LYNDON, Vermont State University's Rural Learning Collective is placing AmeriCorps members at nonprofit host sites across the Northeast Kingdom to strengthen education and food access in rural communities, according to the program's director.
The Vermont Rural Learning Collective, or VRLC, operates under a $386,780 grant from SerVermont for the 2025-2026 program year. Members receive a living allowance and professional development while serving at sites including Green Mountain Farm-to-School, Maplehill School & Farm, Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, and NorthWoods Stewardship Center.
Melanie Campanini, who serves at Maplehill School & Farm in Lyndon, said the school sources about 60 percent of its food on-site or from local farms. "Through my contributions on the farm, I help source hot lunch every day for students and staff at Maplehill, many of which do not have reliable access to food and prepared meals," Campanini said.
Program Director Derek Kim said the members have helped provide more than 4,000 K-12 students with access to healthy food and educational programming this academic year. Members also leverage about 20 community volunteers to support programming and outreach.
The VRLC primarily serves Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, plus other rural counties around VTSU's campuses. Host sites are still recruiting AmeriCorps members for summer service. Interested individuals can search "VRLC" at my.americorps.gov or contact Kim at 802-626-6752.
Originally reported by North Star Monthly.
Photo: Artaxerxes (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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