If you spend any time during the holiday season at Lakes Region Community Services’ Family Resource Center of Central N.H. in downtown Laconia it is easy to notice that something wonderful and almost a little magical is happening there.
So many supporters – businesses, residents, churches, volunteers, community partners, LRCS staff, etc., go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of local children and families in need by coming together to give them a warm, wonderful, and plentiful holiday.
The annual Family Fun Night, held Dec. 10, provided children their own personal shopping elf to guide them in choosing gifts for their family members at a ‘penny’ sale full of presents for all ages, before handing them off to wrapping and tagging elves that completed the job of getting gifts ready for the children to bring home. The event, which takes weeks to organize and grows every year, was attended by 165 children and 150 adults.
“So much goes into planning Family Fun Night but in the end it is always worth it,” said Family Resource Center Director Erin Pettengill. “This event succeeds every year thanks to a dedicated army of volunteers and very generous donations from businesses and others in the community. We would not be able to do this without them.”
Families also enjoyed a sing-along with professional musician Don Bergeron and visits with Santa and his helpers. Since it’s hard to have so much fun on an empty stomach, everyone enjoyed a meal together courtesy of Fratello’s in Laconia.
The LRCS Giving Tree also provided presents to more than 200 area children this year. AFL Noyes in Belmont was a major supporter of the Giving Tree. And every child who received presents were also given a brand new pair of pajamas donated by Service Master Restore, as well as hats and mittens courtesy of Merrimack Valley Savings Bank.
A big thank you goes out to the Laconia Rotary Club, South Down Lawn and Garden Club, Stella Hair Boutique of Plymouth, Wood & Clay of Gilford, Mountain View Church of Sanbornton, Melcher & Prescott Insurance, Celebrate Laconia and LRCS Board members and staff for all their generosity this holiday season.
LRCS is known as a family-centered agency dedicated to providing supports to individuals with developmental disabilities or acquired brain disorders and their families. For hundreds of families living in the Lakes Region, the Family Resource Center of Central New Hampshire, a program of LRCS, offers respectful, non-judgmental education, early intervention, and support to assist families in their efforts to meet needs, make positive connections and prepare children for success today and tomorrow. The Family Resource Center believes strong families lead to strong communities. LRCS has offices in Laconia and Plymouth which combine to serve families residing throughout Belknap and Southern Grafton Counties. To learn more about LRCS, contact Joanne Piper Lang at 524-8811.
Joanne Piper Lang,
vice president of development,
Lakes Region Community Services