COTS VT

10/16/2026

Our Boot Drive is going great! Thank you for your incredible support! We are about half way through the effort, and are hoping to raise $1,000 more to outfit our Daystation guests with boots.
Please consider making a donation in support: https://cotsonline.org/blog/2026-cots-october-winter-boot-drive

Our Holiday Toy Drive wishlist will go LIVE November 2nd. The drive runs until December 4th.

One of our MOST IMPORTANT fundraisers, the COTS Phonathon, begins November 30th and ends on December 4th.

At the end of December we have our COTS Candlelight Vigil, honoring those who have passed away while homeless.

To support some of these efforts click the "get involved" tab at https://cotsonline.org

10/15/2026

Thank you, Saint Michael’s College “Social Drivers of Health” class, for visiting us to learn about COTS and tour the new kitchen before providing lunch to our guests! We love when college groups volunteer to provide the Daystation with lunch: cotsonline.org/daystation-lunch to learn how you can sign up 🍔🌮

10/13/2026

While we are in the midst of our COTS October Winter Boot Drive, we are already looking ahead to our next big drive… our Holiday Toy Drive!

It will start November 2nd and end December 4th.

We want to give our wonderful community a heads up in advance, especially our business groups, churches, synagogues, clubs, and everyone else who runs toy drives for us!

We are so grateful for all the amazing support you give COTS and the families we serve.

Please read our blog post here for all the details! (Any online wishlist links will go live November 2nd.)

https://cotsonline.org/blog/holiday-giving-guide-2026

Thank you for always showing up for our community.

10/12/2026

People experiencing homelessness walk an average of 10 miles per day, regardless of weather or conditions
Over 65% of people experiencing homelessness suffer from foot-related health problems, including blisters, frostbite, infections, and trench foot.

This October, we’re calling on our community to help collect new winter boots, one of the most urgently needed, yet least donated items for our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness.

Donate here: https://cotsonline.org/blog/2026-cots-october-winter-boot-drive

10/12/2026

10/12/2026

This summer, SHECP intern Anna Corey worked at COTS Daystation, an adult daytime shelter in Burlington, Vermont. In her Intern Insights, she describes how her experience reshaped her understanding of homelessness, the complex barriers to accessing essential services, and the importance of community collaboration.

Read Anna’s full reflection, “A View From the Daystation,” on the SHECP website: https://www.shepherdconsortium.org/post/a-view-from-the-daystation-corey

10/09/2026

Yesterday, COTS celebrated the re-opening of the newly renovated Daystation kitchen, which serves daily meals to up to 100 community members a day. Thanks to the generous support of our community, the Daystation will continue to provide “More Than a Meal” for nearly 2,000 people each year, meeting basic needs like access to food, showers, and laundry, but also connection to services like housing navigation, medical and mental health treatment, recovery support, and workforce development. The kitchen was also dedicated in honor of Tim Coleman, who led the Daystation program for nearly 40 years before his retirement in 2022.

10/08/2026

Thank you Green Mountain Roller Derby for benefitting us!!! We are so appreciative 🫶

10/08/2026

10/06/2026

Join us on Saturday, October 24 for the Rock Point School 22nd annual Ooky Spooky 5K, a Halloween fun run/walk along the Rock Point property and Burlington bike path! •
Lace up your sneakers, wear your favorite Halloween costume, and join

All proceeds from the event benefit us, COTS!

$15 per person | 9 a.m. - Day-of Registration | 9:30-10:30
a.m. - Fun Run

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ooky-spooky-5k-race-to-benefit-cots-2026-tickets-2002432467414?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAUyFSRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAmZkaWQWUPxibAcVOUaweKp4G68gnWQ7CZAzfnNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABpy99mHqKH-SIE0xRVmKT_utbStkyo4e61DujO_gRmH5d1NYtoPzL6Os4OgUt_aem_p-WdITRKRJwKM_xRgIl2bw to register 👻🏃‍♀️