Earlier today, I announced a restructuring of operations at United Way of Greater Nashua. As part of that restructuring, we eliminated several positions and lost some terrific people who have made great contributions to our organization over the years. I’m saddened by the impact that these cuts have had on people who are my friends and colleagues.

On these pages, I’ve written about a significant decline in the level of charitable giving in Greater Nashua since 2008, and United Way has seen its share of those losses. We are committed to responsible stewardship of your donations, and we are exercising the fiscal discipline needed to make sure we continue to support the non-profit organizations in Greater Nashua that form the safety net for the most vulnerable people in our community.

I’m optimistic about the future, and I’m certain that we are better positioned to meet the needs of the community as a leaner, more cost-efficient organization.

Now, it’s time for me to get back to work.

Thank you for all you do to make our community stronger.

-Paul

by Julie Kelly, United Way Campaign Team

The attendance list for United Way of Greater Nashua’s Annual Community Celebration on May 30th is growing daily and includes local corporate, non-profit, and community leaders. It’s not too late to get on board — the registration deadline has been extended to May 22nd.

Please join your fellow community members for a relaxing evening on the ‘United Common’ at the Nashua Country Club as we honor individual and corporate donors, volunteers, and everyone who advances the common good and pulls together to make Greater Nashua a wonderful community.

The evening will feature stationed and passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, networking, cash bar, raffle prizes, volunteer recognition, and awards. The event runs 5:30 – 8 PM.

Tickets are $45 per person and may be purchased by registering online. Guests also may register by emailing Cheryl Cunningham or calling 603-882-4011. RSVP by May 22.

Many thanks to the event sponsors: Bank of America (flagship sponsor); BAE Systems; Cityside Management Corporation; McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA; Monarch Instrument; and Public Service of NH.

When the economy began to collapse at the start of the Great Recession, the ripples reached deeply into our community. Thousands of people in Greater Nashua suffered. You and I both watched it happen.

But things have stabilized and even gotten better, right? Not so for the non-profit organizations that form the safety net for our friends and neighbors.

Recent data from the IRS reveals that charitable donations to health and human service agencies in Greater Nashua have dropped by $3.4 million annually since 2008. That’s a 16% cut that comes on top of big reductions in state and federal programs.  That means fewer people can get the help that they need to make it in these tough times.

How much will we help each other through this difficult time? That’s up to each one of us. This is a generous community, we’ve pulled together in tough times before to help each other. We need to do that again, and we need to start today.

If you are able to give, please do so. It doesn’t have to be much. If you haven’t given before, try setting aside $1 for every day that you work. If you already give, try adding $1 a day. You have no idea what a big difference it can make.

But, please make it a habit. One-time donations certainly help, but it can be hard for most people to find a few hundred dollars at any one time. If you give a little bit each month, it won’t feel so noticeable to you, but the people in need will absolutely feel it.

When you give to the organizations that are helping your friends and neighbors, you’ll feel good inside. But more importantly, you’ll be part of a solution. If you don’t know where to start, we can help. United Way will make sure your donations go to programs in the community that are having a measurable impact on the community’s greatest needs.

Giving to United Way is the best way to help the most people — people you know, people you work with or live near, people you love. If you are able to give, please give whatever you can. Call 603-882-4011 or visit http://www.unitedwaynashua.org/donate-nashua-community-impact-fund/.

Thanks for all you do to make our community stronger.
-Paul

Letter carriers will collect non-perishable food left by mailboxes and in post offices on May 12^th and distribute the donations to area food pantries on May 13^th. The “Stamp Out Hunger” National Food Drive is the nation’s largest one-day food drive, and has yielded more than 1.1 billion pounds of food donations over the past 19 years.

“Sixteen percent of all Americans are at risk of hunger—uncertain where their next meal may be coming from. That includes 1 in 5 children under the age of 18, plus 4 million seniors who are forced every day to choose between paying a utility bill and buying food,” said Bud Gorman, the Nashua coordinator of the food drive. “Many of our neighbors are still struggling with unemployment or under-employment, compounded by high food and gasoline prices. So when you are out shopping, how about picking up an extra can or two of food? Save it and put it by your mailbox on Saturday May 12^th. Your letter carrier will pick it up and make sure it gets to a local food bank,” he added.

The food drive is held in late spring as food pantries run out of donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods.  In 2011, for the eighth consecutive year, the drive collected more than 70 million pounds of food nationally. The 20,000 pounds of food collected by Nashua letter carriers went to eight food pantries in the Nashua area: Christian Bible Church; Corpus Christi; Grace Lutheran Church; Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter; Salvation Army; Tolles Street Mission; United Methodist Church; and Upper Room Ministries. The 12,600 pounds collected by Hudson letter carriers went to St. Vincent de Paul of Hudson, First Baptist Church of Hudson, and Community Church of Litchfield.

To donate, all Nashua and Hudson residents need to do is place a box or can of non-perishable food next to their mailbox before the letter carrier delivers mail on Saturday, May 12^th. The carrier delivers the food to the post office, where it is sorted by volunteers and then available for pick-up by local food pantries the next day. Anyone wishing to volunteer for food sorting should come to the Nashua Post Office, at 38 Spring Street, between 11 AM and noon on May 12^th.

The “Stamp Out Hunger” National Food Drive is conducted in conjunction with United Way, the United States Postal Service, the AFL-CIO, and Feeding America, and with support from Val-Pak and Campbell Soup Company. For additional information and links, visit http://www.helpstampouthunger.com.

The ballroom of the Nashua Country Club will be transformed to a welcoming town common as we honor individual and corporate donors, volunteers, and everyone who helps United Way improve community conditions and create a better life for all in Nashua and 10 surrounding towns.

The evening will feature stationed and passed hors d’oeuvres, live music, networking, cash bar, raffle prizes, volunteer recognition, and awards. The 2012 United Way of Greater Nashua Community Award nominees are:

Bank of America
Etchstone Properties
Intel
Nashua Community College
St. Joseph Hospital
Triangle Credit Union
UPS

Tickets are $45 per person and may be purchased by registering online. Guests also may register by emailing Cheryl Cunningham or calling 603-882-4011. RSVP by May 15.

Many thanks to the event sponsors: Bank of America (flagship sponsor); BAE Systems; Cityside Management Corporation; McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, PA; Monarch Instrument; and Public Service of NH.

Donna Arias

by Donna Arias, Beyond Influence regional coordinator

Did you know that two of every five Nashua teens who used prescription drugs without a doctor’s order took the drugs from their home?¹

In response, local law enforcement officials and the Drug Enforcement Agency, along with Beyond Influence – a United Way of Greater Nashua program that includes a network of community partners focused on reducing substance abuse in the region — are coordinating a free medication take-back day this Saturday, April 28, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Area residents will be able to turn in their unused, unwanted, or expired medications for proper disposal, with no questions asked.

The take-back program is designed to reduce misuse of certain prescription and over-the-counter medications that lead to injury and addiction, especially among youth. According to the New Hampshire Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, more Granite State residents died from drug overdoses than car accidents last year.

What to bring:

Any prescription or over-the-counter solid dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules, will be accepted.

What not to bring:

Illicit substances (marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc.) and intravenous solutions and injectable medications will NOT be accepted.

Greater Nashua Drop-off sites:

• Brookline Safety Complex, 3 Post Office Drive
• Hollis Police Station, 9 Silver Lake Road
• Hudson Walmart, 254 Lowell Rd.
• Litchfield Town Hall/Police Department, 2 Liberty Way
• Merrimack Police Department, 31 Baboosic Lake Rd.
• Milford Police Department, 19 Garden St.
• Nashua Public Works Garage, Behind Conway Arena off of Stadium Dr.
• Wilton Police Department, 7 Burn Hills Road
  Medications can be dropped off at these locations during designated hours only (10 AM – 2 PM on Saturday, April 28, 2012). Statewide, there are 89 collection sites; thousands more exist throughout the country. For additional sites, please visit http://www.justice.gov/dea/. Residents who cannot attend during the designated times on April 28 are encouraged to visit www.beyondinfluence.org for more information on how to properly dispose of their leftover medications.

¹ - 2011 Prescription Drug Survey

If you answered Yes to these questions, can write well, and are dependable and available 18-20 hours/week, we want to talk to you!

Help enhance United Way’s social media presence and engage community through our blog (WordPress), Facebook page, LinkedIn group, and Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr accounts. Other tasks include:

• Assist in development, distribution, and list maintenance for e-newsletters
• Writing and distributing press releases
• Assist with promoting and implementing annual community celebration in late May and volunteer event in early September.
• Graphic design experience desirable.

Looking for someone willing to help United Way grow its presence in the community throughout spring and summer of 2012. Ideal for local college student or recent grad looking for valuable experience and contacts. Small stipend offered.

Send resume, writing sample, and relevant social media links to lisa@unitedwaynashua.org.

Mike LaChance

By Paul Hebert, president, United Way of Greater Nashua

The Greater Nashua Chamber of Commerce recently honored Mike LaChance, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Nashua as its Business Person of the Year. It was a great choice by the Chamber!

Under Mike’s leadership, the Y has built an incredible organization that serves 18,000 people with programs that greatly enrich our community. I’ve known Mike for 15 years, I appreciate all he does for our community, and I’m glad to call him a friend.

United Way salutes Mike LaChance; we’re proud to be associated with a great leader and a terrific partner that is committed to improving our community’s health.

(For additional information about Mike’s award and other Chamber of Commerce honorees, see the Nashua Telegraph article.)

Midday group walks are a popular activity during National Public Health Week.

(The following information was supplied by The City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services.)

The City of Nashua Division of Public Health & Community Services is celebrating National Public Health Week, “A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement,” by collaborating with community partners in offering a variety of events and workshops throughout the week.  From April 2^nd to the 8^th, there will be events each day to educate and empower the community to take steps to lead healthier lives.

The National Public Health Week kick-off event will be held on Monday, April 2^nd from 4:00 to 5:00 PM at the Nashua YMCA.  The event is free to the public, with raffles, giveaways and healthy foods to try.  Mayor Donnalee Lozeau will also speak at the event.  Attendees will then be invited to join in either a free sampler zumba class or participate in a walk through Mine Falls Park.

“We are excited for National Public Health Week to start. Our goal is to educate the community to adopt healthy behaviors for themselves, their children and families,” said Kerran Vigroux, Director of the Division of Public Health & Community Services.

Over 17 community agencies and programs are participating in this year’s events, including Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital and United Way of Greater Nashua.  Activities include dance classes at the Boys and Girls Club, a stress management class at the Holistic Self Care Center and an anti-bullying workshop by Miss Gate City, Jessica Avelar.  All scheduled events will be published in the Nashua Telegraph on April 1^st and can also be found on the City of Nashua’s website at www.NashuaNH.gov. (Or download the Nashua Public Health Week brochure.)

“We need to recognize that improving the community’s health can be done with small changes to our daily routine,” said Corinn Dembkoski, Health Program Specialist of the Division of Public Health and Community Services.  From eating less fatty and unhealthy foods to offering tobacco cessation services that will improve one’s health and protect other individuals from second-hand smoke, we can all make a difference in helping people live healthier lives.”

This is the 3^rd year the City of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services will be celebrating National Public Health Week.  Our goal for Nashua is to have healthy people in healthy homes, living in a healthy community.

For more information about the week’s events and National Public Health Week, please contact the City of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services at 589-4560.

Volunteer tax preparer George Bower, IV (right), with United Way's Ray Peterson and Nashua Mayor Donnalee Lozeau

How does an 18-year-old senior from Alvirne High School in Hudson spend his Saturdays during the winter? Go skiing? Take in a movie with friends? Bag groceries for gas money?

If you’re George Bower, IV, you help working folks prepare and file their taxes, and you do it for nothing.

For nine consecutive Saturdays, Bower volunteered from 9 AM to 3 PM as an IRS-certified tax preparer and greeter at Triangle Credit Union in Nashua as part of the Greater Nashua Asset Building Coalition’s free tax preparation program. Bower and dozens of other volunteers helped more than 1,400 low-to-moderate-income taxpayers qualify for tax credits and refunds at four area tax preparation centers. While the program has ended at Triangle Credit Union for the season, it continues at three other local sites until mid-April and is expected to meet or exceed last year’s $2.74 million in refunds for Greater Nashua households.

Bower, an Academy of Finance (AOF) student who will receive the National Academy Foundation’s Certificate of Financial Studies in May, logged more than one-third of the certificate’s required 150 internship hours through the free tax preparation program. In addition to the internship hours, Alvirne High School’s AOF students complete coursework in Financial Planning, Accounting, Computers and International Finance.

When Dick Lavoie of Triangle Credit Union asked Judy King, business and community liaison at Alvirne, if she knew of any AOF students interested in becoming a certified volunteer tax preparer, Bower immediately came to mind.

“I knew George had such a great interest in accounting and taxes, that he would be a great candidate,” King said. His accounting teacher echoes King’s praises.

“George has been a tremendous asset as an aide in my Accounting 1 class,” said Alvirne teacher Jacquie Michaud. “When my attention is focused on helping a student, George will assist by giving whatever help he can to other students who have questions. He is currently taking Accounting 2 as an independent study and is doing very well; his knowledge of finance has grown considerably over the last two years.”

Through the asset building coalition’s tax preparer training program coordinated by United Way, Bower received free study materials and passed the online IRS-certified course. He has since advanced to the intermediate level for tax preparation. Not bad for an 18-year-old who is still in high school.

“I know when some people see me (at the tax prep site), they probably think, ‘Why is this young kid doing my taxes?’” Bower said. “But they don’t question it. I have all the certification required, and I ask questions of a supervisor when I need to.”

In addition to on-the-job experience, volunteering as a certified income tax preparer allows Bower, an Eagle Scout, to give back to the community. “I can help someone when they need it, even if they think they don’t need it,” Bower said.

For example, he recalls a recently divorced Nashua man whom Bower helped qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. “He qualified as head of household, too, and got about $2,000 back,” Bower said. In another instance, he helped a married couple increase their refund 50 percent by changing their status from “married filing separately” to “married filing jointly.”

Accounting runs in Bower’s family. His grandfather, George Bower, Jr., was a certified public accountant (CPA), and his mother, Judy Bower, handles the finances for his father’s medical practice. Bower will begin college in September at Lakes Region Community College in Laconia, where he will study accounting. After that, he plans to transfer to a four-year school to pursue a bachelor’s degree and possibly a master’s degree in accounting. Ultimately, he would like to become a CPA like his grandfather. He is well on his way.