Friends of Forgotten Children

Friends of Forgotten Children - 224 Bog Road, Concord NH 03303
http://www.fofc-nh.org/

“Where We Remember Everyone is Someone’s Child”

Pantry and Thrift Shop Hours:
Monday & Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Community Meals on Saturday or Sunday from 12 noon to 1 pm. Telephone for times.

Friends of Forgotten Children (a 501(c)3 serves the working poor of greater Concord, and nearby towns of Bow, Loudon, Canterbury, Penacook and Boscawen. 35 volunteers and 1 paid staff serve 5,000 client families who visit them during the year. The families have an average of five members, but some are extended families which may have very numerous children. The Community Action Programs (CAP) alert their clients about the services of FOFC.

Food Pantry
Non-perishable canned and dry foods are distributed to members once a month. Depending on the pantries available supplies, each person is given food supplies to feed them for five to seven days. Recipes and advice is also given freely on how to make the supplies go further. They also distribute non-food items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, baby diapers, etc) , which may not be purchased with food stamps, when available. Bread and pastries are available as needed, on any day which the center is open. They also have a mobile food pantry which delivers to members in Senior Housing.

Thrift Shop/clothing distribution
The thrift shop has a large selection of seasonal clothing and shoes in all sizes, as available.
Members are given two items, free of charge, when they come to pick up their monthly food box.
People who would like to have more items, or who are not members but wish to thrift shop, are charged $5 per bag of clothing.
Holiday Baskets: back to school and Easter holiday baskets are distributed as well

Membership requirements
To be eligible for FOFC services, the client needs to provide documentation of the full names, social security numbers and birthdates for ALL members of their family. The client also needs to also provide proof of all family income and proof of current residence. If documentation is not available, then the client will be able to receive food for one day at that time. When all of the necessary papers are provided, the client may then get their food parcels every 30 days.

DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED!

Child and Family Services

CFS Child and Family Services – Teen Resource Center

99 Hanover St., Manchester NH

The Child and Family Services Teen Resource Center is a “one stop shop” where homeless and runaway youth ages 12-22 can access many basic needs and survival aid. N 2009, this very welcoming youth drop-in center had over one thousand unduplicated youth take advantage of the services offered. The Teen Resource Center works by providing a safe place and trusting relationships that allow youth to access services with the least amount of barriers. More than showers and free clothes, the help the youth are offered is engagement by very friendly, trained staff; case management; and counseling to help them be successful in life. There are also many community organizations that are willing to come into the Teen Resource Center to assist in providing for the basic needs of the youth, such as medical care, educational services, and mental health services.

Besides the typical day at the Teen Resource Center, the program works to provide positive recreational activities for the youth served, including dinner and a conversation, art club, and game night. In short, they offer an oasis of safety from life on the streets.

They need seasonal clothing of adolescent and young adult styles. They will accept limited infant and children’s clothing up to size 2T for the children of their parenting youth.

The clothing from the Teen Resource Center’s closet may at times be distributed to youth in other parts of the state who are working with a program staff.

Child and Family Services can accept large donations of appropriate clothing.

Friends Emergency Housing Program

Friends Emergency Housing Program

30 Thompson St, Concord NH

http://www.friendsprogram.org/

This is a family homeless shelter which serves parents with children (including grandparents with custody of children, and women who are 7 ½ months pregnant otherwise without children.)

They are not affiliated with Friends, and are sponsored by the United Way, City of Concord, and individual donors. Their clients are mostly upper blue collar people who have been hit with job loss, illness, and/or divorce that has destroyed their previous stability and home. This is a 24/7 open shelter with many programs to encourage clients to move forward with their lives. Some of the regular programs offered are courses on parenting (working with “Building Blocks” and dinner is even included!), nutrition (more good food for less money with recipes and guidance a part of this program), and career development (writing effective resumes and job leads). Attendees of these courses are very positive about them.

The people who stay here do not pay any rent, but do buy their own food, though there is an emergency pantry. They are also required to pass criminal record checks.

This is an extremely clean, disabled access available, and welcoming “home,” especially when a home or home-base is needed after things have fallen apart. It serves 8 families, and up to 35 people at a time. Children up to 18 years old are accepted if they are still living with their parents.

Their clients are referred by Concord Welfare Office, or simply the phone book or 2-11. Walk-ins are accepted if there is space, and they, too, must pass the criminal check.

They need seasonal clothing for adults, and children, ages 0 to 18 years. The norm of sizes needed are:

Women 12 through 2x

Men 34-36

Children ages 0 to 18 years

They also are looking for donations of clothing seasonally suitable to wear going to job interviews. They also have a “Move Out” boxes program which gives a box of pots, pans, dishes, glasses and cutlery to people who leave the shelter for transitional housing or their own apartments.

They have working cooperation agreements with Friends for Forgotten Children and the McKenna House, sharing resources. They also share resources with PATH outreach, Riverbend (Concord), and Rise Again Ministries, Loudon.

Their storage space is somewhat limited. They ask that they be given one week’s notice prior to a major donation drop off of seasonal clothing.

Beech Street Elementary School

BEECH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

333 Beech Street, Manchester 03103

http://www.mansd.org/beech

This Grade 1-5 public elementary school has over 600 students. 92% of those students qualify for free or reduced price lunches; this is the largest percentage in New Hampshire. This school has a “Magnet Program,” which offers specialized courses or curriculum that draw students from across the normal boundaries as described by school authorities. It offers ELL (English Language Learning and Teaching) and 49% of its students are English Learners. A large number of their students are from immigrant and refugee families.

Teachers are aware of their students’ needs and request specific items of clothing from their social worker. They have only a small storage closet and ask that no big donations be made to them, that any donations (which are desperately needed) be made to match the need. Their students always have a desperate need for sneakers, shoes and boots.

On occasion, they host a clothing give-away during PTG meetings or other events. They pile clothing on tables in the lobby and invite parents to come take what they want and need. During these events, adult warm clothing (sweaters, shirts, jeans and warm coats) are welcomed and disappear before needing storage in the closet.

This school would be an ideal recipient for a donor who wants to meet a smaller scale drive. The items received will be put to good use and are urgently needed.

Recipient organizations

Stay tuned for information about our recipient organizations.