Search results matching tag 'donation'

Fire Rescue, pantry help families in need

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:37:00 GMT

When Wanda McLain contacted Peggy Bailey, director of the Weare Food Pantry, she had no idea just how timely her phone call would be.

McLain, president of the Weare Rescue Association, was calling to let Bailey know that she had a donation of more than $1,200 to present to the food pantry, in addition to more than 200 food items. What McLain didn’t know was that the food pantry in Weare had only about a week’s worth of food left.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Bailey. “I didn’t know what we were going to do.”

Part of the money was collected at a bonfire and fireworks display sponsored by the Weare Fire and Rescue Association on Oct. 30. Food donations were also accepted for admission to the event.

EMT Mark Bluteau was impressed with the town’s generosity.

“We asked for one nonperishable food item and people were handing over bags,” said Bluteau.

The Weare Rescue Association and the Weare Fire Association each made a $500 donation, pushing the total to $1,206.35.

According to Bailey, the need for food is higher this year, and the food pantry is seeing an increase in women, children and working families seeking assistance. While the need for food doesn’t change for people throughout the year, she finds that most people tend to think of giving more during the holidays. In fact, monetary donations from last year’s giving season carried the food pantry through the fall this year.

For Thanksgiving, the food pantry has teamed up with Weare schools to collect donations to make food boxes for the holiday, which will include 1a turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and canned vegetables.

Last year, Weare Middle School students donated more than 1,300 items to put in the boxes.

Nurse Pat MacNeil at Center Woods said the students really get caught up in the giving.

“They’re so proud, especially the little ones, when they bring something in to help someone else,” said MacNeil.

Nearly 70 baskets were made for local families in 2008, and that number is expected to increase this year.

Food boxes will also be made for Christmas, and the Angel Tree project will be up and running in the coming weeks. Christmas trees with tags on them will be in various locations in Weare, so community members can purchase Christmas gifts for children in need.

“Everyone is having it tough,” said McNeil, “but it’s nice to help the people having it tougher.”

Applications for Thanksgiving food boxes will be accepted until Nov. 18 and can be picked up at the food pantry Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. The Weare food pantry is located at Weare Middle School and is open on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.

For more information, contact the Weare food pantry at 529-0230.

Man flooded two years ago gets donated house

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:46:00 GMT

By KAREN DANDURANT

Sometime in mid-July, Stan Watson will return to the property he has lived at for more than 10 years, to a brand-new home that was donated to him.

Watson’s previous home was destroyed in April 2007. Flood waters sent 3 feet of water through his property.

“I got out with a couple of bags of clothes and my dog,” Watson said. “I carried my dog out of the road. I can’t wait to close the door and know I am home again.”

On June 17, a miracle happened for Watson when a group called “No Place Like Home,” an offshoot of Grace Community Church in Rochester, delivered a modular home to his property at 60 Clement Road.

The home was delivered and finished by members of the church and students from Dover High School. The organization works with area students to give them the chance to help people in need.

Jan Fowler, a member of Grace Community Church said No Place Like Home started after the devastating hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana.

“We helped by sending water and other supplies,” Fowler said. “Our pastor, Bernie Quinn, stayed for two weeks in a shelter counseling people. When he came back, he said we need to think out of the box. We need to help people affected by situations like this.”

The church community recruited help from area businesses for labor and supplies and sent two houses to Cut Off Louisiana, delivered by the National Guard. Their path was set. Since then, the church group has donated a house in Goffstown, one in Barrington, another in Bennington and now the house in Allenstown.

Dover High School junior Nick Lytle said he likes helping even if it is a lot of work.

“A lot of my family are in this kind of business and I have the experience to help,” Lytle said.” It’s a good feeling.”

Nick Tweedie, a senior at Dover High School has been involved in some of the other projects.

“It’s hard work.” He said. “But you meet new people all the time and you know what you are doing is helping people. I worked on a barn. We basically gutted it and added new stalls for animals.

Watson couldn’t be more grateful.

“I have spent over 26 months at my parents’ house in Merrimack,” he said. “I don’t even know what I would have done if they were not around. People keep calling me to ask about the house. I am so grateful and cannot wait to be home.”

If you would like to make a donation to “There’s No Place Like Home” or would like more information on how to get involved, call 332-9689 or visit www.placelikehome.org.

Selectmen officially accept gifts for town

Bow Editor — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:29:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

The Hopkinton Board of Selectmen accepted a long list of gifts from town members to clear the books of any donations that have not properly been received since 2002.

Laws require donations of more than $5,000 to the town be accepted during a public hearing.

Some felt the Slusser Center donation was not properly accepted two years ago, as well as some recent gifts from the Hopkinton Youth Sports Association, which caused selectmen to check records for their Nov. 19 meeting.

“When we had the discussion about the new athletic field, one of the questions was what HYSA had donated to the town,” said selectmen Chairman George Langwasser. “Our records should show that we’ve accepted these gifts. This was an attempt to go back and go through, looking for any gift that hadn’t been accepted. I wanted to make sure we covered everything.”

After reviewing records, board members discovered that HYSA had donated a large amount in money and services that weren’t indicated in town records.

Selectman Scott Flood said there are multiple reasons to go back and clear the books.

“It’s important to comply with any law. That’s a goal I have, to comply with the requirements within the town,” said Flood.

“We are also able to applaud groups who have been so generous with their donations, and that is a great opportunity for us to do that.”

The first group of gifts accepted at the public hearing pertained to the Slusser Senior Center, totaling $45,145, followed by a list of donations from the Contoocook Carry to a variety of town agencies, totaling $2,329.75.

To close out the pubic hearing, the board accepted 16 various gifts from different organizations and individuals that had been donated between 2002 and 2007.

“The laws have changed so some of them were relatively small and now you don’t have to do that, but we wanted to still,” said Selectman Don Lane. “The other point is that a lot of things you don’t even think of. Like if someone says they’ll put up a new fence for you, it’s a town fence. So they put it up and you consider it a gift. It’s something we didn’t have to do because even though they needed that for themselves, it is also for the town.”

In total, 230 individual gifts have been received for the Slusser Center, according to Lane.

Salem family donates 100 Thanksgiving dinners

Salem Editor — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:31:00 GMT

BY PAM CHAPLOWE-RUTH
Correspondent

November. The days grow shorter and the bustle of the holiday season begins its relentless pace. While thoughts run rampant with shopping, decorating and spend, spend, spending, through the buzz there is sometimes heard an inner voice that reminds of the true meaning behind it all. The word “gift” transforms from the latest gadget to a more meaningful interpretation – if that voice speaks loud enough.

Welcome to an example of benevolent holiday goodwill with walking, breathing and packing fresh- cold-turkeys volunteers.

Salem harbors a closeknit family of doers that have chosen to quietly act upon the idea of giving – literally putting their money where their mouth’s are. Or more accurately, where their needy neighbor’s mouths are.

The Dziobas will be providing 100 turkey dinners for others this year. They began their venture when Chet, owner of Dzioba Construction, decided five years ago to provide dinners for those that may not have the means to provide the traditional feast for their families. He and his wife, Lisa, began a tradition then within their own lives based on caring for others, and like all great leaders they practiced what they preached, building a family roster of charitable volunteerism and effort through their own children.

How does someone take the concept of providing for those less fortunate to actual fruition? According to Lisa, the voice behind the momentum, with lots of camaraderie and support from other like-minded souls. As she notes, there is something contagious about the spirit of doing for others.

Expanding on their five-year tradition and with assistance from family members, friends, employees and the knowing steerage of various community organizations, 25 turkeys in feast-laden baskets were dispersed last year to families in the Salem/Derry area. The intention packed into those individual baskets of turkeys, potatoes, stuffing, yams and other assorted holiday fare is actually one of hope, a palatable reminder that people care and through acts of kindness can make the holidays brighter for those who struggle just to get by.

Families that receive these gift baskets from the heart are chosen by various human service departments in the area.

This leaves the difficult process of determining need to those organizations most equipped to make those decisions which benefit the many programs through the community, including Head Start program and Webster House during the holiday. Lisa’s comment that they don’t want to forget the teenagers in the community shows the scope of the Dzioba vision and how they see the need in their community rather than turn a blind eye.

The Dziobas are not rich, in Lisa’s words. However, their spirit and compassion for their neighbors arguably places them in the upper tier of charitable kindness. There are no fundraisers to assist in paying for the food contained in their holiday turkey baskets.

Various grocery stores offer discounts for quantity purchases but the brunt of the expense comes out of the pockets of this family and those who support them.

When Chet announced he wanted to top last year’s donation of 25 turkeys with an additional 75 baskets this year, his wife was, at first, surprised then busily began the process of making it happen.

With sister-in-law Paula’s efficient managerial skills and the physical brawn and transporting tools found in the construction industry, 100 fresh– not frozen, mind you – turkeys, along with all the goodies to make each basket a true feast were secured from the grocery store.

Monday morning, in a garage on Shore Drive, with the rest of the world dragging into the shortened business week, the sound of happy chatter and easy laughter is heard as baskets are assembled by an all-volunteer group of family and friends. Using planks of two-by-fours, they will construct their baskets in assembly line fashion, having learned over the years the most efficient and timely manner to get these treats ready for transport as quickly as possible. The heavy sounds of lifting and loading trucks will follow before a final rumble of engines take the finished baskets, complete with bows and extra good wishes, to the drop-off sites for distribution.

The families receiving these baskets don’t necessarily know where the baskets come from- – there is no advertising or sponsorship attached. Recognition is not the motive for all this hard work; helping to provide a special meal for others is.

When the holidays pass and the Dzioba garage once again harbors the family car, there remains a lingering snapshot in time of a small group of individuals that personify the meaning of the season.

From the heart – Family donates 2 defibrillators to high school

Bow Editor — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:25:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

Timothy Carroll was only 22 when he died of sudden cardiac arrest.

The 1996 Hopkinton High School graduate was alone on Dec. 13, 2000, when he ran up two flights of stairs, then suddenly collapsed and died. His girlfriend found him four hours later, but it was too late.

Carroll led a healthy lifestyle, and along with pursing a career in film making, he played basketball, baseball and golf – staying in shape with athletics.

Carroll’s parents, Khristin and John, made a commitment to save as many lives as possible from that moment on.

“Most people don’t think sudden cardiac arrest can affect their children when, in fact, it affects thousands each year. And not just high school or college-age students, even young children as well,” said Khristen Carroll. “Our mission is to educate people and let them know it does happen and how to be prepared if it does.”

It should come as no surprise, then, that the Carrolls recently donated two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to Hopkinton High School.

“Having an AED around means all the difference in the world,” said Carroll.

“Lives. It means lives,” said Hopkinton Middle/High School Principal Steve Chamberlin, who held a ceremony at the school on May 29 to accept the gift, which he said sports teams carry during both home and away games.

“All the coaches and I, we feel better having one travel with our teams,” Chamberlin continued. “We all hope we never use them, but if we do we’ll be ready. What a wonderful gift to receive from the Carrolls.”
Nate Mosseau, a senior lacrosse player at Hopkinton High School, was one of two student/athletes to accept a defibrillator on behalf of the school.

“Obviously, it’s great. I think we’ve been lucky that nothing like that has happened here, but it’s great that we’ve taken the steps necessary to prevent a future tragedy.”

The Carrolls challenged the Hopkinton School District to make all its facilities heart safe, and officials accepted.

Now the district has at least one AED at each of its schools, has many CPR and AED certified staff and faculty members and is promoting constant awareness among its students.

Hopkinton Fire Chief Rick Schaefer has also accepted the mission to have and maintain an AED at all Hopkinton schools.

But one doesn’t need to be AED certified to work one, said Khristin Carroll.

In fact, the Good Samaritan law allows anyone to do anything in their means to save a life, she said, adding that AEDs are easy to use and provide the operator with simple, concise instruction that allows it to be used at a moment’s notice.

The Carrolls have also been major proponents of House Bill 911, which was sponsored by state Rep. Christine Hamm, and passed in the Senate on May 11.

“This bill represents to me how something good can come from a tragedy,” said Hamm.

The bill established an AED Advisory Commission and “encourages all schools to obtain and maintain automated external defibrillators at appropriate school locations for the safety and protection of students and others participating in or attending school athletic and related activities.”

The message is getting across.

The 2007 senior class at Hopkinton High School just donated another AED to the school.

For more information on Carroll, others like him, how you can help or for more information on SCA, visit www.parentheartwatch.org.