Mentor-Mentee Dinner at King Street

Join Sarah Soule, her buddy, Makayla, and ten students from Vermont Commons for a delicious dinner and fun and games in the King Street gym!  

Sarah Soule, a 15-year participant in the Junior/Senior Buddy Program at King Street Center (and mentor to KSC member, Makayla!), is the Director of Admissions and College Counseling at the Vermont Commons School (VCS) in South Burlington. Each VCS student particates in the Encounter Week program during the academic year, a program where students actively engage in their local community. In late January, one of the offerings is a cooking Encounter Week, and ten students from VCS will join Sarah in preparing a special dinner for the Junior/Senior Buddies at King Street on Monday, January 25th, at 5:15 p.m. in honor of National Mentoring Month, and prepare a special dinner for the Junior and Senior Buddies.  

Please RSVP to Gabriella at gabriella@kingstreetcenter.org or at 862-6736 x105 by Wednesday, January 20th.

CCTV Program on Poverty in Vermont

Local directors of social agencies, including King Street's Executive Director, Vicky Smith, discuss how poverty impacts children in Vermont.

Good-bye, Carly!

December at King Street Center is bittersweet -- as excited as everyone is for snow and vacation, December also means having to say good-bye to amazing volunteers and interns.  Last week, the Dolphins used the cameras to document some of the final moments with their volunteers and interns.

Kids' Cafe!

Behind the scenes at a recent Kids' Cafe.

Mind the Music

One of the newer activities to be added to the King Street Teen Drop-in program is Mind the Music, run by Teal Scott. Mind the Music helps teens to develop awareness through the medium of music. Teens meet 3-4 nights a week on a drop-in basis, eating dinner together while listening to music and practicing relaxation techniques. In the video, Mind the Music participants explain the purpose of the program and how it works.

Holiday Cheer (and Lasagna)!

On Monday, December 7^th, more than 160 children, parents, volunteers, and staff members attended the King Street Center’s Annual Holiday Dinner, sponsored by the Windjammer Restaurant.  For the past eighteen years, the Windjammer has brought their restaurant to King Street Center on the first Monday in December, volunteering their time and skills to bring delicious food to the children and families of downtown Burlington. 

Windjammer volunteers include managers from the restaurant and hotel and their families.  Dan Phelan, General Manager of the Windjammer restaurant, says the staff of the Windjammer “supports King Street Center because, as an independent, local, family-owned restaurant, it’s important to us to support the local community.  We’re happy to be a part of it.” 

Members of the Green Mountain Glades Junior Hockey Team also volunteered their time, helping with set-up, serving dinner, and cleaning up after the event.  As part of the celebration, King Street Center employees organized a mitten, book, and lip-balm give-away for the families of King Street.

A visit from the SD Ireland truck added to the festive atmosphere for children and parents alike.

Vicky Smith, executive director at King Street Center said, “This is such a gift to be able to give to our families.  From the family outreach, engaging preschool parent meeting, book swap, to the impeccable timing of the SD Ireland truck – all efforts fostered the true sense of community that defines King Street Center.”

Photo by Dan Cristelli

Holiday Dinner sponsored by the Windjammer

Photos by Dan Cristelli