Two Dartmouth graduates work at United Way's newest member agency

Posted 10/27/00

The Lebanon agency COVER was named the newest organization to receive funding from the United Way of the Upper Valley in January. It is the only new United Way agency this year, bringing the number of organizations funded through UW to 29.

"The agency brings together volunteers, carpenters and support from the community to improve houses in the Upper Valley," said Nancy Bloomfield '99, one of two Dartmouth alumnae who work at COVER.

Founded in 1998, COVER is a volunteer-based home repair program that operates throughout Grafton County. The organization's staff screens people in need of home repair, mobilizes volunteers, collects donated materials and oversees the repair of houses for eligible residents.

COVER, which stands for the Corps of Volunteers Effecting Repairs, is staffed by Bloomfield and Danra Kazenski '99. Kazenski works under the aegis of the AmeriCorps VISTA program. As undergraduates, Bloomfield and Kazenski worked with the Tucker Foundation, volunteering for Operation Insulation, a group that weatherizes houses for people with low incomes. While at Dartmouth, Bloomfield and Kazenski enlisted the aid of Simon Dennis, a carpenter and newcomer to the area. Upon seeing the Upper Valley's need for a home repair agency with permanent staff, Dennis started COVER; now all three work there permanently.

Funding for COVER is derived solely from the private sector. The organization applies for grants on an annual basis, as a United Way member agency receives funding, and relies on individual donations to supplement these awards. Bloomfield cited the United Way as "an important source of continual funding."

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