United Together…We invest in children, education, and financial stability
Better Together…Understanding Today’s Realities
Too many people in our region are silently suffering. We may not see or experience the extent of their pain and stress. But it exists. Hardship hides behind closed doors. It lives in neighborhoods we know well and those we never walk through. It dwells in every corner of our community, near and far.
Consider this. Prior to Covid-19:
- We had the third highest rate of child abuse and neglect in the state
- Our children scored lower than the rest of the state in English and math
- One quarter of our residents were low-income. The rest of NH the rate is 1 in 5
These statistics are likely to get worse in the months to come.
When our neighbors cannot work, earn enough money, afford to buy enough food or keep a roof over their heads, hardships grow and multiply. This creates toxic stress that affects entire families and communities. And a downward cycle continues.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Our region has proven time and again that we are Better Together.
2021 Funded Programs
Better Together… Stronger Together
Our region is known for collaboration and MUW is proud of these four partnerships representing 22 programs throughout the Monadnock Region. By combining resources, these programs thrive. Working closer together than ever before, they help more people, more effectively with vital services.
Monadnock Food Pantries Collective: $73,625
Seven highly local pantries are sharing funds, resources and buying power at the wholesale level to provide healthy foods and fresh produce to people across the region.
- The Community Kitchen (Keene)
- Gert’s Pantry (Swanzey)
- Joan’s Pantry (Chesterfield)
- The Federated Church Food Pantry (Marlborough)
- Helping Hands of Troy
- Jaffrey Food Pantry
- Kidz Cupboard (Marlborough)
Cheshire County Emergency Housing Collaborative $72,675
Three programs have joined forces to move individuals from homelessness into stable housing, providing emergency shelter, classes, and case management.
- Southwestern Community Services
- Hundred Nights
- Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention
Monadnock Alliance for Families $213,000
With five agencies serving all corners of our region, families receive the services they need, when they need them. Home visits, parenting classes and a variety of family-focused resources support all families in their parenting journey.
- Rise for baby and family
- Monadnock Family Services
- The River Center
- The Grapevine
- Home Healthcare, Hospice and Community Services
Monadnock Region Afterschool Collective $142,500
With seven after-school programs in 13 locations across our region, children receive quality programming in safe environments. Academic enrichment, physical fitness, nutritional and life skill programming provides the building blocks for success in life.
- ACCESS Winchester Afterschool Program
- Hinsdale Afterschool Program
- Keene Family YMCA School's Out Program (plus Chesterfield site)
- Project Keep (at Symonds, Fuller, and Franklin Schools in Keene)
- Project Edventure Marlborough Afterschool
- ACES 93, Afterschool Program (at Mt. Caesar and Cutler Schools in Swanzey, Troy Elementary, and Emerson Elementary in Fitzwilliam)
- Hillsboro-Deering Before and Afterschool
Better Together… Preparing Children for Success
These individual programs ensure that our youngest children and their families receive services and training throughout their life journey as well as having a strong voice in their future.
SCS Dental Program $14,250.
At Southwestern Community Services, preventative dental services are provided to young children and pregnant women through WIC-the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Keene Day Care Center, Inc $28,500
The Center provides access to quality early care and education through tuition assistance to children from low- and moderate-income families who otherwise would not be able to attend.
Monadnock Community Early Learning Center $28,500
The Center provides quality learning experiences and childcare to children of working families in the Monadnock Region. The funds will allow the center to offer tuition assistance to families who need it.
Southern NH Services – SNHS $14,250
Hillsboro Child Development Center, a nonprofit licensed childcare center, uses funds for childcare tuition assistance.
Walpole Village School $4,750
The school helps provide quality, early childhood education to all children in its service area.
Winchester Learning Center $28,500
WLC provides tuition assistance to children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. The center provides childcare, preschool and family resources to children and families.
Early Learning NH $13,650
This advocacy organization raises awareness about the importance of the early years; championing effective early learning policy; and building public-private partnerships that promote innovation and investment to strengthen early learning in our state.
Better Together… Lifting Up Our Community
MUW provides a voice to those without one and connects people to the resources to change their lives.
MUW Community Building $227,000
In addition to the multi-year grants noted above, MUW provides coalition building, offers training and tools for human service agencies, advocates for policy change, engages volunteer groups, and promotes the value of health and human service programs to ensure that our community remains vibrant now and in the future. Community building investments include:
Impact Monadnock: Preschool Development Project
A coalition of cross-sector programs aimed at improving quality of life for young children and their families through improved communication, shared resources and collaborative projects.
Impact Monadnock: Pyramid Model Project
Pyramid Model’s behavior intervention methods help teachers, caregivers, and other professionals who work with children and their families build nurturing skills, create positive learning environments, and support children with challenging behavior.
- Currently in place at 3 childcare centers in the Monadnock Region:
- Keene Day Care Center (KDCC), The Children's Learning Center (TCLC) at Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock (CMC/DH), and the Child Development Center (CDC) at Keene State College (KSC)
- Received an additional $11,000+ grant from Healthy Monadnock to continue expansion of this program
Impact Monadnock Business Ambassadors
Over 20 local businesses promote child- and family-friendly practices in the workplace, including Babies at Work and StartSmart Birth gifts that support early childhood brain development and recognize new parents in their workplace.
2-1-1 – $11,500
As the state’s 24-hour social services hotline, 211 connects individuals with critical services. It is also the hotline for Covid-19 and The Doorway for substance misuse. 211 is managed by Granite United Way and funded, in part, by all five United Ways in NH.
Direct Designations $87,000
In addition to the allocated amounts, MUW accepts designations to any 501c3 nonprofit. Gifts of this type average $75,000 in total per year.