At the beginning of July, the BBA began fundraising to support the Howard Center Street Outreach Team to buy stab-resistant vests. Funds to acquire the vest were not in the team’s budget and required outside support. Recent interactions precipitated the need for increased protection to ensure that the Street Outreach Team could continue to provide services in downtown Burlington safely. 

With the support of the Burlington business community, BBA raised $5000 to supply the Street Outreach Team with six stab-resistant vests, which have been fitted and ordered. The vests were purchased from Parro’s, a Vermont business located in Waterbury. Additional funds remaining will be utilized to buy additional vest for Howard Center Street Outreach Team’s future hires in the event the team is able to reach full staffing. Vests are expected to arrive towards the end of September. 

The BBA remains focused on improving public safety throughout the downtown Burlington community. There is no easy fix for the complexity of the downtown safety challenges, but the we plan to continue developing public safety initiatives going into the Fall. 

If you are a business experiencing public safety challenges please don’t hesitate to reach out to us: [email protected]. Or attend a Downtown Action Group Meeting. 

In the News:

NBC5: “Burlington business community to provide stab resistant vests for Howard Center Workers”

WCAX: Howard Center receives stab proof vests

Thank you to the following organizations for their donations:

The Farmhouse Group, Leunig’s Bistro and Cafe, Penny Cluse Cafe, Little & Cicchetti, Homeport, Whim Boutique, Garcia’s Tobacco Shop, MK Clothing, Donahue & Associates, Skirack, Burlington City Arts, Chocolate Thunder Security