A man sits down to warm his hands over a heater immediately after checking in at the cold-weather homeless shelter in Concord on Friday night, March 31, 2017. Guests came in from the snow only to head back out into the snow Saturday morning, as the shelter closed for the season. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff)
A man sits down to warm his hands over a heater immediately after checking in at the cold-weather homeless shelter in Concord on Friday night, March 31, 2017. Guests came in from the snow only to head back out into the snow Saturday morning, as the shelter closed for the season. (ELIZABETH FRANTZ / Monitor staff) Credit: Elizabeth Frantz

Once again, Concord is proving what an amazing, caring community it is.

Because this community cares so much about those most in need, the Safe Spaces campaign of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness has passed the halfway point toward our private donations fundraising goal of $528,000. The largest single donation is a $50,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Concord.

The campaign’s goal is to raise sufficient money to purchase the building our office now occupies, build a permanent space for a winter shelter (perfectly placed between downtown services and the Friendly Kitchen), and support our Homeless Resource Center and Housing First program.

This community has proven, again and again, how much it cares about people having a safe place during our harsh winters. Two churches ran shelters for more than 10 years, and the Friends Program, St. Peter’s Church and Mayor James Bouley have filled the gap for the past two. Every year, hundreds of ordinary folks volunteer to keep those shelters open every night for more than 100 nights. That’s extraordinary, and shows what a caring community we have.

The business community is a very strong partner in this effort. Our business leaders understand the importance of serving those most in need so we maintain a vibrant community. Of the needed $431,000 New Hampshire tax credit portion of our funding, we are $187,000 along. Our pledged partners so far are: The Rowley Insurance Agency, Foothills Physical Therapy, Merrimack County Savings Bank, Grappone Automotive Group, Full Circle Consulting, Hodges Development Corporation, White Mountain Gourmet Coffee and Louis Karno & Company.

It’s a little overwhelming, and humbling, to have the support of so many businesses and individuals in moving Concord toward a permanent winter shelter, as well as a single location at which CCEH can offer services and resources to those experiencing homelessness. We pledge that every single dollar donated will help them move forward with their lives in a positive manner. Please consider making a pledge to our campaign, and thank you.

We have a beautiful community, and it’s because of people like you.

(Ellen Fries serves on the board of directors for the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness,)