Gone Guys
2026-02-04 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Bennington Theater, 331 Main Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join us for a screening of the documentary Gone Guys followed by a facilitated panel discussion.
Boys and young men are struggling. It’s time to talk about it.
Presented by The Vermont Community Foundation and The Richard E. & Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation with support from the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation. A Well Told Films Production.
Bennington Event Co-Host: United Counseling Service
This event is not a production of Bennington Theater.
Over the past fifty years, boys and young men have steadily disengaged from school, work, and broader society. They’re falling behind academically, struggling with loneliness and isolation, and facing rising rates of substance abuse and suicide.
This 45-minute documentary draws on the influential work of Richard V. Reeves’ “Of Boys and Men”, illuminating these challenges through powerful data and compelling personal stories. Many of us have experienced these issues first-hand, but it can be difficult to talk about them. It’s not zero-sum: caring more about boys and men does not mean caring less about women and girls.
Set in rural Vermont, the film brings national data to life with engaging animation accompanying lived experience featuring young men, educators, mentors, and trailblazing programs that are working to re-engage boys and young men in their communities and reshape their futures.
Content advisory: This film includes references to substance use, suicide, and mental health struggles.
Tickets
Download the flyer

Mental Health First Aid training
2026-02-25 09:00 - 16:00 | Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join the more than 2.6 million First Aiders who have chosen to be the difference in their community. Learn how to support your friends, family, and neighbors. Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.
Wednesday, February 25, 9am-4pm. Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT 05201
This training is open to the public and is currently offered at no cost, however, space is limited.
For more information or to register, contact Amie Niles at ANiles@ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.

Mental Health First Aid Training-CLASS FULL
2026-02-27 09:00 - 16:00 | United Counseling Service, 100 Ledge Hill Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
This class is full. Please see ucsvt.org/events for other MHFA training dates, including February 25 at the Spring Center (655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT).

Join the more than 2.6 million First Aiders who have chosen to be the difference in their community. Learn how to support your friends, family, and neighbors. Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.
Friday, February 27th 9am-4pm. 100 Ledge Hill Drive, Bennington, VT 05201
This training is open to the public and is currently offered at no cost, however, space is limited.
For more information or to register contact Amie Niles at ANiles@ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.

Mental Health First Aid Training
2026-03-17 09:00 - 16:00 | Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join the more than 2.6 million First Aiders who have chosen to be the difference in their community. Learn how to support your friends, family, and neighbors. Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.
Tuesday, March 17th 9am-4pm. Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT 05201
This training is open to the public and is currently offered at no cost, however, space is limited.
For more information or to register contact Amie Niles at ANiles@ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.

Head Start Open Enrollment
2026-04-22 14:30 - 17:30 | Head Start/Early Head Start: North Bennington, VT, 2 Park Street, North Bennington, VT, 05257, United States
Don’t wait – enroll today! Head Start provides high-quality early education for children ages six weeks to five years and is open to all families. A number of community slots are available for families who are not income eligible.
Join Head Start/Early Head Start of Bennington County for an open enrollment event at its North Bennington campus (Park Building) on Wednesday, April 22, from 2:30-5:30pm. To determine eligibility, please bring one of the following: a 3Squares/VT SNAP card, recent paystubs, or a tax return.
Head Start classrooms provide a rich and educational experience and the program includes health screenings, healthy meals and snacks, and both structured and unstructured play indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. Children with disabilities are welcome at Bennington County Head Start/Early Head Start. Space is reserved for children with special needs (hearing, speech, vision impairment, emotional or physical challenges).
For more information or to start enrollment process, contact April Dunham at ADunham@ucsvt.org or Wenona Risley at WRisley@ucsvt.org.

Mental Health First Aid Training
2026-05-06 09:00 - 16:00 | Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join the more than 2.6 million First Aiders who have chosen to be the difference in their community. Learn how to support your friends, family, and neighbors. Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.
Wednesday, May 6th 9am-4pm. Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT 05201
This training is open to the public and is currently offered at no cost, however, space is limited.
For more information or to register contact Amie Niles at ANiles@ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.

NAMI Family Voices - hosted by UCS
2026-05-06 15:30 - 17:00 | United Counseling Service, 100 Ledge Hill Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, you are invited to join UCS on May 6 from 3:30-5pm (Community Conference Room, 100 Ledge Hill Drive, Bennington, VT) for an event featuring stories told in-person by Chip and Judy Siler (President and Vice President of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) VT) about supporting family members living with mental health conditions.
Family Voices is an interactive presentation that challenges stereotypes and builds empathy by considering the impact mental health conditions have not just on the individual living with the illness, but also on their loved ones. Trained presenters with lived experience as family members of individuals living with a mental health condition talk openly about their experiences. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions to learn more about how the presenters and their loved ones have coped with the conditions affecting their families and how to live well in spite of them.
Please RSVP here.

Head Start Open Enrollment
2026-05-07 15:30 - 17:30 | Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Don’t wait – enroll today! Head Start provides high-quality early education for children ages six weeks to five years and is open to all families. A number of community slots are available for families who are not income eligible.
Join Head Start/Early Head Start of Bennington County for an open enrollment event at its Bennington campus (655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT) on Tuesday, May 7 from 3:30 to 5:30pm. To determine eligibility, please bring one of the following: a 3Squares/VT SNAP card, recent paystubs, or a tax return.
Head Start classrooms provide a rich and educational experience and the program includes health screenings, healthy meals and snacks, and both structured and unstructured play indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. Children with disabilities are welcome at Bennington County Head Start/Early Head Start. Space is reserved for children with special needs (hearing, speech, vision impairment, emotional or physical challenges).
For more information or to start enrollment process, contact April Dunham at ADunham@ucsvt.org or Wenona Risley at WRisley@ucsvt.org.

NAMI Family Voices - hosted by UCS
2026-05-19 13:30 - 15:00 | Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, you are invited to join UCS on May 19 from 1:30-3pm (Spring Center, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT) for an event featuring stories told in-person by Chip and Judy Siler (President and Vice President of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) VT) about supporting family members living with mental health conditions.
Family Voices is an interactive presentation that challenges stereotypes and builds empathy by considering the impact mental health conditions have not just on the individual living with the illness, but also on their loved ones. Trained presenters with lived experience as family members of individuals living with a mental health condition talk openly about their experiences. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions to learn more about how the presenters and their loved ones have coped with the conditions affecting their families and how to live well in spite of them.
Please RSVP here.

The Barn Sale 2026
2026-09-19 09:00 - 16:00 | Riley Rink at Hunter Park, 410 Hunter Park Road, Manchester, VT, 05255, United States
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend at the Barn Sale, the best tag sale in Vermont! Taking place on September 19 and 20 at Riley Rink in Manchester, Vermont, this event is a must-visit for bargain hunters, antique enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a great deal.
All proceeds benefit services in the Northshire. Services include mental health, substance use treatment, crisis, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and early childhood services.
More information coming soon.
Questions? Contact Brittany Harrington at BHarrington@ucsvt.org or (802) 442-5491 EXT. 509

9th Annual UCS Superhero 5K and Kids' Dash
2026-11-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Berkshire Family YMCA, 655 Gage Street, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join United Counseling Service for our 9th Annual UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash on November 7, 2026! This fun, family friendly event will benefit Chickens for Change, a program of UCS that provides an opportunity for elementary through high school-age youth to raise, care for, and sell chickens and eggs in order to promote business, social, and life skills.
Registration for the 2026 UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash opens May 1 at this page.
Sponsorship opportunities are available! Please contact HFrench@ucsvt.org if you are interested in sponsoring this year’s event.
Caped Crusader – $5000
Guardian – $2,500
Aquaman – $1,000
Defender – $500
Champion – $250
Donations in any other amount and in-kind donations are also welcomed.

Thank you to this year’s community sponsors!
Invincible Level: $10,000

Heritage Family Credit Union

Caped Crusader Level: $5,000

Bennington Banner
Manchester Journal

Guardian Level: $2,500

The Richards Group

Aquaman Level: $1,000

Genoa Healthcare

Defender Level: $500

RK Miles
Northeast Delta Dental

Champion Level: $250

Coggins Toyota of Bennington
Taconic Music
