A New Year Ahead

As we look to a new year ahead in 2022, we also stay mindful of the efforts made by our dear loved ones, friends, family, as well as the ongoing response and efforts made by so many to combat COVID-19.

I have so many hopes for the future. I share so many dreams with others that we will see a new day where the pandemic will be the furthest thing from our minds. Until then, we have to continue to do our part to keep one another safe and make sure that we can see this hopeful future become a reality.

As I reflect on this past year, I’ve seen the pain and suffering that so many have been burdened by because of the pandemic. What has ultimately kept me going has been bearing witness to the collective efforts of so many incredibly compassionate human beings. Their strength and positive energy has been so powerful, that I have so many high hopes for our future and for the state of the world.

I hope we never have to go through something like this again. There’s no doubt that the effects from this pandemic will remain fervent for a while, but it will not outlast the love and affection that people have shown for one another, even in the worst of times. In some ways the pandemic has helped shed a light on showing how truly incredible people can be when they come together. At Masks4Missions, I have been amazed to see the commitment and dedication from so many people, who wish to help our future and make each day better than the one before.

A new year reminds us that we can reset. We can reshape our focus and use this time to heal and help one another. A new year is a new opportunity to be a part of the solution to the problem. A new year is a new beginning. We will see this through, for all of the hardships endured by humanity, we are still here today. We still stand strong. We live to fight another day.

I encourage each and every person to continue to adhere to the CDC’s most recent guidelines and, when possible, to get tested and wear your mask. A new year presents a lot of new opportunities, but we are far from this pandemic being completely over. Many of us have lost someone dear to us, or witnessed a tragic loss of someone near to us. We will not give up hope, we will not give up trying to do our part to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Wishing all of you the very best in health and spirits for the holidays!

Be Safe. Mask On.

Happy New Year!

Partner Spotlight

Burlington City Arts’ mission is to nurture a dynamic environment through the arts, making quality experiences and opportunities accessible to a broad audience. It does this by:

• Supporting and promoting Vermont artists and advancing the creation of new work

• Offering a wide spectrum of arts education and engagement opportunities

• Presenting exhibitions and events that place Burlington in a global context, promote critical dialogue and encourage local participation

• Serving as the City of Burlington’s cultural planner by making the arts integral to the area's economic and civic development, urban design, and livability.

We at the Masks4Missions team send our heartfelt thanks for another year of deep and productive partnership!

Mask of the Month

Bennington County Habitat for Humanity

Bennington County Habitat for Humanity is part of Habitat for Humanity International, a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles. They are dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.