 Founded
in 1975, The Friends Program is a nonprofit, social service
organization that strengthens communities by building relationships
that empower people, encourage community service, and restore faith in
the human spirit. A United Way agency, the organization strives to
achieve this goal through the implementation of mentoring programs for
at-risk youth, emergency housing for homeless families and medically
challenged individuals, an intergenerational program that creates
meaningful opportunities for seniors to work with children, a volunteer
service program that connects people of faith with elderly people in
need of assistance to maintain their independent lifestyle, and a
senior volunteer program that links the volunteer’s skills to otherwise
unmet needs within the communities that we serve.
We currently serve seven counties in New Hampshire: Belknap, Carroll, Grafton, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, and Sullivan. Our Mission:
The Friends Program strengthens communities by building relationships
that empower people, encourage community service, and restore faith in
the human spirit – “Building Relationships…Restoring Hope.”
Our Programs:
- Junior Senior Friends (Established in 1975) – mentors “at-risk” children ages 6–18.
- Emergency Housing (Established in 1980) – provides homeless shelter in NH for families with 36 beds.
- Foster Grandparents (Our Agency’s Affiliation Began in 1986) – mobilizes income-eligible seniors working with children in schools, daycare centers, etc.
- Interfaith Caregivers (Established in 1999)
– mobilizes volunteers from faith communities to provide non-medical
supportive services to older adults and people living with disabilities.
- Retired Senior Volunteer Program (Our Agency’s Affiliation Began in 2006) – mobilizes volunteers 55 and over who want to provide community service.
Distinctive Facts:
- 4,000 children and families, older adults and people living with disabilities served annually
900 volunteers
- Annual volunteer hours 125,000+
- Program outcomes exceed national performance standards
Recent Recognitions/Awards:
- New Hampshire Business of the Year Award 2006 for Excellence in Nonprofit Management
- New Hampshire Business Review’s “Business Excellence Award 2003” for Outstanding Achievement in the Nonprofit Sector.
- Volunteer
NH’s “Volunteer Champion Award 2003” in the small nonprofit category
for our outstanding ability to successfully manage volunteers
- Walter J. Dunfey Award 2003 for Excellence in Nonprofit Management
Main Office
603-228-1193
249 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301
www.friendsprogram.org |
