Attorney and COTS Board Member Anne Cramer, left, starts to eat lunch during the Coolest Lunch event during which participants paid to eat lunch outdoors on Church Street in Burlington, Vt., Friday, Dec.18, to raise awareness of the homeless and proceeds benefitted the Committee On Temporary Shelter (Vermont Daily News/Alden Pellett)

Burlington, Vt. – December 18 – Strolling along Church Street with friends or a loved one, enjoying the sunshine on your face, pulling up a seat at one of the many open cafe’ seating areas is a favorite pastime of many Vermonters. The only thing is, they usually wait until winter is over.

Today, almost 100 people enjoyed/suffered through lunch outside at either Leunig’s Bistro, Three Tomatoes, or Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe’ to benefit the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS).   Clad in down parkas, wool gloves, and other winterwear, they braved the chilly temperatures for a menu of hot food.  Diners kept warm with good humor and conversation.

Tammy Boudah of the Howard Center Street Outreach Team sitting with Ron Redmond of the Church Street Marketplace ordered up the Beef Stew at Three Tomatoes, reasoning that, “You only need one hand to eat it,” she said.

At Leunig’s Lee Ann Lee of South Burlington and Allan Hunt of Burlington finished up their meal of Beef Bourguignon and Fish Stew. Lee said, “I’m pretty cold. I’ve got a lot of  layers on, ” she said. 

“I could be on top of Camel’s Hump and be warmer,” she smiled, joking about sitting outside eating lunch in December, but she added, “It’s for a good cause, that’s the real reason.”  

Vermont Speaker of the House Shap Smith ordered lunch from a chilly metal chair outside Halvorson’s. He said, “It’s fun to spend some time with friends I know from the legal community and it’s for a great cause to raise awareness for COTS.” He sat with attorneys from Primmer, Piper, Eggleston, and Cramer.  Anne Cramer is a  Board Member for COTS and the crew came to help raise money for the non-profit which helps the homeless community.

Smith said,  ”I ordered a Patty Melt, a French Patty Melt,  something warm! …and I’m having some coffee to keep myself warm as well.”

Smith continued,”For us it’s fun, but for a lot of people who are homeless, they have to face being out in the cold through the winter every day. We need to really keep that in mind.” 

COTS Development Director Kim Borsavage was thrilled with the turnout, “This is the second year of the event. There is a lot more energy and we’ve seen more participation. We hope it become popular enough to become a regular annual event.”

-Vermont Daily News staff report