On behalf of the Friends Program, manager of the temporary homeless shelter, we would like to recognize and commend the Concord community for its incredible support this past winter.
In particular, thanks go to Mayor Bouley for his leadership and to the City of Concord for their financial support. Special thanks also to the Diocese of Manchester, Father Richard Roberge and Christ the King Parish for the use of the former St. Peter’s Church property.
We are also grateful for the financial support from Merrimack County, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and Granite United Way and for financial and in-kind donations from a multitude of local individuals and organizations.
This was truly a community effort to address, even if for a temporary period, the vexing problem of homelessness in our own community. The effort would not have succeeded, however, without the volunteers to cover more than 800 “shifts” at the shelter, including four overnight volunteers every night. Our deepest gratitude goes to the 150 men and women who generously volunteered their time, with many covering multiple shifts.
Through this community effort more than 82 winter nights, 172 men, women, and children in need were provided safe, warm overnight shelter. The Friends Program is proud to have provided management of the homeless shelter this past winter. The community support that we witnessed for this program truly reinforce the incredible value of giving back to those less fortunate.
Jerry Madden,
executive director of
the Friends Program
Concord