• MARDI GRAS EVENT RAISES OVER $90,000

    Generous Partygoers Raise Funds for NH Families in a Pinch

    Concord, N.H (February 4, 2012)– Super Bowl festivities may have been a day away, but that did not stop over 350 people from starting the party a bit early, while helping needy families at the same time. New Hampshire Catholic Charities hosted its 7th Annual Mardi Gras Fundraiser on Saturday, February, 4,at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, New Hampshire.  The celebration benefited the NH Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Fund – raising over $90,000.

    Attendees celebrated Mardi Gras with an evening of live music by The Boston Players, roaming entertainers, including stilt walker Tim McKenzie and saxophone player Mike Alberici, and dancing and festive Mardi Gras décor throughout the center. The Mardi Gras benefit featured Creole inspired cuisine from renowned Chef Trish Taylor.  Proceeds from the event support families who come to Catholic Charities for aid with emergency fuel assistance, after home fires and natural disasters, and more. 

    Over 100 auction items were bid on, that included amazing trips to Hawaii, California, New Orleans, and Chicago, along with art work and a 46 inch flat screen TV. With sports on the minds of many attendees, several sets of Red Sox tickets, Celtics memorabilia, and a signed authentic field jersey of Patriots star receiver Wes Welker, highlighted the evening’s auction.  

    “Once again we were blessed with an amazing response from the community,” said Tom Blonski, President and CEO of NH Catholic Charities. “Every year I am in awe over the generosity of individuals and businesses. When families have no where else to turn and they come to Catholic Charities, it is the support of these charitable people that brings hope those in crisis.”

    Photos by Matthew Lomanno

  • Food Drive Aims to Collect 6,000 Pounds of Food for the NH Food Bank

     

    MANCHESTER, NH (January 12, 2012)– AmeriCorps programs across the state, in collaboration with the Corporation for National and Community Service, are holding a food drive with the theme “Hunger Doesn’t End After the Holidays” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. The drive will collect nonperishable food items throughout the month of January for the NH Food Bank, which serves over 130,000 people across the state.

     

    Manchester residents who receive a door hanger on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16) can leave a bag of nonperishable food items on their doorstep for pickup by AmeriCorps members on January 21.

     

    Drop off boxes will also be at locations across the state until January 31. A complete list of drop off locations can be found at www.nhfoodbank.org under “Events and Fundraisers.”

     

    AmeriCorps engages more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps. The following New Hampshire AmeriCorps projects are participating in and organizing this food drive: Families in Transition VISTA Program; New Hampshire Catholic Charities; Campus Compact of New Hampshire; City Year New Hampshire; AmeriCorps Victims Assistance Program; Student Conservation Association; and Green Corps.

     

    For more information about how to support the drive, please call VISTA leader Keith Lind at 669-9725 x114 or visit www.nhfoodbank.org.

     

  • 7th Annual Mardi Gras Event for Emergency Assistance - February 4th!

    Fundraising Event to be held at Grappone Center on February 4, 2012

    MANCHESTER, N.H. (January 17, 2012)— Dust off your Carnival masks and gowns – Mardi Gras is coming back to New Hampshire! Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler! (Let the Good Times Roll!)New Hampshire Catholic Charities’ annual event will be returning Saturday, February 4 – to the Grappone Center in Concord, NH – for an evening of dancing and dining in the New Orleans tradition. All funds raised support NH Catholic Charities’ Emergency Assistance Fund benefitting New Hampshire residents in crisis.

    Mardi Gras is the premier event for NH Catholic Charities, that features live music, entertainers, a silent and live auction, dancing, and outstanding cuisine inspired by Louisiana’s best restaurants. Proceeds go to help victims of natural disasters, provide fuel assistance, and answer the myriad of other needs for people in crisis.  Last year generous sponsors, families and individuals raised over $100,000 to help New Hampshire families. This year, with demand for services rising, we hope to raise even more.

    The silent auction features over 100 donated items—including Red Sox tickets, original artwork, as well as overnight getaways. The live auction this year features a luxury trip to Hawaii and a California excursion. Event tickets are $95 and sell out quickly! Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Tickets and sponsorships may be purchased at www.nh-cc.org  or by contacting Judy Roberge at 669-3030 ext. 208 or email jroberge@nh-cc.org.

    WHAT:         Mardi Gras, New Hampshire Catholic Charities’ Fundraising Event

    WHEN:         Saturday, February 4th

                         6:00pm-11:00pm

    WHERE:      The Grappone Center

                         70 Constitution Ave

                         Concord, NH 03301

    TICKETS/SPONSOR:   www.nh-cc.orgor www.nhccmardigras2012.eventbee.com  

  • Welcome Bishop Libasci!

    December 8, 2011

    New Hampshire Catholic Charities welcomed Bishop Libasci with open arms today as he was installed as bishop of the Diocese of Manchester by Archbishop Sean Cardinal O’Malley of Boston. The few lucky staff members who were able to attend the installation garnered a sense of hope from the joyous mass ceremony.

    “Today is an extremely exciting day for New Hampshire Catholic Charities,” said Tom Blonski, president and CEO of New Hampshire Catholic Charities. “Once again, we are blessed to have a bishop who is tuned to the needs of the poor and vulnerable.”

    “You could feel the energy, enthusiasm, and yes, even the Spirit, radiating from the priests and lay people in attendance; myself included,” said Dominique Rust, chief operating officer of New Hampshire Catholic Charities. “Bishop Libasci gives us all hope for the future of our Church in New Hampshire.”                                     

    Scott Fitzpatrick, grants manager for Catholic Charities who volunteered at Bishop's public reception and attend the Installation Service and Mass, said this about his experience. “I am so honored and privileged to be able to be present at this momentous event. To be able to pray for and with Bishop Libasci and his people is an earthly treasure that I will cherish forever. As someone who works for the good of the Church and people in need, praying with our new shepherd gives me a renewed sense of hope and purpose.”  

  • St. Ann's: Serving with Love

    New Hampshire Catholic Charities Rehabilitation and Nursing Centers take great pride in the service they give to the people that come through their doors. Here are a couple letters we’ve received about the work of St. Ann’s in Dover, NH; one from a resident and another from a family that visited for Thanksgiving.

    “It is seldom that I have a chance to thank a group of individuals such as you. My stay at St. Ann’s was made with much comfort. All of you show much love, caring, and compassion to all of your patients. Thank you for all you have done for me.”

    “I am writing to thank the entire staff for making it possible for us to share Thanksgiving dinner with our mother. Everything was delicious. It never gets easy and is difficult to accept Mom is not able to be at home; however, the smiles, greetings, and dedication from everyone at St. Ann’s helps our family through this journey.”

    Well done St. Ann's!

  • Christmas Connections: Volunteers and Donations Needed to Answer the Call of NH Families

    New Hampshire Catholic Charities’ Christmas Connections Campaign is in full swing. Food, clothing, toys, and other essential items are being collected and distributed to needy families throughout New Hampshire. Toys are generously provided by the US Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

    While registration of needy families ends on December 7th, help with the influx of requests, both financial and in-kind donations, along with volunteers to help sort items and take phone calls are desperately needed by Catholic Charities’ ten district offices. Anyone willing to help can contact their nearest office location:

    Berlin District Office at 752-6109

    Concord District Office at 228-1108

    Keene District Office at 357-3093

    Laconia District Office at 528-3035

    Lebanon District Office at 448-5151

    Littleton District Office at 444-7727

    Manchester District Office at 624-4717

    Nashua District Office at 889-9431

    Rochester District Office at 332-7701

    Salem District Office at 893-1971

    “While Catholic Charities aims every day to empower the poor and work to break the cycle of poverty, we cannot forget the bare essentials needed to sustain them through this transition,” said Tom Blonski, president and CEO of New Hampshire Catholic Charities. “Food, clothing, and yes, even a toy for a child, bring light and hope to a family that otherwise would have Christmas pass them by unnoticed.”

    Dick Shannon, director of the Christmas Connections Campaign and a deacon for the Diocese of Manchester, explains the importance of faith in connecting Christmas to holiday giving. “For Christians, the coming of Christ by his birth is a moment in history where the gift of God’s love through His Son was handed to all humanity. It is through God’s loving sacrifice that we take His example and offer ourselves in love, in whatever way possible, to aid those that society has forgotten.”

  • NH Catholic Charities Forms New Partnership with UNH Law

    UNH School of Law and Catholic Charities announces a new clinical opportunity for students that focuses on immigration law

    The school, in conjunction with New Hampshire Catholic Charities’ Immigration and Refugee Services division, offers up to six students each semester the opportunity to learn immigration law and procedures in a classroom setting, then apply that knowledge to real-life cases under the supervision of Catholic Charities attorneys.

    The clinic gives students practical experience in interviewing clients, preparing complicated legal cases and appearing before judges. They are likely to work on asylum, family reunification, naturalization and unwarranted removal cases. Additional work may include representing immigrants who are afraid to leave violent domestic relationships for fear of being sent back to their birth country.

    “There’s always been a demand for a clinic offering on the subject of immigration law,” said Professor Erin Corcoran, who heads UNH Law’s Social Justice Institute and who will teach the classroom component of the clinic. “This is a wonderful partnership that offers real benefits both to our students and to New Hampshire Catholic Charities. I don’t know of any law school that has this kind of relationship with a social service agency.”

    New Hampshire Catholic Charities serves all people, regardless of faith, throughout the state. Its Immigration and Refugee Services division has three staff attorneys and two immigration specialists. The division is the only low-income immigration service provider in the state, and it currently has approximately 2,500 open cases. It is based in Nashua and active in the southern part of the state but had seen a real need for a stronger presence in Concord and points north.

    The clinical partnership came about in large part because of the organization’s history of working with UNH Law interns.

    “We have been very impressed with students at the school,” said Cathy Chesley, who heads New Hampshire Catholic Charities' Immigration and Refugee Services. “We have created a sort of interdependence, and so when we needed to move north, it made sense to work even more closely.”

    Chesley and staff attorney Francis Agyare, who will direct students’ clinical work, also have another tie to the school: They are both alumni. Chesley earned her JD in 1987, and Agyare, who is originally from Ghana, earned his JD/LLM in 2003.

    For one student who is participating in the clinic, the subject matter hits home. Beatrice Damas, a 3L, is herself an immigrant: She came to the United States with her mother, who is from Haiti, and her father, who is from Jamaica, when she was around 12 years old. But, she says, the subject didn’t have a real resonance with her until last summer, when she began talking to her husband, who emigrated from Ivory Coast, about his experiences coming to America.

    “His story was so compelling,” she said. “He started crying as he told it to me. He came to America and had nothing – no family, no money. He had an immigration lawyer who wasn’t helpful, so even though he didn’t really speak English, he had to draft his own paperwork.”

    Damas, who has a background in biochemistry and molecular biology, came to UNH Law intending to study intellectual property law, but after her experiences so far this fall working in the immigration clinic, “I’m thinking that maybe there are other paths out there for me,” she said.

    The real-life work she is doing is giving Damas a different perspective on the law, too. “When you are looking at these cases on paper, it’s easy to read the facts and say, ‘tough luck.’ But once you get to meet the person, you have a really different perspective. There’s a human being behind that story, and you want to help them.”

    Damas says the clinical offerings at UNH Law are invaluable. “Instead of reading case law after case law, this is a firsthand experience, “ she said. “You get to meet the client, you get to bond and have a relationship with the client, which gives you a better idea how to help that person. Clinics give you an opportunity to experience different types of law which can potentially make you wonder what career path you want to pursue.”

    For more information contact Cathy Chesley at (603)669-3030.

  • “Help Portrait” Event Gives Hundreds a Memory to Cherish

     

                    SOPHA and New Hampshire Catholic Charities gives portraits to over 300 needy people.

    On Saturday, October 1, 2011 the Studio of Photographic Arts (SOPHA), in partnership with New Hampshire Catholic Charities, completed its largest philanthropic effort to date: creating portraits for over 300 dads, moms, grandparents, children, and individuals in need, free of charge, through a nationwide effort called Help Portrait.

    At the event which lasted over seven hours, over 80 volunteers guided families from registration through reception of the finished portraits. Each family was brought to one of 8 photography studio stations where their picture was taken. Afterwards, the families followed their volunteer guide to an editing station where they viewed their photographs and selected the one they liked best. This final photo selection was given to an in-house printer who produced a set of professional production photographs and each family received a complete photo package.

    Organizations that helped refer and place families for the event included New Hampshire Catholic Charities, OUR PLACE, Families in Transition, Angie’s House, The New Hampshire Food Bank’s Recipe for Success Program, Webster House, and Concord Head Start.

    Important sponsors who provided a variety of financial, in-kind or volunteer help for the event included Angela's Pasta Shop, The Puritan Backroom, Mr. Mac's, Pappy's Pizza, Goldenrod Restaurant, Stonyfield Yogurt, WXRV The River, Empire Bagel, and Central Paper.

    “I simply cannot begin to describe the joy you see on the face of a mother or father when they receive their final family portrait and know they have a memory they can treasure for generations,” said Bud Thorpe, Help Portrait Leader and Manager of SOPHA. “As photographers we feel humbled and privileged to have the opportunity to use our talent for so many people this one amazing day.”

    “It is said that in a natural disaster one of the first treasures people try to save are their family portraits,” said Karen Munsell, a social worker at OUR PLACE, a service of New Hampshire Catholic Charities that assists pregnant and parenting teens and young adults from the point of pregnancy through early childhood. “I know that the families we help today will walk away with something to cherish and bring them joy.”

  • St. Charles Children’s 15th Annual 5k a Success

     

    Nearly 1,000 Runners and Walkers make a difference for needy children

    PORTSMOUTH, NH– September 7, 2011.  The St. Charles Children’s Home’s 15th  Annual 5k Road Race at Martin’s Point was a tremendous success this Labor Day, with nearly 1,000 runners and walkers turning out to make a difference for some of New Hampshire’s neediest children. Funds raised directly benefited the displaced children cared for by the “Running Nuns” of St. Charles.

    Highlighting this year’s race was the first ever husband and wife duo to win. Dan and Lesley Hocking of Dover, New Hampshire won the male and female speed times respectively. Dan completed the course in 15 minutes 35 seconds. Lesley wrapped up her run with a 17 minute 37 second performance.

    In addition, there was an impressive 74 year spread between the oldest in the youngest age bracket winners. Mel Uchenick of Kennebunk, Maine and John Parker of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire completed the race at the ripe young age of 80. Crossing the finish line at only 4 years old were Crystal Tanguay and Heather Brown. Amazingly, 14 year old Cameron Barth of Lee New Hampshire finished 9th place overall in the men’s group with a run of 17 minutes 28 seconds, while 10 year old Violet Sullivan held the 10th spot in the women’s run at 21 minutes 58 seconds.

    Race sponsors helped make the race possible with a variety of financial and in-kind donations. Food, water, raffle prizes and money came from many generous businesses and individuals. Some of the major sponsors include Willis New Hampshire, Synergetics, Ultra Geothermal, Applebee’s, Rehab3, Martin’s Point, Pease International Tradeport, and Planet Fitness, among many others. A full list of sponsors can be viewed at RunningNuns.com.

    “As I stood at the starting line with almost 1,000 participants at this year’s St. Charles Children’s Home’s Labor Day 5k Road Race, I was thrilled to realize that the idea I had 15 years ago would turn out to be such a phenomenal success for the children of St. Charles”, said David Hampson, CEO of Willis New Hampshire. “Willis is pleased to be the originating partner sponsor for the annual St. Charles Labor Day Road Race; 15 years of supporting and helping children in need!”

    “I cannot thank everyone enough for turning out and blessing us once again,” said Sister Mary Agnes, Race Coordinator. “We are so grateful that, even in a difficult economy, people came out to aid our Christian mission to help the little ones of St. Charles. Every runner, walker, and sponsor should be proud for all their work to make this race come true.”

    For more information visit www.runningnuns.com.

    All proceeds of the road race benefited the children at the St. Charles Children's Home.

  • NH Food Bank Receives New Toyota to Better Serve the Hungry

    Ira Toyota Presents Sienna Minivan for Production Garden Program

    MANCHESTER, NH – September 7, 2011 – At a press event at their main facility in Manchester, the New Hampshire Food Bank was recognized as a winner of Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program and was delivered a brand new Toyota Sienna Minivan from Ira Toyota to benefit the Food Bank’s Production Garden Program. The Toyota 100 Cars for Good program awarded 100 vehicles over the course of 100 days to 100 deserving nonprofit organizations nationwide based on votes from the public.

    Public voting began on May 9 and continued for 100 consecutive days. Each day, five organizations were profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page and voters voted for the charity they felt was most deserving of the vehicle. A vehicle was awarded each day through August 16 for a total of 100 vehicles. Voters were able to place one vote per day, each day, over the course of the program.  Local residents were encouraged to support the Food Bank and their quest for a new Toyota Sienna Minivan.

    The Toyota Sienna Minivan will be used to help transportation of tools, supplies, volunteers, and fresh produce among the two Production Garden Program locations and the New Hampshire Food Bank. In addition, a vehicle dedicated to the Garden Program will enable the Food Bank to travel to local farms to solicit and transport other fresh fruit and vegetable donations.

    “Ira Toyota is thrilled to present this Sienna Minivan to the New Hampshire Food Bank today,” stated Chuck Rocha, General Manager of Ira Toyota, Scion and Lexus. “Toyota and the Ira Motor Group are committed to being part of the fabric of New Hampshire and we are honored to do our part in answering the call of the hungry of our state.”

    “It is fitting that the New Hampshire Food Bank receives this great gift during Hunger Action Month,” said Tom Blonski, President of NH Catholic Charities and operator of the Food Bank, “With job losses and rising expenses, more and more families turn to the over 400 food agencies that rely on the Food Bank to keep their shelves stocked.”

    “Fresh vegetables are crucial for good health and nutrition, but can be difficult to get donated,” said Melanie Gosselin, Executive Director for the New Hampshire Food Bank. “Winning a new Toyota allows us to transport equipment and produce to and from our gardens and put fresh vegetables on the table for thousands of New Hampshire’s hungry people.”

    “We cannot thank Toyota and all our voting fans enough for their support and generosity,” continued Gosselin, “The number of those receiving assistance from the Food Bank has ballooned over the past five years, and our pantries and kitchens continue to report substantial increases in traffic. The Production Garden Program will go on to help supplement this rise in demand.” 

    The Toyota 100 Cars for Good Program enables 100 organizations to receive a Toyota vehicle to make a greater impact on the community. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than $500 million to non-profit organizations, and has always been guided by a strong belief in serving the communities where it does business.   

    For more information on the New Hampshire Food Bank, visit www.nhfoodbank.org.