Wheels for Warmth — A Vermont Nonprofit Documentary

In the tranquil turning of the seasons in Vermont, the coolness of winter approaches, like most communities around the nation, Vermonters face many challenges, from economic instability to natural disasters. However, through collaboration with its citizens, industries, and government, an idea was born. Wheels for Warps, for more than 17 years, has been a beacon of hope with lasting impacts on the community it serves. It's a big barn raising.

People are coming together, doing what's needed to get people what they need to get prepared for the winter, get tires on their cars, and get tires recycled in the places they need to go. We've been through a lot over the last number of years. We had the Irene 10 years ago. We just had the flooding in July.

We had a pandemic. So we've seen time and time again how Vermonters want to help, and they help their neighbors when they're in need. From the very beginning, each year as temperatures drop, the community comes together, uniting for a cause. Garages, barns, and warehouses are emptied of unneeded tires and brought to drop-off locations across the state.

Next, the tires that pass inspection by the DMV are sold back to those who need them most at reasonable prices. With inflation and everything else going on, the fact that you can come here and get a set of winter tires, no more than $120, I mean that's huge. I mean, when somebody has to choose between whether or not they're going to fill their oil tank over getting winter tires to safely get themselves to and from, that's sad. So the fact that we can provide that is just unbelievable.

To go out and get a brand new set of tires at the store, paying $400 or $500, versus coming here and spending $100 to $130 or so, it's a big difference. Maybe you bought a new vehicle and you didn't use the tires that much, those tires are actually getting another life and then all the money that's raised is going to heating assistance. So it's really a win-win. Well, I thought I was going to beat the crowd by showing up at $630, but I was rudely awakened when I saw 30 cars parked.

So some folks want some tires, it's a big deal. Today I'm on the grill the last two days. I've been helping setting up and it's a lot of fun. Money goes to a great organization trying to help Vermonters in need and that's what we need.

Wheels for Warms allows the community to discard their unwanted tires affordably, enables others to purchase state-inspected tires for less, and the program keeps unwanted tires out of Vermont's rivers and along roadways. Last year on Green Up Day we had 23,500 volunteers pick up nearly 400 tons of trash and 15,000 tires out of our public spaces. So events like these can help with keeping those tires out of our natural environment. It's just really, really cool as a part of the Norwich community to be able to bring the girls back here to get dirty, lug some tires around and help the community.

It feels really good every year. There's all kinds of tires here. Sometimes they've been well used and sometimes they're almost new and it's an unbelievable resource because we know tires are very expensive. Heat is very expensive and there's a lot of Vermonters, our neighbors, who really can't afford either a new tire or to keep their home warm.

We have an unbelievable need across Vermont for heating assistance especially and for those people that are less fortunate that on... Get back to work. 18 years. Hold on 18 years we've been here.

Well I've been 17. We fell on some hard times this year. We are in like emergency housing and my partner's in school and so it's one income and this really helps. We're getting winter tires, yep.

Vermont is a community. It's not just a state and we worry about each other. Actively caring for people. It's a big theme across all of us.

From the serenity of snowy mornings to the warmth of hearths at dusk, Vermont's spirit remains undeterred. At Casilla, we celebrate each milestone achieved by Wheels for Warmth as a testament to community resilience and unity. And as more wheels roll forward, they bring more and more Vermonters the warmth of community and care.