BY STEVEN JUPITER
BRANDON—Brandon’s own Patty Moore and Crystal Eastman-Ketcham are both among the recipients of 2023’s Outstanding Women in Vermont Award from Hannaford Supermarkets and 98.9 WOKO-FM radio. The award celebrates women in Vermont “who go above and beyond to make their communities a better place to live.”
Anyone who knows Moore and Eastman-Ketcham knows they absolutely fit the bill.
Moore was recognized primarily for her work with the Brandon Area Toy Project (BATP), an organization that collects and distributes donated Christmas gifts to children whose parents need a helping hand.
Eastman-Ketcham was recognized primarily for her work with Silver Bells, an organization that provides books, birthday bags, Christmas gifts, food, clothing, and necessities to children, homeless veterans, and the elderly.
Moore grew up in Goshen and bought a house in Brandon with her husband, Bill, in 2005. They have two daughters, Bonnie and Sophie. Bonnie is a student at Towson State University in Maryland and Sophie is a sophomore at Otter Valley.
She began working on BATP seven or eight years ago, when Colleen Wright was managing it. Moore has been the principal organizer for the last four or five years. She said there’s been a huge increase in participation over the years she’s been involved, not only in the number of families asking for assistance with holiday gifts, but also in the number of people who volunteer to help process, wrap, and distribute the gifts.
“I love the intergenerational side of it,” said Moore. “Whole families come to volunteer. You’ll have grandparents, parents, and the kids all helping to sort and wrap.”
“I couldn’t do it without the volunteers and all the people who contribute, like Sheila Gearwar at Brandon House of Pizza and Blue Seal. They let us use their space for our Angel Trees (trees festooned with cards that anonymous donors can take that have the ages, genders, and interests of children in the program.) The American Legion has also been truly amazing. We take over their entire space.”
CRYSTAL EASTMAN-KETCHAM WAS recognized for her cease- less efforts with Silver Bells, an organization she founded in 2020 in memory of her mother, who had recently passed. Silver Bells distributes Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, books, clothing, food, and toiletries to children, homeless veterans, and the elderly.
Eastman-Ketcham moved with her husband, Robert, from New Hampshire in 2003. After a spell in West Rutland, they moved to Brandon in 2007. They have two daughters, Ashlynn, age 9, and Autumn, age 6.
Silver Bells was begun in memory of her mother, who passed away from complications of multiple sclerosis in 2020 at the age of 56. And Eastman-Ketcham has grown the organization even while working toward her undergraduate degree in psychology at Northern Vermont University, the first in her family to attend college. She plans to become a counselor in Brandon when she graduates. “People have been suffering since COVID,” she said. “Mental health is such an important issue.” She wants to work with folks who would not normally be able to afford such services.
Moore had no idea that she’d been nominated and was taken by surprise when she received the e-mail from WOKO telling her that she’d won.
“My first reaction was ‘oh no, I hate attention’ but then I was honored and appreciative,” said Moore, who was nominated by Colleen Wright.
“She brought dignity to a very large project run by very few volunteers,” said Wright in a written statement to The Reporter. “An amazing combination of strength and compassion!”
“Patty is an amazing human being,” added Eastman-Ketcham. “I saw firsthand what she goes through to make Christmas happen [at BATP].”
Eastman-Ketcham, however, had a sense that she’d been nominated. “A few people hinted,” she said. But she was still surprised to get the notification. “It’s a huge honor. I couldn’t do it, though, without family and community.”
“I’m always amazed by her,” said Moore of Eastman-Ketcham. “She’s passionate, kind, and full of joy. A bundle of energy.”
Both Moore and Eastman-Ketcham give to the community because of the love they feel for it.
“Brandon’s like a family,” said Eastman-Ketcham. “Our community is something I’ve never seen in my life.”
“I like to give hope and positivity,” said Moore. “I love this town. I grew up here. I want the best for it.”
