Greetings!

United Way of Greater Nashua (UWGN) celebrates all that you and the hundreds of other volunteers, advocates, and donors do everyday to progress the mission of UWGN to promote a higher quality of life in our communities. We are grateful you have joined the fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in the community. We couldn't do what we do without you.

The United Way of Greater Nashua Staff

President’s Message

Well, Spring is finally here. Even though it wasn’t the hardest winter on record for us, it certainly was a New England winter! With the spring comes new energy, new hope, and new ideas.

At United Way, this means a lot of great events and great opportunities to get involved. In a few weeks we will have our 2nd Annual Electronics Recycling Fundraiser, our 6th Community Baby Shower, our traditional Mother’s Day Flowers for Homeless Moms, our first ever Youth Sleepout to End Homelessness, and our 6th Over the Edge. And yes, all of this happens in the spring here at United Way.

I would like to say a special thanks to our tremendous team at United Way. Without the tireless and never-failing commitment of Sara, Samantha, Liz, and Sharon none of this would be possible. We have amazing volunteers and donors who make our work possible, of course. As they say, it takes a village and at United Way we are a village in the truest sense of the word. I am always awed and humbled by the passion our staff, volunteers, and supporters bring to this important work.

Last but not least, I encourage you to pay special attention to this month’s article by Liz about our new LIVE UNITED Innovation Fund. This is a labor of love to bring a more equitable approach to some of our grant making and to create lasting change and social innovation. We’ve been working a long time at this idea and are very excited to finally be able to launch the fund and see where it goes.

With respect, love, and enthusiasm for our community,

Mike

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Amazing Volunteers

Volunteer Highlight

Dr. Cynthia Whitaker, President and CEO of Greater Nashua Mental Health, has been volunteering with United Way of Greater Nashua since 2018 as a member of the Events Committee and the Community Advisory Council.

We're very grateful not only for her organizational skills and mental health expertise, but also her charm and verve as MC of our winter fundraiser - formerly the Blizzard Blast, now the Nashua Nor'easter Run / Walk / Drive - and of our "Over the Edge" rappelling fundraiser.

She's always an enthusiastic supporter of our programs, going above and beyond with her own promotion of of our projects through photos and cheery videos on social media.

Thank you, Cynthia for your kindness, enthusiasm, and willingness to entertain!

Stay United - For Retirees

Are you planning for retirement? Already embarked on the journey? Either way, United Way is here to keep you connected to meaningful experiences in your community.

Our "Stay United" retiree group steering committee is currently in the planning stages of some great projects! If you are a "planner" and love organizing events and projects, please let us know if you'd like to be part of this steering committee.

The purpose of this group is to bring together retirees interested in volunteering and in learning about the ways people in Greater Nashua are coming together to build a strong community.

If you’d like to find out more, contact us at [email protected] or (603)882-4011.

Sponsor Highlights

United Way of Greater Nashua is broad and flexible, and we enjoy working with companies that find creative ways to incorporate us into their regular workdays and celebrations. I will highlight a few ways that local companies have involved UWGN in their work so that it might spark a creative idea in you for how a company you know and love that might do the same.

I’m sure this doesn’t apply to you, wonderful UWGN volunteer and supporter, but for some people, it is hard to find time to volunteer or include nonprofits into your everyday lives. It is for that reason that we are so appreciative that leaders at these three organizations were able to find ways to include UWGN for the benefit of their employees and the community.

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Best Ford Supports United Way, Bridges, and a Strong Community Safety Net

Best Ford is partnering with United Way to create a strong safety net, which helps to ensure that no resident falls through the cracks. Through its partnerships with over 25 community organizations, United Way fights for health, education, and financial stability. Several times a year, Best Ford will work with United Way to support one of these partners. During these months, a portion of the proceeds from every sale will be donated to a community safety net partner!

In April — in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month — the community partner is “Bridges Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Support Services.” Bridges is a nonprofit safety-net partner agency dedicated to helping victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

https://unitedwaynashua.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/042303-TV-BEST-email-1.mp4

Live United Innovation Fund

United Way of Greater Nashua Community Investment Committee announces the establishment of a new grant opportunity called the Live United Innovation Fund. The purpose of this grant is to create equitable opportunities for local community builders that are working to address community needs and have a vision and mission that aligns with United Way of Greater Nashua’s Strategic Framework.

The focus for funding will be to support programs and services meeting the needs of underserved populations and/or are led by small nonprofits or informal volunteer or civic groups that demonstrate leadership and engagement of BIPOC community leaders to ensure equitable voice and culturally effective practices. According to Liz Fitzgerald, Director of Community Impact for the United Way of Greater Nashua, “United Way staff and board members established this new funding opportunity to complement our Community Impact Fund and to increase opportunities for new and emerging community leaders that see challenges and want to offer innovative solutions and to take action to make positive change.”

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United Way Receives Transparency Award

United Way of Greater Nashua has once again, been honored to be the recipient of Charity Navigator’s coveted highest rating for demonstrating strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

In the award letter, President and CEO, Michael Thatcher wrote, “[Charity Navigator] is proud to announce United Way of Greater Nashua has earned our fourth consecutive 4-star rating. This is our highest possible rating and indicates that your organization adheres to sector best practices and executes its mission in a financially efficient way. Attaining a 4-star rating verifies that United Way of Greater Nashua exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in your area of work. Only 21% of the charities we evaluate have received at least 4 consecutive 4-star evaluations, indicating that United Way of Greater Nashua outperforms most other charities in America. This exceptional designation from Charity Navigator sets United Way of Greater Nashua apart from its peers and demonstrates to the public its trustworthiness.”

“It’s important our donors trust that we’re using their donations wisely to accomplish our mission to make measurable improvements in lives by mobilizing the caring power of our communities,” said Mike Apfelberg, President of United Way of Greater Nashua. “Our 4-star Charity Navigator rating demonstrates to our supporters our good governance and financial accountability.

Upcoming Events at United Way of Greater Nashua

4/12

Community Baby Shower - United Way of Greater Nashua’s annual Community Baby Shower is an exciting event designed to help new and expecting low-income parents in the Greater Nashua area. Each year, new families are invited to this educational celebration to learn about community supports available to them and pick item from the “baby boutique” to help them get started with the new addition to their family. This event will take place on April 12th at the United Way of Greater Nashua office.

United Way of Greater Nashua will be helping 40+ new families celebrate their new additions, making this one of our biggest Community Baby Showers yet For more information, please contact us at [email protected].

4/21 - 4/23

United (w)E-Recycle - Do you have unused electronics in your attic or basement that you've been looking for a way to dispose of responsibly? Look no further! United w(E)- Recycle was designed to solve your problem! Electronic donations will be accepted at United Way, 20 Broad Street in Nashua on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 21 – 23 from 9 am – 6 pm on Friday, Saturday from 8 am – 5 pm, and Sunday from 10 am – 3 pm. Donations will be stored in a Mi-Box storage container for the duration of the event.

United Way is partnering with Recycled Materials Group, who will re-use and re-purpose items that still have life in them. Accepted items and suggested donations per item include televisions, monitors, air conditioners ($35), vacuums, dehumidifiers, microwaves ($25), computers, laptops, servers, projectors, fax machines, copiers, printers, video game consoles ($20), tablets, modems, radios, stereos, CD/DVD players, cameras, typewriters, cell phones ($10), telephones, cables, hard drives (detached), speakers, calculators and answering machines ($5). All proceeds will benefit low-income learners through United Way's Rod Hansen / TAPP School Supply Pantry.

Businesses in need of E-recycling large quantities of electronic devices will be given a 20% bulk discount. All donations of electronics during this event are tax deductible for both businesses and individual households if they qualify. Businesses are encouraged to reach out in advance to ensure a smooth transaction and that the discount is applied. Email [email protected] with the subject line, “E-waste business discount”. Contact us at [email protected] with questions.

5/6 - 5/7

United We Sleep Youth Sleep Out - This event is specifically intended to educate teenagers and young adults about youth homelessness. They are invited to gather with us in an outdoor location, to sleep outdoors with minimal comforts. By participating in this fundraiser, they can learn about issues in our community and how they personally can make a positive impact. Interested teams and individuals can register today! This event is designed as an experiential sleep out event with a focus on homelessness and poverty. Participants will fundraise a minimum of $500 per team. As an alternative, teams may perform a service project, such as a collection drive, with permission from United Way.

Participants register on line with a team at https://www.tinyurl.com/uwgnyouthsleepout2023. 

5/12

Mother's Day Bouquets for Homeless Moms - For just 12$, you can help us bring a smile and a little bit of love to a mother in our community who is experiencing homelessness. We do this through the simple gesture of bringing them a bouquet of flowers, purchased locally, prepared and delivered by volunteers. These moms live in shelters and transitional living facilities in Greater Nashua.

Your donation of just $12 is enough to put a big smile on the face of one of our neighbors. Our goal this year is to deliver over 135 of these smiles on Mother's Day!

Donate securely online here:

https://fundraise.givesmart.com/f/46nq/n?vid=xtnz6

5/18

Greater Nashua Volunteer Fair - Dozens of nonprofit agencies looking for volunteer help will come together at Nashua Public Library on Thursday, May 18th. The public is invited to the event running between 4pm and 7pm to chat with representatives from the nonprofits, learn about who they are, and how individual community members can help. Participating organizations include: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, Big Brothers Big Sisters, New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, Stepping Stones, and Touchstone Farm.

6/26 - 6/27

Over the Edge - United Way is once again planning to rappel from the rooftop of Brady-Sullivan’s 24 story, 300-foot-high tower at 1000 Elm Street in Manchester! This year’s event will take place on June 26 and June 27 involving one hundred or more rappelers from fifteen or more nonprofit organizations. The event, unlike most other fundraising events, is collaborative, bringing in diverse organizations such as Pink Revolution, Nashua Police Athletic Leave, Family Promise, The Youth Council, and others, along with both Greater Nashua and Granite United Ways.

Each participating organization puts together a team of up to six participants who raise money for their own cause. Over the past few years, the event has raised between $130K and $200K annually, and has also included cameo appearances including Governor Chris Sununu, Representatives Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster, Senator Kelly Ayotte, local blind advocate Randy Pierce, and others.

There is still time to register a team, sign up as a participant, or become a sponsor.

To learn more, support, and sign up, please go to the event website at https://www.tinyurl.com/luote2023 or contact us at [email protected] with questions.

In the News

Nashua Nor'easter Run / Walk / Drive

The United Way 2023 Nashua Nor’easter Winter Walk/Run/Drive community fundraiser took place February 26 – March 4 and showcased how almost everyone can actively demonstrate their support for the many non-profit organizations that provide essential services in our community.

This major fundraiser was like a “Build your own Adventure” – participants chose the day, distance, method and speed of locomotion, and whether to tackle this on one’s own or build a team of friends or co-workers. It included a choice of a 5K/10K/Half or Full Marathon in which participants ran, walked, or drove to 33 Nashua nonprofit locations.

Almost 100 runners /walkers / drivers participated in this year's event raising over $24,000 for local nonprofits.

Shoebox Project for Seniors

This year's Shoebox Project for Seniors focused on our low-income, homebound seniors - particularly in the area of isolation. The effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic are still keeping many of our seniors at home and in need of some friendly support from the community.

Throughout the month of January, we asked our community of volunteers, supporters, friends, and champions to come together to provide the folks served by Gateways Community Services, Meals on Wheels, and The Caregivers with some Valentine’s cheer by purchasing items like crossword puzzles, greeting cards, stamps, colored pencils, stuffed animals, tea, coffee, and hot cocoa to be packed in to gift kits.

Nearly 50 United Way volunteers packed over 550 kits, making this one of our biggest item collections of the year!

Living United

Rosie’s Pantry, hosted by Girls Inc., provides women’s hygiene items such as sanitary napkins, tampons, period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups, razors, deodorant, etc. Items continue to be available to the public for free on weekdays: 8:00am - 6:00 pm. Donations to the pantry can be made through http://tinyurl.com/rosiespantrywishlist or dropped off at United Way at 20 Broad St., Nashua: 10:00am - 3:00pm.

Pop-Up Food Pantries supplies free fresh fruits and vegetables and other perishable items around downtown Nashua. Information about locations and other food resources can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/Pop-UpPantries

Food Drives - United Way of Greater Nashua held community-based food drives to try and replenish pantries. Food and other items we collected go to many different food pantries. including the Nashua Soup Kitchen, Corpus Christi, Southern NH Rescue Mission, St. Joseph Food Pantry, SHARE, Greater Nashua Mental Health, and other. Learn more about Community Food Drives here.

Learn United Tutoring – Free tutoring is provided by United Way volunteers for students in grades K – 11 at youth-serving organizations around the Greater Nashua area such as the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., and Nashua PAL in all subjects at flexible times. Tutoring is also available remotely through Zoom. More information may be found here: https://tinyurl.com/LearnUnited Those interested in becoming tutors should contact us at [email protected] or (603)882-4011.

“Small Business. Big Heart. Big Impact!”

United Way of Greater Nashua honors and recognizes the following Small Business United Partner Companies. By participating in Small Business United, these companies have demonstrated that they are Small Businesses with a Big Heart, Making Big Impact in our local community! Learn more about these generous small businesses.

Click Here for more information.