Troop from Chamberlin Elementary School. This group of 4th and 5th graders handmade hats, scarves and headbands that they donated to kids staying at the family shelters.

Girl Scout Troop #360 from Essex donated handmade hats and beautiful handmade stationary for folks at COTS Waystation and Daystation.

Richmond Girl Scout Troop #677 donated beautiful handmade flannel quilted blankets for the family shelters.

Lane and Frame Waples donated $40.00 of their allowance to help homeless individuals and families.

Danielle Pape donated $5.00 that she earned from cat sitting.

A fundraising committee from the 6th Grade Supernova Team at Browns River Middle School in Jericho donated $136.48 that they raised from a bake sale. They donated money to COTS “because we know that not everyone is as fortunate as us, and because we heard of all the great things you do for other people.”

The student council at Edmunds Elementary School organized a two week food drive and collected more than 300 pounds of food for individuals and families staying at COTS shelters.

Charlotte Central School organized a sox and mitten drive, donating over 100 pair of sox, mittens and scarves.

In October 2004, the Chittenden County Homeschoolers held their 5th Annual Bake Sale to benefit COTS. The group raised $340.29 this year. Cumulatively, for the last five years, the group has raised over $1,300, helping to provide shelter and services for homeless families and individuals.

Edmunds Elementary School students learned about what it means to be homeless, with the goal of breaking down stereotypes and raise awareness.   Students were asked "What is your solution to ending homelessness?" 300 students created drawings and written pieces in response to the question and donated the work to COTS for use in promotional pieces, cards, posters, web publishing, etc.   What was the number one solution most kids came up with? Home. Give it. Build it. Share it. Provide it.

Essex Middle School held a "penny war" to raise money for COTS. The event was arranged and facilitated by an advisory group that is supervised by Ned Kirsch, Principal of EMS. The school successfully collected 37,859 pennies for a total of $378.59, proving that “every penny counts.”

Local artist, Lisa Lillibridge, and her son, Ellis, a student at the Bellwether School in Williston, created a series of "house" paintings, which were on display at Mirabelles in downtown Burlington. Lisa and Ellis donated all proceeds from the sale of these paintings to COTS, raising a total of $600.   Explaining why she chose COTS, Lisa said "I really believe in COTS and support the work you’re doing, and I wanted to teach Ellis the importance of giving to the community.”

Hunt Middle School in Burlington created a beautiful quilt for the COTS Family Shelter in recognition of Make a Difference Day.