Walk for COTS

Please consider joining us, and 1,500 other fellow community members, in the annual COTS Walk, a three-mile trek through the city of Burlington to raise funds and increase awareness about homelessness in our community.  This year’s walk is on Sunday, May 1^st, and begins at 2:00.

COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, currently operates two overnight homeless shelters with over 50 beds; three family shelters that accommodate a total of 25 families at a time; and a drop-in daytime shelter, the COTS Daystation.  COTS also owns and operates a number of transitional and permanent housing facilities for low-income residents and homeless veterans.  Thousands of people have benefited from these services, with the shelters often running at full capacity.

There is still time to sign up and collect pledges for this year’s walk.  Any amount you raise is enough to get in and will count toward their overall goal of raising $175,000 to fund COTS shelters and services for the coming year.  All the information you need about the COTS Walk is available online, along with a link to the online registration form.

The walk takes about an hour and begins and ends at Battery Park.  Along the way, you can visit the COTS shelters, which will have their doors open for the general public to see how their money is spent.  TruexCullins has been a proud supporter of COTS in the past, and many of us on the staff will be out there again this year to show our support.  We hope you will too!

Shelter : Dwelling : House : Home

posted by Susan Weeks

Please join TruexCullins this Thursday December 3rd, from 5-8pm, for the opening reception of Shelter : Dwelling : House : Home, a new exhibit featuring the work of local artists Judith Rey and Denis Versweyveld. A portion of the proceeds from artwork sold will benefit COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter.

Happy Holidays!

Sneak Peak: Upcoming Exhibit to Benefit COTS

posted by Susan Weeks

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting the home and studios of two wonderful Vermont artists, Judith Rey and Denis Versweyveld.  Judith, a painter, and Denis, a sculptor, graciously invited me out to their lovely home in Monkton to see their work.  What a treat, not to mention the fabulous lunch Judith made for all of us, straight from the couple's beautiful garden.

The two, who have worked separately for years, are now combining their interests in painting and sculpture in a collaborative show titled: "Shelter : Dwelling : House : Home," which will be on display at TruexCullins in early December.  Using conceptual house forms cast in plaster and concrete, Denis' iconic sculptures complement Judith's paintings of the same simple structural forms that shape our natural and built environment.  A portion of the proceeds from artwork sold will benefit COTS, the Committee on Temporary Shelter.  Opening reception and holiday party Thursday December 3rd at 209 Battery Street, on Burlington's historic waterfront. Stay tuned for more information.