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A BIG Thank You!
Thank you to the following individuals, organizations & business for their recent financial support of the Friends Program:
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#SeniorCorpsWorks
If you are a Senior Corps volunteer, share YOUR story as we celebrate Senior Corps Week (May 15th-19th) and tag us on Facebook. Use the hashta
#SeniorCorpsWorks.
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Shop at Rite Aid to Support the Youth Mentoring Program
KidCents
and your in-store & online purchases at Rite Aid will be rounded up to the next whole dollar amount. Your change can go to our Youth Mentoring Program and make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children.
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Did you know that you can give to the Friends Program
monthly through your credit card? You can choose the amount you want to give - $10, $20, $50, or more - and we will take care of the rest.
Contact us to set this up.
Thank you for your support.
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Cold Weather Shelter Thank You!
Thank you to the more than 175 volunteers who signed-up to cover 860 shifts this winter to make sure that shelter was provided to those in need, which accounted for more than 3,150 bed nights.
A special thank you to the City of Concord, Merrimack County, Granite United Way, Concord Police and Fire Departments, Concord Hospital and Christ the King Parish for supporting the Cold Weather Shelter.
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Help Us Spread the Word About Friends
Do you belong to a neighborhood group, service organization, or workplace giving collaborative? If so, we would love to be a guest speaker at an upcoming meeting to let others know what the Friends Program does.
Contact us if interested.
Youth Mentoring Says Thank You
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, Youth Mentoring Program volunteers and staff gathered on April 26th for some deserved volunteer recognition, fellowship and light refreshments.
Thank you to all our volunteers who give of their time, talents and heart to help us continue to enrich the lives of Merrimack County youth!
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Youth Mentoring Orientations
Make a difference in the life of a Merrimack County young person and be a mentor. The first step is attending an orientation that will introduce you to our program and outline what's involved.
Upcoming orientations:
Thursday, May 11th 4:30-7pm
Wednesday, June 7th 3-5:30pm
Wednesday, June 21st 1-3:30pm (Teens)
Wednesday, July 19th 4:30-7pm
Step up and step in to help a needy child. Call 228-0108 for more info.
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Free Senior
Exercise Classes
Don't let the rainy days of Spring stop your exercise plans. Friends Bone Builders is a low-impact workout that yields high-impact results. These osteoporosis and senior strength programs are held at over 20 locations.
Click
here
for class locations.
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Foster Grandparent Raffle Donations Needed
Do you have items to donate to our fundraiser that might help us sell those raffle tickets?
EVERYTHING
helps - gift cards, event tickets, experiences, gift baskets, signed memorabilia.
Proceeds from the raffle help our Foster Grandparent volunteers who are supporting at-risk children in local schools.
Please
contact us
by the end of May if you have something to donate. Thank you
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NH Gives
June 6th-7th
We will be participating in NH Gives and have a goal of raising $5,000 and know that we can count on your to help us.
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We Want YOU!
Do you support the Friends Program by getting more involved?
We are always looking for volunteers to serve on the
Development Committee, which helps with fundraising and events,
and the
RSVP Advisory Committee
.
If you are interested in learning more about these volunteer opportunities,
contact us
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RSVP Orientations
This is an opportunity to ask questions, share your experiences & learn about the benefits of volunteering with RSVP.
Orientations are from 2-3pm at the Friends Program office (202 North State St, Concord)
Thursday, April 27th
Thursday, June 29th
Thursday, August 31
Thursday, October 26
Please RSVP by calling 228-0139 or email
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Shop Online &
Support Friends
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchase from
AmazonSmile to the Friends Program so shop away.
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Volunteer of the Year Award Winner
Foster Grandparent Kay Griffin was recognized as the "Volunteer of the Year" for Derry Village School at the April 18th Derry School Board meeting.
Principal Chris McCallum expressed his appreciation for Kay's 10 years of outstanding service with the second grade team at their school, thankful for her positive impact on countless students and staff members throughout the years. In addition to the principal, the assistant principal, the second grade teachers, and paraprofessionals were all in attendance to honor Kay's contribution to their school.
We congratulate Kay on this award and thank her for representing the Friends Foster Grandparent Program so well!
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Thank You to Our 2017 Business Sponsors
The Friends Program would like to thank Canon Solutions America for being a Program Sponsor for 2017.
We would also like to thank Liberty Utilities for being a Program Supporter for 2017.
According to Liberty Utilities spokesperson, John Shore,
"Liberty Utilities is very happy to support the Friends Program. We feel this program provides essential services to our youth and elderly that help to make NH a great place to live. Liberty Utilities is very involved in the communities we serve and we are proud to support the Friends Program."
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Foster Grandparent & RSVP Federal Funding Update
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Our Senior Programs are National Service programs, operated under Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) grant funding combined with a local funding match.
The White House budget proposal for the rest of 2017 and the 2018 budget starting October 1 eliminated CNCS and associated programs. Today, Congress passed a one week continuing resolution to provide more time to negotiate an omnibus spending bill for those agencies currently not under an approved budget. Our funding status for the remainder of this year and next year are not yet determined.
Contact your Congressional
Representative and
Senators today. Let them know that National Service is important to you and New Hampshire. Encourage them to act to ensure that these programs are funded this year and next year.
Thank you for your support.
National Service Helps New Hampshire!
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Volunteer for RSVP Caregivers
Friends RSVP Caregivers provided nearly 2,800 rides to seniors and the disabled last year, plus more than 200 visits providing companionship or helping with simple tasks at home.
More drivers are always welcome. We can provide more rides to those in need in 2017 with your help.
Contact us for more information about this program.
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New Executive Director Hired
The Friends Program is excited to announce that it has hired veteran non-profit leader Jay Sinclair to be its new Executive Director starting on June 1st.
Jay has decades of experience in the non-profit sector and, more particularly, as an executive director of both large and mid-sized organizations. He has dedicated almost all of his professional life to serving the disadvantaged, underprivileged, impoverished, homeless, unemployed and underemployed, ranging from youths to seniors and from individuals to families.
With the Friends Program, Jay will continue the work he has done to partner with schools, service agencies, shelters and churches to help bring hope and change to community members in need. He comes to us with high praise from colleagues, Board members, donors and volunteers who have witnessed his successful efforts to strengthen and reinvigorate under-resourced groups of society.
Jay has recently moved to New Hampshire from New Jersey and leaves behind a lengthy, esteemed career at Star of Hope Ministries where his work and leadership will be missed.
We are thrilled to have Jay joining us and look forward to introducing him to supporters of the Friends Program across NH as soon as possible.
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Spring Into Healthy Giving
Saturday, June 3rd
We are looking for face painters, kids craft wizards and bakers to help make this
event a success. Please volunteer an hour or two at the event or donate a baked good (homemade or store bought) for the bake sale. All funds raised benefit the Emergency Housing Program.
Contact Laura at 228-7604 or
email if you are interested in helping or would like more information.
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Wednesday, May 3rd from 5:30-7:30pm
The Friends Program, along with over 30 other non-profit organizations, will be exhibiting at this FREE event (taking place at
NHHEAF) to promote local volunteer opportunities.
Thursday, May 4th from 5-7pm
Join us for a fundraiser at
Marketplace New England. 10% of sales will benefit the Friends Program. There will be local wine and snacks available so you can shop and not drop.
Saturday, May 13th Raffle Drawing
Want to try your luck at winning a beautiful handmade lap quilt just in time for Mother's Day? Stop by
Marketplace New England and purchase a raffle ticket - 1 ticket for $5 or 3 for $10 - for your chance to win and support the Friends Program.
Saturday, May 13th from 10am-6pm
Stop in and make a Mothers Day gift at
Bead It, or pick up a little something for yourself, and 30% of sales will benefit the Emergency Housing Program.
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Senior Corps Week May 15th-19th
Celebrate and recognize the service that older Americans in NH provide to help others.
Last year, Friends Foster Grandparent Program and RSVP 650 volunteers served more than 180,000 hours to support at-risk children, homebound seniors, food insecure families and many others.
That proves that #SeniorCorpsWorks!
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