Each year, the Insider teams up with Granite United Way to help out those in need during the holiday season. With their help, we’ve compiled a list of local food banks, non-profits and other organization that take donations for families and inpiduals who need a little help. Whether it’s donating food for the hungry, warm clothes for the winter months or simply making sure that a child has some presents to open, every bit of help you can provied is greatly appreciated.
Keep in mind, too, that this is far from a comprehensive list. If there is a group that you’d like to donate to that isn’t on this list, or if you’d like to volunteer or help out in other ways, contact Granite United Way’s Val Guy at 224-2595 or val.guy@graniteuw.com.
Allenstown Welfare
16 School St.,
Allenstown, NH 03275
Mission: To provide toys, clothing, books, etc. to children whose families cannot afford to do so. It also assists elderly citizens with food, drug store or gas gift cards.
Service Area: Allenstown only.
Categories: Adopt a family/ child/ teen: On Nov. 26, Allenstown Welfare will decorate it’s Christmas tree with specific wish requests from Allenstown children and teens. Come in and choose which child you would like to help, sign out the request and return with the donations before Dec. 14.
Children/Teen Items: If you prefer to just pick up a couple of things to be given out as needed, they will happily distribute age appropriate gifts to needy children on your behalf. Boots for kids are always in high demand.
Adult Gifts: Adults and Seniors often need pet food, cleaning supplies, warm mittens and boots.
Gift Certificates: Gift Certificates to local drug stores, markets, coffee shops, and grocery stores will be very much appreciated by low income elderly citizens.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 14
Contact Information:
Diane Callahan,485-4276, allenstownwelfare@comcast.net.
Blueberry Express
Day Care
8 Catamount St.,
Pittsfield, NH 03263
Mission: Our goal is to provide a safe, caring and positive environment for children and families most in need.
Service Area: Pittsfield and Epsom
Categories: Children/Teen Items: They would appreciate any warm clothing in sizes from 24 months to size 8. Any and all toys or books would be appreciated.
Gift Cards: Many of our families would benefit from gift certificates for groceries and gas.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 24
Contact Information: Sarah Blackwood, 435-6149, goodhue15@hotmail.com.
Bow Human Services
10 Grandview Road,
Bow, NH 03304
Mission: To provide interim assistance with basic needs for those that do not have the resources to meet these needs.
Service Area: Bow
Categories: Adopt a family/ child/ teen: Please contact Deb Bourbeau, 228-1187, ext. 119 for adoption information.
Food Basket: Non-perishable food items.
Children/ Teen Items: Teenage gifts such as CDs, DVDs, makeup, electronic games, socks, gloves.
Adult Gifts: Warm pajamas, gloves, socks, hats.
Gift Certificates: Gas Cards, Grocery Store Gift Cards.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 12
Contact Information:
Deb Bourbeau, 228-1187, ext. 119, admin@bow-nh.gov.
Community Action Program, Belknap-Merrimack Counties
(Meals on Wheels Program)
P.O. Box 1016,
Concord, NH 03302
Mission: Meals On Wheels assists frail, homebound seniors to age in place by delivering up to five nutritious meals a week, and by providing socialization, wellness checks and resources.
Service Area: All of Merrimack and Belknap Counties.
Categories: Adult Gifts: Items needed would be warm weather clothing, such as hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, shawls, and wool or fleece socks, slipper socks with non-slip treads, and fleece blankets or throws. Another idea for warmth would be microwaveable fleece booties, hand warmers, and neck/shoulder wraps (safer than electric blankets). Other items that would be greatly appreciated by our seniors are stationery, postage stamps, and personal care items such as hand soaps, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, powder, bath soaps, shaving cream, razors, tissues, perfume, deodorant, and men’s cologne.
Gift Certificates: Our seniors are on fixed incomes and struggle to have enough food and money for necessities. Many are frail, homebound and are unable to shop on their own. However, volunteers, friends, or family can take them shopping or shop for them, so gift cards to Walmart or other department stores such as Market Basket and drug stores such as Walgreens or Rite Aid would be very helpful.
Delivery Address: 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
Deadline: Dec. 12
Contact Information:
Joan Barreto, 225-3295, ext. 1110, jbaretto@bm-cap.org.
Community Action Program, Belknap-Merrimack Counties
(Senior Centers)
PO Box 1016,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: Senior Centers assist seniors to remain healthy and independent by providing nutritious community dining, exercise classes, wellness series, socialization, health clinics, and healthy aging resources.
Service Area: We serve all of Merrimack and Belknap Counties.
Categories: Adult Gifts: Items needed would be warm weather clothing, such as hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, shawls, and wool or fleece socks, slipper socks with non-slip treads, and fleece blankets or throws. Another idea for warmth would be microwaveable fleece booties, hand warmers, and neck/shoulder wraps (safer than electric blankets). Other items that would be greatly appreciated by our seniors are stationery, postage stamps, and personal care items such as hand soaps, lotions, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, powder, bath soaps, shaving cream, razors, tissues, perfume, deodorant, and men’s cologne.
Gift Cards: Our seniors are on fixed incomes and struggle to have enough food, and enough gas money to get to doctor’s appointments, grocery stores, and other essential places to gift certificates or gift cards to Walmart or other department stores, grocery stores such as Market Basket and drug stores such as Walgreens or Rite Aid would be very helpful. Gas cards to assist in daily living tasks would be wonderful!
Delivery Address: 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
Contact Information: Joan Barreto, 225-3295, ext. 1110, jbaretto@bm-cap.org.
Community Action Program, Belknap-Merrimack Counties
(WIC Program)
P.O. Box 1016, Concord, NH 03302
Mission: WIC’s mission is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. We serve seniors 60 and older under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Service Area: Merrimack County: Concord, Pittsfield, Franklin, New London, Warner, and Hooksett.
Categories: Children/ Teen Items: Hats, mittens, lap blankets for children 5 years and younger (including new born babies). Blankets: infant size and toddler sizes. Towels and washcloths.
Adult Gifts: Mittens, hats, lap blankets, scarves, toiletry kits/items, nail clippers, towels, washcloths, hand sanitizer, etc.
Gift Cards: Gasoline gift certificates for senior citizens.
Delivery Address: 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
Deadline: Dec. 21
Contact Information: Amelia Clark, 225-2050, aclark@bm-cap.org.
Community Bridges Early Childhood
Services
2 Whitney Road,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: Community Bridges advances integration, growth and interdependence of people with disabilities in their communities. Early Supports and Services provides developmental therapies, parent education, and support to children 0-3 with developmental issues and their families.
Service Area: Merrimack County
Categories: Children/Teen Items: We will be helping more than 70 families. Any age appropriate toys for infants through teens are needed. Please, no stuffed animals.
Gift Certificates: To be used by families for food, clothes, and toys. Several in $25.00 increments to superstores, such as Walmart.
Delivery Address: 70 Pembroke St., Concord NH 03301
Deadline: Dec. 6
Contact Information: Ellyn Shreiber, 225-4153, ext. 278, eschreiber@communitybridgesnh.org.
Concord-Merrimack County SPCA
130 Washington St.,
Penacook, NH 03303
Mission: We are dedicated to caring for abandoned and homeless pets, protecting, and advocating for pets in need, and promoting the humane treatment of all animals.
Service Area: Merrimack County.
Categories: Gift Cards: Staples for office supplies, Petco and PetSmart, Sandy’s Pet Food, and postage stamps.
Other Items: Liquid laundry detergent, paper towels, bleach, dawn dish soap, dry dog food (Purina brands preferred), dry cat food (Purina brands preferred), dry senior cat food (Purina brands preferred), dry senior dog food (Purina brands preferred), cat toys, Kongs, hard rubber dog chew toys.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 31
Contact Information: Shannon Camara, 753-9801,
Families in Transition
122 Market St.,
Manchester, NH 03101
Mission: The mission of Families in Transition is to provide safe and affordable housing and comprehensive social services to inpiduals and families that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Service Area: Manchester and Concord.
Categories: Adopt a Family/child/teen: Families in Transition serves more than 500 people per year in our Manchester and Concord community. We are looking for donors to help support these families with their holiday needs such as gift cards to local grocery stores, gas cards, movie tickets, Wal-Mart, and Target gift cards, tickets to local attractions, etc. Anything that will help support the families to make special memories.
Food Basket: Non-perishable food is needed for our four pantries in Manchester and Concord. Items such as canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, pasta, white and brown rice, snacks (popcorn, pudding and jello boxes, etc.), pasta sauce, soups, etc. help to feed our families who come to us with nothing.
Children/ Teen Items: Though the Families in Transition FIT Wish program, each of our children has the opportunity to ask for three things totaling a value of $75. We then look for the community to sponsor and shop for these wishes and deliver then to our agency so we can make sure to pass them along to the families.
We ask that the items are not wrapped so the parents can participate in this special tradition. For more information on the FIT Wish please email volunteer@fitnh.org or call 935-7900, ext.1721.
Adult Gifts: Families in Transition Serves a wide variety of families and inpiduals in Manchester and Concord with many different needs. Gift cards to local grocery stores, gas cards, movie tickets, Wal-Mart and Target gift cards, etc. will allow our participants to purchase food, personal care items and other things that they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Another great need is for brand new household items such as dishware, comforters, pillows, sheet sets, pot and pan sets, etc. Many of our families begin our program with nothing and would like nothing more than to have a nice set of dishes to use to feed their children or a nice new blanket to keep them warm.
Gift Certificates: Gift cards to Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Rite Aid, mall clothing stores, grocery stores, etc. for basic essential household items, toiletries, clothes, and groceries needed to help participants to purchase food, personal care items, and other things that they might not otherwise be able to afford.
Delivery Address: OutFITters Thrift Store, 20 South Main St., Concord, NH 03301
Please tell store staff that the items are a donation for the holiday program.
Deadline: Dec. 21
Contact Information: Kristen Brassard, 935-7900, ext. 1721, kbrassard@fitnh.org.
Friends Program Youth Mentoring Program
202 North State St.,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: The Friends Program is a non-profit agency that recruits, trains, and manages volunteers to meet community needs.
Service Area: Merrimack County
Categories: Adopt a family/ child/ teen: The program welcomes inpiduals or groups to assist families with children. We will provide detailed case sheets with needs to donors.
Children/ Teen Items: The program welcomes inpiduals or groups to assist families with children. We will provide detailed case sheets with needs to donors.
Gift Cards: The program welcomes inpiduals or groups to assist families with children. We will provide detailed case sheets with needs to donors.
Other Requests: The program welcomes inpiduals or groups to assist families with children. We will provide detailed case sheets with needs to donors. We ask interested parties contact us by November 19th in order to participate. They can speak with Sue Cassidy-Lyon at 228-1193, ext. 239, or Brooke Noonan at 228-1193 ext. 212.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Nov. 19 for choosing a case. Dec. 17 for delivering items.
Contact Information: Brooke Noonan, 228-1193, ext. 212, bnoonan@friendsprogram.org.
Loudon Food Pantry
30 Chichester Road, Unit D Loudon, NH 03307
Mission: Loudon Food Pantry strives to feed those who find it financially difficult to feed themselves.
Service Area: Belmont, Canterbury, Chichester, Epsom, and Loudon
Categories: Food Basket: For Thanksgiving and Christmas boxes, we give out ten days worth of food. It includes a turkey, stuffing, gravy, dessert, yams, rolls, and fresh produce as well as an assortment of canned goods that the patrons can choose from.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 13
Contact Information: Susan Houck, 724-9731, loudonfoodpantry@yahoo.com
Lutheran Social
Services
261 Sheep Davis Road,
Suite A-1, Concord, NH 03301
Mission: In response to Christ’s love, Lutheran Social Services serves and cares for people in need.
Service Area: Concord, Laconia, Nashua
Categories: Food Basket: Food drive need is for rice, dry beans (lentil, garbanzo, red kidney)
Children/ Teen Items: Gloves, mittens, scarves, coats (small, medium, and large), hats and socks.
Gift Certificates: Walmart, Market Basket, and department stores.
Other Requests: Household items, dish sets, pots and pans, silverware, drinking glasses, coffee mugs, bedding in queen, twin and gull, quilts and bedspreads.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Jan. 8
Contact Information:
Elaine Kidd, 410-6187, ekidd@lssne.org
Merrimack Valley Day Care Services
19 North Fruit St.,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: To provide care to those children in our community who are most in need. Children’s parents are working or in training programs.
Service Area: Concord and surrounding areas.
Categories: Children/Teen Items: Age appropriate toys, books, puzzles, and games for older children. We serve children ages 3 months to 12 years of age.
Gift Certificates: Gas cards, and grocery cards because families struggle during the holiday season to provide gifts, extra food and gas, gift cards are a wonderful way to help with the extra expense.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 20
Contact Information: Shawn Taylor, 224-1632, sdt1999@yahoo.com
New Hampshire Association for the Blind
25 Walker St.,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: The New Hampshire Association for the Blind is the only statewide, private non-profit organization that provides vision rehabilitation services to people of all ages. Our mission is to advance the independence of persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Service Area: The Association serves New Hampshire residents in all towns/counties.
Categories: Other requests: Gifts by check or cash would be used to purchase assistive aids and devices that are required by so many of our visually impaired or blind clients. For example, a white cane at $40, a hand held magnifier at $50, a talking compass at $70, a money reader at $100. A donation of any amount is appreciated.
Delivery Address: 25 Walker St. Concord, NH 03301
Deadline: Dec. 31
Contact Information:
Marcia Clark, 224-4039, ext. 325, mclark@sightcenter.org
New Hampshire Senior Companion Program
P.O. Box 1016,
Concord, NH 03302
Mission: To provide meaningful volunteer opportunities to adults over the age of 55 serving home-bound elders for the purpose of improving the quality of life of New Hampshire seniors.
Service Area: Concord, Pembroke, Bradford, Hopkinton, Warner, Bow, Hooksett, Chichester, Epsom, Franklin, and Northfield.
Categories: Adult Gifts: Sixteen of our low income volunteers in Merrimack County would benefit greatly from winter scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, ear muffs, slippers, or shawls to keep them warm while serving other in their communities!
Gift Cards: Our low-income senior companions would benefit greatly with gas cards to offset the high expense of gas as they drive around to necessary doctor’s appointments, grocery store trips, and other essential errands.
Delivery Address:
2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301
Deadline: Dec. 12
Penacook Community Center
76 Community Drive,
Penacook, NH 03303
Mission: The Penacook Community Center is a non-profit, multipurpose organization, established in 1948 with a mission of providing the citizens of Penacook and surrounding towns oppurtunities to promote, develop and maintain social, educational and recreational activites. We serve children, youth, adults, and seniors from 2 years to 102.
Service Area: Concord and Surrounding Towns.
Categories: Children/Teen Items: Warm hats, mittens and scarves.
Gift Certificates: Grocery store and gas cards.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 20
Contact Info: Deb Cuddahy, 753-9700, debc@penacookcommunitycenter.org.
Pittsfield Area
Senior Center
74 Main St.,
Pittsfield, NH 03263
Mission: The Pittsfield Area Senior Center promotes independence and well-being for seniors through a healthy and active lifestyle, increased social interaction, and sound nutrition program.
Service Area: Barnstead, Chichester, Epsom, and Pittsfield.
Categories: Adult Gifts: Please, donate night lights to help prevent indoor falls during the long nights of winter.
Holiday Volunteer Opportunities: Join us to spread some holiday cheer and help with serving the luncheon. The Holiday Dinner is on Dec. 13 at 11:30 a.m., and the New Year’s Dinner is on Dec. 31 at 11:30 a.m.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 21
Contact Information: Leslie Vogt, 435-8482, lvogt@bm-cap.org.
Pittsfield Youth
Workshop
PO Box 206,
Pittsfield, NH 03263
Mission: PYW is a non-profit organization committed to providing programs that empower youth by helping them develop useful skills, self esteem and meaningful friendship.
Service Area: Pittsfield
Categories: Children/ Teen Items: The need for hats, mittens, gloves and thick socks in youth and adult sizes. Youth ages run from 11 to 18.
Gift Cards: Gift cards to grocery stores, gas stations, and/or Walmart.
Delivery Address: 5 Park St.,Pittsfield, NH 03263
Contact Information:
Paula 435-8272, paula@pittsfieldyouthworkshop.org.
Rise Again Outreach
34 Staniels Road, Suite 5, Loudon, NH 03307
Mission: Bringing God’s love to people in crisis or poverty by helping with their temporal (free food, clothing, personal care items) and spiritual needs.
Service Area: Concord and Franklin
Categories: Food Basket: Any non-perishable foods.
Children/Teen Items: Any clothing- all sizes, particularly winter outerwear, heavy socks, shoes, boots, and disposable diapers.
Adult Gifts: Any clothing- all sizes, particularly winter outerwear, heavy socks, shoes, boots, and personal care items.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: December 15
Contact Information:
Bob Pease, 1-800-226-5017, ext. 709, bob@riseagainoutreach.org.
Riverbend Community Mental Health
3 North State St.,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: Riverbend’s core mental health services include 24/7 emergency services, specialized medical and clinical services for children, adults and families; and community support, vocational and residential services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness.
Service Area: All towns in Merrimack County, except Hooksett.
Categories: Food Basket: Mill House is a housing program for 19 residents who live in inpidual apartments located in Boscawen. The residents are on fixed incomes. They would benefit and appreciate greatly receiving donations of food baskets consisting of non-perishable food items.
Gift Cards: Twitchell House residents (15 residents) and Fayette Street residents (10) would benefit and appreciate greatly from receiving gift cards at Walmart or other similar stores so they can purchase small items they may need or like for personal use; ie. Personal hygiene items, socks, underwear, hair products, fingernail polish or what ever they may need to buy for their inpidual needs but can’t afford on a fixed income.
Delivery Address:
Twitchell House, 111 Pleasant St., Boscawen, NH 03303
Fayette Street, 4-6 Fayette St., Concord, NH 03301
Mill House, 30 Tremont St., Concord, NH 03301
Deadline: Dec. 14
Contact Information:
Annemarie Dunn, 226-7547 ext 3005, adunn@riverbendcmhc.org.
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry
(St. Peter Church)
135 North State St.,
Concord, NH
Mission: Provides food and non-food items to households in need from the Greater Concord area.
Service Area: Greater Concord
Categories: Food Basket: Food baskets are provided to 325 households, 1,150 inpiduals, including homeless each month and the need remains as high as it was in 2011. We are continuing to see a rise in the number of blended families and homeless, inpiduals and families. Items needed included peanut butter, grape jelly, fruit, beef stew, pork and beans, dry milk, tuna fish, and oatmeal cereal.
Adult/Senior Items: While food items are the primary service provided, there are many non-food items requested by clients, and food pantry budgets are strained trying to provide them. The items include toilet paper, toothpaste, tooth brushes, soap, deodorant, laundry and dish detergent, diapers, wipes, and shampoo.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 20
Contact Information: George Weber, 225-0108, ga-mi-weber@comcast.net.
The Friendly Kitchen
PO Box 373,
Concord, NH 03302
Mission: The Friendly Kitchen seeks to provide a meal in a warm and caring non-discriminating environment through the coordination of community volunteer resources.
Service Area: Concord
Categories: Gift Cards: Gas cards: Some of our guests live in their cars and need gas to keep them warm at night. Grocery store and department store cards: as we see needs for some of our guests our staff will purchase items for them. We are seeing more families with very young children. They need formula and diapers. We would like to be able to purchase them and give them to the parents.
Other Requests: City Bus Passes: We would like to be able to supply some of our guests with bus passes to get them to our new facility. Staff at the Friendly Kitchen will determine which guests need them and hand them out accordingly.
Delivery Address: Since we will be moving soon, please call or check our website, thefriendlykitchen.org, to see where we are located.
Deadline: Dec. 14
Contact Information: Jennifer Lambardo, 224-7678, thefriendlykitchen@thefriendlykitchen.org
Friends of the Concord City Auditorium
PO Box 652,
Concord, NH 03301
Mission: Preserve and maintain the Audi and foster its affordable accessible use by everyone in the community.
Service Area: Greater Capital Area
Categories: Food Basket: Patrons at all Audi shows are urged to bring non-perishable food items for distribution to local food pantries. Collection boxes are located in the lobby.
Children/ Teen Items: New Toys for children.
Other Requests: Eyeglasses for distribution through the Lions Club Sight Project. Collection boxes are in the lobby.
Holiday Volunteer Opportunities: On Nov. 26 at 6:30 p.m., volunteers are needed to help decorate the Audi for the holiday season, when 11 special family events are scheduled.
On Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers are needed to host the Art Concord Holiday Open Gallery Tour, which takes place during the 1 p.m. Holiday Spectacular show. December 2, 5PM, volunteers needed to set up and host the Audi’s Holiday Open House, with pot luck supper and collection of food donations.
Delivery Address: 2 Prince St., Concord, NH 03301
Deadline: Boxes in the Audi lobby to collect food items for distribution to the area food pantries at all Audi programs through Dec. 22. Children’s gifts collected at Holiday Spectacular shows on Dec. 1- 2. Eyeglasses collected at all shows.
Contact Information: David Murdo, 225-7474,nhdm40@comcast.net
Town of Chichester Food Pantry
54 Main St.,
Chichester, NH 03258
Mission: Food assistance for Chichester residents.
Service Area: Chichester
Categories: Other Requests: Paper products, laundry and personal hygiene items are a constant need.
Delivery Address: 54 Main St., Chichester NH, 03258
Contact Information: Donna Chagnon, 798-5350, d-chagnon@tds.net
West Congregational Church Food Pantry – Christmas Dinners
499 North State St., Concord, NH 03301
Mission: Each Friday we serve 24-30 folks with needed food, personal care items, pet food, and paper goods. We would like to give our pantry patrons some extra things for Christmas.
Service Area: West Concord and Penacook.
Categories: Food Baskets: Eggs, rolls, fresh vegetables like squash, potatoes, and onions, frozen turkeys, chickens, or hams for Christmas dinner, cranberry sauce, canned tuna, canned vegetables, canned chicken, canned Chef Boyardee, spagettios, jello, pies for dessert.
Gift Cards: Grocery cards, Walmart and Target cards are very helpful.
Other Requests: Napkins, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo, toothbrushes, detergent, and pet food.
Delivery Address: Same as above.
Deadline: Dec. 7
Contact information: Patti Burwen, 224-4142, angel75791@aol.com.
