Makeover Ministries is a great (free) furniture and clothing resource for Manchester, NH residents and it needs volunteers!

If you have some time on a Friday between 12 PM and 3 PM and/or a Saturday between 9 AM and 12 PM to sort and organize donations and distribute items to walk-in clients, Barbara Buccino is the contact at 603-432-0924.

What: American Red Cross Blood Drive
Where: MCC, 1308 Wellington Rd, Manchester, NH 03104
When: Wednesday, February 17th from 1 PM to 6 PM

Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you who makes the choice to donate. To sign-up to be a donor, visit redcrossblood.org and enter code 4855 or call 1-800-GiveLife

All presenting donors will receive a coupon from Pats Peak for a buy 1 get 1 free lift ticket. This incentive is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

If you have any questions, or if you’d like to volunteer at the event, contact Sonciary at shonnoll@manchesterchristian.com.

UPCOMING EVENT: Counting the Homeless in Manchester, NH

If you’re interested in helping out for the Point-In-Time (PIT) Homeless Count this Wednesday from 5 - 10 AM, contact Sonciary at shonnoll@manchesterchristian.com.

Starting at 5:00 AM, we will be meeting at Family in Transitions on 122 Market St. and having a short breakfast and answering any questions. We’ll then go to designated areas throughout the city and perform the count until around 10:00 AM.

The Salvation Army on Cedar Street in Manchester, NH could use some help.

The organization serves so many of the under-resourced here in our city. They have a wonderful clothing closet - helping to keep our residents clothed, but there’s one problem. The clothing closet has an abundance of donations, but not enough volunteers willing to donate a few hours of their time to go through and sort the clothing donations.

If you’re available for a few hours a week, a few hours twice a month, or even once a month, anytime from 9 AM to 4 PM, M-F, please email Sonciary at shonnoll@manchesterchristian.com.

The Center is now looking for volunteers to assist staff with resident activities. The following are approximate days and times the YSC needs people to hang out with the residents:

1. Saturday and/or Sunday 3 PM - 5 PM: Recreation Time - Coordinating with staff to provide supervision and interaction with youth of the detained unit (youth waiting for trial) in the swimming pool and gymnasium.
2. Thursday, Friday, and/or Saturday 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Rewards Groups - Providing support to staff by providing interaction for residents who have earned the privilege to participate in special activities rather than being in lockdown.

Interested? Contact Penny Sampson or Donnie Brown at YSC at 625-5471. Penny can be reached from 8 AM - 4 PM, Mon-Fri, and Donnie can be reached 4 PM - 8 PM, Mon-Thurs.

Many in our community have become good friends with families that are new to America. To stay up-to-date with this community, we wanted to share an upcoming event in Manchester - simply to stay educated on the issues at hand.

NH Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees:
NH Reform Immigration for America Kick-Off Event
Thursday - January 14, 2010 at 5:00 PM
Saint Augustin Church on 382 Beech Street, Manchester
Please R.S.V.P. to  Eva Castillo at (603) 606-4442 or Kris Schultz at kschultz@reformimmigrationforamerica.org

For more information or to get involved, please contact Eva Castillo, NHAIR at 603-661-2873 or Kris Schultz, Reform Immigration For America at kschultz@reformimmigrationforamerica.org.

Together with the Manchester and Nashua CareNet, we will be launching the Annual Baby Bottle Benefit Fundraiser on Sunday, January 24, 2010!

If you would like to volunteer or help with the distribution or collection of the bottles, please contact Lisa Shaughnessy at lisa.shaughnessy@gmail.com

Are you good with a budget? If so, we could use your help.

We need volunteers, who are available one Wednesday evening a month from 6 PM to 7 PM. You’ll help manage the Good Sense booth at MCC while the Good Sense volunteers are assisting Food Pantry clients.

And YES! We’ll train you! If you are interested and available, please email goodsense@manchesterchristian.com.

The New Hampshire Literacy Theater performs, for audiences interested in the issues of adult literacy. The performances focus upon the problems that undereducated adults encounter in their communities, work and schools.

Each performance is developed for the interests of the specific audience and can vary in length from 1⁄2 to 11⁄2 hours. Performances are offered free of charge. Groups interested in scheduling a performance should contact: Art Ellison, 603-271-6698.

Bed bugs are making a come back! From 5 star hotels to low-cost rental units, people are struggling to understand the bug problem and what to do to make the pests go away. We can help!!

Come hear the fascinating and gory details of bed bug behavior and biology with Gary Nielsen, JP Pest Service’s Entomologist.  Learn to recognize the signs of infestation and how to avoid bringing these unwanted “guests” home.

You will learn why bed bugs are back now, how they’ve even infested places that lack beds (schools, movie theaters, office buildings, etc.) and why they are so difficult to control with pesticides.

By the end of the evening, you’ll have the information you need to win the bug battle and help others deal with this life-altering experience.

JOIN US!

WHEN:  Thursday, January 7, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 8: 00 p.m.

WHERE:  Auditorium, UNH/Manchester*
400 Commercial Street, Manchester

This event is free and open to the public.

This event is sponsored by the Manchester Bed Bug Policy Group.  For more information, contact: Maggie Fogarty at 603-224-2407, or Sarah Jane Knoy at 603-668-8250.

*UNH Manchester, UNH’s urban campus, offers liberal arts and applied majors in business, science, and technology, all with an urban focus.  UNH Manchester is UNH. Learn more at www.unhm.unh.edu.