You Helped Us Raise $11,547 for COTS!

For the past 17 years, we have a COTS Tree Sale to benefit Burlington’s Committee on Temporary Shelter. This year, we once again sold fresh balsams from Moffatt’s Tree Farm in Craftsbury, Vermont. We sold 656 trees from Wednesday, December 3 through Thursday, December 11 and the net proceeds were all donated to COTS. City Market staff, Co-op Members, and community volunteers assisted customers with trees throughout the sale.

This Annual Tree Sale has truly become a community event with almost 100 volunteers working nearly 200 volunteer shifts and community members supporting COTS through tree purchases and additional donations. Burlington’s Committee on Temporary Shelter is the Vermont’s largest service provider to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They are a nationally recognized, Vermont nonprofit that provides emergency shelter, services, housing and prevention outreach, serving more than 2,000 people annually, including families and children.

“About 50% of our annual budget comes directly from community support. Through partnerships with organizations like City Market, COTS can continue to meet the immediate and ongoing needs in our community,” Executive Director Rita Markley said. “Throughout the year, Member Workers volunteer at COTS as part of the Co-op’s Community Outreach Program. And the Annual Tree Sale really has become a community tradition and a great way to support our neighbors most in need.”

City Market General Manager Pat Burns presented the check totaling $11,547 to COTS Executive Director Rita Markley this week.  The annual Tree Sale to benefit COTS has been held at the Co-op for the past 17 years, bringing the total donation to over $100,000. If you missed the tree sale and would like to donate to COTS, please visit them online at www.COTSonline.org/how-you-can-help.