Things are constantly changing in the Nashua area – for the better and for the worse. Some of the positive changes are brought about by people who are trying to purposefully improve things for our community in the areas of food security, literacy, domestic violence support, housing, youth homelessness, mental health, refugee support, substance abuse, and many others.

The web portal, Volunteer Greater Nashua, connects those who want to help with the agencies who need volunteers for both specific purposes as well as to help solve some broader problems. Volunteer Greater Nashua, co-sponsored by The Telegraph and United Way of Greater Nashua, is an excellent place for people who want to help to find an organization to collaborate with. Volunteer opportunities can be found by searching by zip code, interest area, and more. We’ve included several new listings featured on the site in this article. You can always find more on Volunteer Greater Nashua at http://www.volunteergreaternashua.org.

Arlington Street

Community Center

Located at 36 Arlington St. in Nashua, next to Dr. Norman W. Crisp School, the Arlington Street Community Center officially opened on Oct. 28, 2017. The mission of the Arlington Street Community Center is to develop links between schools, parents, business leaders, and the community-at-large through a community space where services are available to assist with the needs of every student and family.

The Skill Building Program at the Arlington Street Community Center is looking for new volunteers. Individuals will be working with elementary students in grades K-3 who need additional assistance in reading, writing, and math. Skill Building runs every Monday and Thursday from 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM. Experience working with younger students in an educational setting is preferred, but not required.

For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “Arlington Street Community Center.”

Southern New Hampshire Medical Center Volunteer Services and Auxiliary

This year, the Auxiliary at Southern NH Medical Center, which provides volunteer services and offers financial support to the hospital, is celebrating 100 years of service. Over the years, the Auxiliary has donated over $1 million to the Medical Center for the special needs of their patients and their families. Proceeds are primarily generated by the Auxiliary’s Coffee Shop and Gift Shop, dues, and memorial donations. Through these efforts in 2019, the Auxiliary was able to raise close to $100,000, providing medical equipment to better serve the hospital’s patients, meals for patients receiving chemotherapy, employee and teen volunteer scholarships to further their education, and stuffed animals for children undergoing surgery.

Many of these efforts would not be possible if not for the many caring volunteers who donate their time and serve as the liaison to the Auxiliary.

The Medical Center currently has over 300 volunteers who donate more than 35,000 hours a year in 35 different departments. Their volunteers are men and women of all ages and backgrounds-students, retirees, former patients, and caring people who just want to give back. They look for the right assignment and the right department for all volunteers. A few of the volunteer choices are Coffee or Gift Shop, guest services, office work, data entry, or messenger.

For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.”

Greater Nashua Habitat

for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

They are looking for a volunteer administrative assistant to be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9am to 3pm to help with answering phones, managing office email, dropping off and picking up mail at the post office, database management and data entry, and helping the Executive Director and Finance Office with daily tasks.

For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity.”

City Arts Nashua

City Arts Nashua is a volunteer arts services organization with IRS non-profit designation. Their mission is to enrich the quality of life of Nashua residents by providing leadership to support and strengthen arts and culture. They work to expand and provide visibility for greater Nashua’s artistic and cultural community. They promote, advocate, network, produce events and projects, fundraise, and provide fiscal sponsorships to arts organizations. They work closely with the Nashua Arts Commission, with individual artists and groups, community organizations, business, government and with State and national arts organizations.

Their Meri Goyette Luncheon will take place on April 19, at 11 am at Sky Meadow Country Club.

They are looking for help with planning, as well as help on the day of the event. Volunteers will help with decorations, entertainment, mailings, and more. On April 19, they will need help starting at 9 am and will likely continue to need help until 4pm. Volunteers are needed to assist in event set-up, as auction runners, and to help clean up after the event ends. Prior to the event, they need help planning, soliciting donations, marketing, and with decorations.

For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “City Arts Nashua.”

Save the Date – United Way of Greater Nashua will be hosting a Volunteer Fair at the Nashua Senior Activity Center on Wednesday, March 25th from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Many nonprofits from around the region will be on hand to talk about how you can pitch in. Contact Sara Ceaser at sceaser@unitedwaynashua.org or 603-864-0201 with questions.

Sara Ceaser is the director of volunteer and community engagement for United Way of Greater Nashua.

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