Help Local Vermont Store Devastated by Flood

Our sister Hallie opened Wally's Corner in her newly adopted hometown of Cuttingsville VT in December 2021. The recent storm on July 10, 2023, that swept through NY and then traveled North into Vermont clobbered neighboring towns, unfortunately, took Wally's Corner as a casualty with it. Hallie put so much time, sweat, and money into her business, then Monday, watched helplessly across the street as the river swelled over 12 feet from its normal level crushing her flower boxes, ripping out her propane tank and pushing the shed from behind the store into the parking lot. Today, 7/11/23, she walked the totaled grounds, surveryed the beat-up exterior and entered the store stunned to find 2 inches of mud lining the floor; the furniture and goods pushed and thrown about.

Sadly, insurance does not cover this type of damage. Your generous donations will go towards hiring an engineer, getting a structural assessment, interior and exterior renovation work and replacing damaged inventory to reopen the business. Additionally, two weeks ago, Hallie set up part of the office as a nursery-away-from-home so she could re-open the store just six weeks after giving birth to her son. Unfortunately, all of the essential gear to keep him with her at work was lost to the flood as well and needs to be replaced.

This is a new family running a small business in a small town with big dreams of serving its community and tourists alike. Hallie spent the better part of last year planning improvements for the property and store exterior while procuring her eclectic inventory blending local products, crafts and antiques. She proudly presented its new street sign and fresh exterior with a celebration hosting local food and coffee vendors, entertainment and kids activities. Within weeks of this event, the store was broken into and vandalized. Hallie, ever able to find a silver lining, fixed things up, thankful the scenario wasn't worse.

Hallie and her husband Bob are dedicated to supporting their community. He volunteers at the library and manages the local cooperative general store. She seeks out other small businesses to help promote artisans and craftspeople and hosts backyard concerts for their neighbors.