NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Joins Forces with Community Health & Access Fund
Montpelier, VT — When someone has to choose between food and medication, the healthcare system doesn’t step in. That’s where the Community Health & Access Fund comes in — and now, NorthCountry Federal Credit Union is joining this effort to fill the gaps.
NorthCountry has become an anchor sponsor of the Community Health & Access Fund, a patient-led mutual aid initiative operated by All Brains Belong VT that covers urgent health-related costs — transportation, food, adaptive equipment, utilities — for people who would otherwise go without care.
This comes at a critical time. As more Vermonters lose Medicaid and other health insurance coverage, people are being pushed out of care — they’re not too sick to be helped, they’ve just been overlooked by the system.
This $5,000 contribution, approved by NorthCountry’s Cares Committee, reflects a growing movement of Vermont businesses refusing to accept that survival should depend on what’s covered by insurance.
NorthCountry joins The Alchemist and LimeLite Restoration Services as founding sponsors of the Fund. Together, these businesses are helping build a different kind of healthcare safety net — one rooted in solidarity.
“This isn’t charity. It’s connection,” said Dr. Melissa Houser, Executive Director of All Brains Belong. “Our patients are facing impossible choices every day — between eating and taking medication, between paying rent and getting care. NorthCountry’s support is a statement: we take care of each other.”
The Community Health & Access Fund was started by All Brains Belong patients after seeing fellow community members falling through the cracks. Vermont Medicaid, for example, doesn’t cover many common, simple medications that make a big difference for conditions like Long COVID, let alone nutritional needs or something as simple as an air purifier for someone with severe allergic reactions.
That’s where the Fund comes in — no red tape, no delay, just direct help for urgent health needs. Since its launch, it has supported dozens of patients across Vermont — and the need is anticipated to grow with looming cuts to Medicaid and forecasted skyrocketing of expenses through the Vermont Health Exchange.
“The Community Health & Access Fund supports solutions focused on accommodation instead of exclusion,” says Morgan Salter, Community Relations Manager at NorthCountry Federal Credit Union. “Whether it’s healthcare or financial services, both All Brains Belong and NorthCountry look to meet people where they are, as they are, recognizing the importance of removing obstacles for groups that are often overlooked.”
About NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution serving Northern Vermont and parts of New Hampshire and New York. Through donations, volunteers, and fundraising, NorthCountry supports the communities where its members live, work, and play — with a particular focus on health, human services, and equity.
Learn more or make a donation to the CH&A Fund at: https://allbrainsbelong.org/help-our-patients