Want to repurpose your adolescent or teen’s outgrown clothing or sneakers? Middlebury Union Middle School is looking for gently used youth/teen athletic shorts, T-shirts and sneakers — preferably shoes sizes ranging from upper youth, to 9-10 adult. The school is hoping to offer the community a way to recycle outgrown clothing and shoes, while providing students in need with options for the upcoming school year. All donations can be dropped off at MUMS at the front entrance in designated bins until Friday, Aug. 20.

And speaking of “back to school,” the United Way of Addison County is again spearheading its “Stuff the Bus” program, aimed at providing area students the proper school supplies needed for a successful academic year. Thanks to the community’s incredible generosity, the United Way was able to fill more than 500 backpacks last year with new pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons, binders and more, for elementary, middle and high school students throughout Addison County. This year, the organization stuffed a record 600 backpacks, available at no cost at Vergennes Community Food Shelf at the Congregational Church; St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Bristol; and Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, the Vermont Federal Credit Union and Junebug in Middlebury. Details on pickup of the backpacks can be found at unitedwayaddisoncounty.org/stuff-the-bus. If you’d like to donate to the effort, log on to tinyurl.com/ywt66yps.

Have you been thinking about converting to an electric vehicle? Green Mountain Power will host the first of several “EVenture Ride-n-Drive” events this Saturday, Aug. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the parking lot off 14 Seminary St. shared by the Addison County Regional Planning Commission and the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op. People can stop by, ask questions, and learn how driving electric can help cut carbon and costs. There are many electric vehicle options, and the EVenture will also feature a “parade” of electric vehicles. Drivers and customers who attend will be entered into a drawing to win a free electric yard trimmer. It should also be noted that GMP will make a charitable donation to a nonprofit in each community that hosts an EVenture, and Middlebury’s Elderly Services will be the beneficiary this Saturday. GMP will conduct more EVentures statewide through the fall.

A community-wide effort to build a 20-foot-by-40-foot pavilion behind the Starksboro Town Clerk’s Office (off Route 116) continues to gain momentum. Organizers see the new structure as a space to gather safely for learning, recreation and resources in the heart of the village. Help is still needed. You can use this link (forms.gle/Djg71GzLH8W6dbxB7) for a form to specify your contribution, or stop by the town clerk’s office to drop off your form or contribution. Organizers are in particular need of bags of cement, treated wood for picnic tables, lumber in good condition, blueberry plants, edible shrubs, pollinator plants, mulch, folks who have the material or the knowledge to input water and electrical service, and financial contributions.