Friends Program Inc

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT EMPOWER PEOPLE AND RESTORE FAITH IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM - THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEEDY CHILDREN AND LOVING RETIRED ADULTS WHO HAVE ALL BEEN DEEPLY ENRICHED BY NEW RELATIONSHIPS. WE TRAIN AND PLACE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT CHILDCARE CENTERS AND OTHER YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP SET CHILDREN ON THE PATH TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM PAYS A TAX-FREE STIPEND TO INCOME ELIGIBLE RETIREES TO HELP THEM AFFORD TO VOLUNTEER AND MAKE ENDS MEET.THE PROGRAM IS BUILT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY EDUCATE AND HELP CHILDREN FLOURISH, AND THE NEEDS AND CHOICES OF RETIRED VOLUNTEERS. PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE THE AGE OF CHILDREN THEY ENJOY MOST AND THE TIMES THEY PREFER TO SERVE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE OTHER INTERESTS AS WELL.

EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM IS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, PROVIDING 24-HOUR, 7 DAYS A WEEK STAFFING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT AND SHORT-TERM HOUSING, AFTERCARE AND OUTREACH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AT RISK OF FUTURE HOMELESSNESS. FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ASSIST THEM IN ACQUIRING LONG-TERM SKILLS AND ACCESSING RESOURCES TO FIND AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS FOR FAMILIES. FOUNDED ON ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF SAFETY, SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO HELP RESIDENTS FIND A SAFE, CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE, AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER AS A UNIT SETS THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS AT ACHIEVING INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS.THERE WERE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC THAT WERE REIMBURSED WITH FEDERAL FUNDING

YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM USES DIFFERENT MENTORING MODELS TO WORK WITH A BROAD RANGE OF YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS IN NEED OF A MENTOR BY RERERRAL SOURCE. YOUTH MENTORS ARE VOLUNTEERS, AGE 16 AND UP, THAT ARE SELECTIVELY MATCHED WITH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH IN A ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP THAT HELPS MENTEES GAIN CONFIDENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY.THE FRIENDS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH A SUPPORTIVE, NON-JUDGMENTAL MENTOR WHO CAN SERVE AS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL, WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEIR PROBLEMS, AND WHO WILL PROVIDE THEM A WINDOW TO THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. YOUTH MENTORS HELP CHILDREN REALIZE THAT THEY ARE SPECIAL, HAVE POTENTIAL, AND CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS RSVP PROVIDES 500 VOLUNTEERS TO OVER 130 NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM SERVE THEIR CLIENTS AND MEET THEIR MISSIONS. RSVP VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 68,000 HOURS EACH YEAR TO HELP MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS IN MERRIMACK, ROCKINGHAM, BELKNAP, AND STRAFFORD COUNTIES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE ENGAGED IN MORE THAN 200 DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS, BASED UPON THEIR OWN INTERESTS, TALENTS AND TIME AVAILABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HELP OLDER ADULTS LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY BY DRIVING THEM TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND THE GROCERY STORE. THEY PROVIDE ISOLATION-REDUCING COMPANIONSHIP TO THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED. OTHERS SERVE AS TUTORS AND MENTORS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND BLOOD DRIVES. MANY VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE OR MANAGE LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS AND FOOD BANKS THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THEY PREPARE AND DELIVER THOUSANDS OF MEALS EACH YEAR. THEY PROVIDE CLERICAL AND OTHER OFFICE ASSISTANCE. THEY PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION AND ASSIST WITH STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE MUSEUM DOCENTS AND CULTURAL EVENT USHERS, ORGANIZERS AND FUNDRAISERS. VOLUNTEERS VISIT VETERANS HOMES AND VISIT HOSPICES TO EASE THE PAIN AND LONELINESS AT THE END OF LIFE. MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, AND NEW ONES CAN BE CREATED TO MEET NEW NEEDS.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM - THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEEDY CHILDREN AND LOVING RETIRED ADULTS WHO HAVE ALL BEEN DEEPLY ENRICHED BY NEW RELATIONSHIPS. WE TRAIN AND PLACE SENIOR VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT CHILDCARE CENTERS AND OTHER YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP SET CHILDREN ON THE PATH TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM PAYS A TAX-FREE STIPEND TO INCOME ELIGIBLE RETIREES TO HELP THEM AFFORD TO VOLUNTEER AND MAKE ENDS MEET.THE PROGRAM IS BUILT TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY EDUCATE AND HELP CHILDREN FLOURISH, AND THE NEEDS AND CHOICES OF RETIRED VOLUNTEERS. PARTICIPANTS CHOOSE THE AGE OF CHILDREN THEY ENJOY MOST AND THE TIMES THEY PREFER TO SERVE SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PURSUE OTHER INTERESTS AS WELL.

EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM IS AN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, PROVIDING 24-HOUR, 7 DAYS A WEEK STAFFING. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT AND SHORT-TERM HOUSING, AFTERCARE AND OUTREACH SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AT RISK OF FUTURE HOMELESSNESS. FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED WITH THE SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ASSIST THEM IN ACQUIRING LONG-TERM SKILLS AND ACCESSING RESOURCES TO FIND AND MAINTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS FOR FAMILIES. FOUNDED ON ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF SAFETY, SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING AND EDUCATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO HELP RESIDENTS FIND A SAFE, CONSISTENT, PREDICTABLE, AND RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT THAT KEEPS FAMILIES TOGETHER AS A UNIT SETS THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS AT ACHIEVING INDIVIDUALIZED GOALS.THERE WERE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC THAT WERE REIMBURSED WITH FEDERAL FUNDING

YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM USES DIFFERENT MENTORING MODELS TO WORK WITH A BROAD RANGE OF YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS IN NEED OF A MENTOR BY RERERRAL SOURCE. YOUTH MENTORS ARE VOLUNTEERS, AGE 16 AND UP, THAT ARE SELECTIVELY MATCHED WITH SCHOOL AGE YOUTH IN A ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP THAT HELPS MENTEES GAIN CONFIDENCE AND IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR AT HOME, IN SCHOOL, AND IN THE COMMUNITY.THE FRIENDS YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH A SUPPORTIVE, NON-JUDGMENTAL MENTOR WHO CAN SERVE AS A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL, WHO WILL LISTEN TO THEIR PROBLEMS, AND WHO WILL PROVIDE THEM A WINDOW TO THE WORLD OUTSIDE THEIR ENVIRONMENT. YOUTH MENTORS HELP CHILDREN REALIZE THAT THEY ARE SPECIAL, HAVE POTENTIAL, AND CAN ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM - THE FRIENDS RSVP PROVIDES 500 VOLUNTEERS TO OVER 130 NON-PROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP THEM SERVE THEIR CLIENTS AND MEET THEIR MISSIONS. RSVP VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN 68,000 HOURS EACH YEAR TO HELP MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS IN MERRIMACK, ROCKINGHAM, BELKNAP, AND STRAFFORD COUNTIES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE ENGAGED IN MORE THAN 200 DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS, BASED UPON THEIR OWN INTERESTS, TALENTS AND TIME AVAILABILITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HELP OLDER ADULTS LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY BY DRIVING THEM TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND THE GROCERY STORE. THEY PROVIDE ISOLATION-REDUCING COMPANIONSHIP TO THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED. OTHERS SERVE AS TUTORS AND MENTORS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND BLOOD DRIVES. MANY VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE OR MANAGE LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS AND FOOD BANKS THAT MAKE IT EASIER FOR STRUGGLING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THEY PREPARE AND DELIVER THOUSANDS OF MEALS EACH YEAR. THEY PROVIDE CLERICAL AND OTHER OFFICE ASSISTANCE. THEY PROVIDE FREE TAX PREPARATION AND ASSIST WITH STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES. RSVP VOLUNTEERS ARE MUSEUM DOCENTS AND CULTURAL EVENT USHERS, ORGANIZERS AND FUNDRAISERS. VOLUNTEERS VISIT VETERANS HOMES AND VISIT HOSPICES TO EASE THE PAIN AND LONELINESS AT THE END OF LIFE. MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE, AND NEW ONES CAN BE CREATED TO MEET NEW NEEDS.