Bennington, VT News

Susan Plaisance Bennington: Decades of Service for Local Children

For more than three decades, Susan Plaisance has supported local children and families across Bennington County through winter clothing drives, back-to-school supply distributions, service on the MAU school board, and downtown leadership with the Better Bennington Corporation.

Published

2 hours ago

September 11, 2026

Randy Breland, Managing Editor

About Susan Plaisance Bennington

Susan Plaisance — Susan Plaisance Bennington

Last updated: September 11, 2026

For more than three decades, Bennington neighbors have seen Susan Plaisance show up for local families. Her civic work touches classrooms and downtown storefronts. In addition, she leads charitable drives across Bennington County.

Why it matters

Strong communities depend on active local leadership. Plaisance blends business experience with hands-on volunteer action to help vulnerable children in Bennington, North Bennington, and Shaftsbury. Also, her long-standing efforts provide essential winter warmth, classroom supplies, and food security for working households.

How does Warm the Children Bennington protect local youth?

Warm the Children Bennington supplies new winter coats, sturdy boots, and warm clothing to hundreds of children each year. The initiative partners the Bennington Banner with Sunrise Family Resource Center. Local donations ensure that area youngsters stay safe during cold Vermont winters. Consequently, families receive direct relief from harsh seasonal weather.

Plaisance acts as a primary advocate for this winter clothing program. Vermont winters bring deep freezes and heavy snow. Because of this reality, warm outerwear remains a vital daily necessity. Therefore, the drive focuses entirely on brand-new coats and snow boots for area children.

Meanwhile, the community saw that enduring family dedication in March 2025. Her husband, Stephen Plaisance, passed away that month. Following his passing, family members directed memorial gifts to the winter clothing fund through Sunrise Family Resource Center. Thus, their choice offered comfort to area youngsters in need.

What back-to-school drives help area students?

Annual back-to-school drives equip local elementary and secondary students with free backpacks filled with classroom supplies. Plaisance coordinates this initiative each summer through her post at the Bennington Banner. The event assists the first 250 children who arrive, easing financial burdens for area families before classes start.

For example, Plaisance frequently highlights the joy of that community outreach. “We just love putting these events together for the community and the Back to School is my favorite,” Plaisance noted. In addition, she shared: “We simply cannot do these events without their help.”

Susan Plaisance MAU school board service and district priorities

As an elected trustee, Susan Plaisance serves on the MAU school board through 2028. She guides policy decisions for the Mount Anthony Union School District. Specifically, she focuses on student nutrition and rural resources. Plaisance also serves on the Ag Land and Food Service Committee and the Food Service Advisory Committee.

Her governance work directly shapes student well-being in our public schools. Nutritious food fuels daily classroom achievement. Therefore, Plaisance uses her committee seats to champion healthy meal programs across the entire school district.

How does the Better Bennington Corporation support local growth?

The Better Bennington Corporation fosters downtown vitality, commerce, and cultural events across the historic town center. Plaisance joined the board of directors in 2017. She has provided executive leadership as past president and board secretary. Her efforts help organize festivals, support small retailers, and draw regional visitors downtown.

Furthermore, her energetic organizing keeps our downtown corridors active throughout the four seasons. Bennington community volunteers frequently join her at major regional gatherings, including:

Garlic Town celebrations that welcome thousands of visitors to downtown streets.
Mayfest and Harvest Fest street fairs along Main Street.
Toys for Tots holiday gift sorting and winter distributions for local families.
Annual charity initiatives like Relay for Life and the United Way Day of Caring.
Community health gatherings such as SoberFest and the Epilepsy Foundation radio auction.

Meanwhile, she brings fiduciary discipline to other civic organizations. In past years, she served as treasurer for the Bennington County Meals Program. Similarly, she held treasurer positions for the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless and Bennington Project Independence.

What is Susan Plaisance’s background in Bennington leadership?

Susan Plaisance moved to Vermont in 1991 and quickly invested her time into media and civic service. For over two decades, she has led advertising sales for the Bennington Banner and the Manchester Journal. Her ongoing commercial and charitable leadership reflects a lifelong dedication to southwestern Vermont communities.

In May 2022, the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce and Berkshire Bank honored Plaisance as Woman of the Year. Chamber executive director Matt Harrington called her “a connector, supporter and friend to many.” Harrington also emphasized that she had “worked tirelessly for her home community and the region for over 30 years.”

Still, Plaisance summarizes her motivation through personal responsibility. She believes each citizen holds a clear duty to strengthen their home region. In her Better Bennington Corporation profile, Plaisance shared that “it is up to each of us as citizens to become involved in the communities we serve to make them a place in which we are proud to call home.”

Next, neighbors can connect with these community programs directly through the Better Bennington Corporation or Sunrise Family Resource Center. Every volunteer hour and seasonal donation helps keep our corner of Vermont vibrant and supportive.