Community Investments
MUW invests YOUR donated dollars in over 30 programs and community-building initiatives across the region creating opportunities for children, education, and financial stability in each community in the Monadnock Region.
United, we create a strong and vibrant Monadnock Region where:
- Children live in safe, nurturing, healthy homes and communities
- Community members receive an education that enables them to achieve their full potential
- Community members have the financial resources they need to live healthy, happy, and productive lives
Community Investments - Children, Education, and Financial Stability
In 2024, MUW will invest over $1.659 million donated and grant-funded dollars in collective impact initiatives and individual programs aimed at solving the issues outlined in our strategic frameworks for Children, Education, and Financial Stability.
CHILDREN |
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Funded Partner Programs |
Grant Funded |
Community Building Initiatives |
Monadnock Region Afterschool Collective* |
Early Childhood Region 1 Coalition |
Impact Monadnock Business Ambassadors* |
Monadnock Alliance for Families* |
StartSmart* |
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Southwestern Community Services Dental Program* |
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Community Awareness Building |
Pyramid Model* |
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EDUCATION |
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Funded Partner Programs |
Grant Funded |
Community Building Initiatives |
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Education Pathways for Early Childhood Teachers*** |
Advocacy |
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Early Childhood Supports in Rural NH Libraries** |
Community Awareness Building |
FINANCIAL STABILITY |
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Funded Partner Programs |
Grant Funded |
Community Building Initiatives |
Cheshire County Emergency Housing Collaborative |
Emergency Food and Shelter Program |
211 |
Monadnock Food Pantries Collective |
My Free Taxes |
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5 Childcare Centers Tuition Scholarship Programs* |
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SingleCare |
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Advocacy for Child Tax Credit |
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Monadnock Resource Alliance |
* Impact Monadnock (IM)
** Early Childhood Region 1 (ECR1)
*** Childcare Expansion Grant (CCE)
This program is funded through the U.S. Department of Education Congressionally Funded Community Projects with Keene State College and MUW.
CHILDREN
Funded Partner Programs
Monadnock Region Afterschool Collective
- Served 1,179 youth in 12 towns in 2023
- 91% of regular afterschool program attendees reported feeling safe, supported and a sense of belonging
- 746 (92%) of parents reported having a child enrolled in the program has improved the family's financial stability
The Collective includes the following programs:
- 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)
- Hillsboro-Deering Before and Afterschool Program
- Beyond the Bell (at Mt. Caesar, Cutler School, and Monadnock Middle School in Swanzey, Troy Elementary, and Emerson Elementary in Fitzwilliam)
Monadnock Alliance for Families (Impact Monadnock)
- Served 1,996 children and families in 36 towns in 2023
- 857 families received home visiting services
- 474 families (55%) were new clients in 2023
The Collective includes the following organizations:
- Rise for baby and family
- Monadnock Family Services
- The River Center
- The Grapevine
- Healthy Starts - Home Healthcare, Hospice, and Community Services
SCS Dental Program (Head Start)
- 80 children in 13 towns received dental screenings in 2023
- Expanded services to include fluoride treatments and full preventative care to children without a dentist
- Partnered with Cheshire Smiles to manage dental services
Grant Funded Programs
Pyramid Model (Childcare Expansion Grant )
- Currently in place at 7 centers in the Monadnock Region
- Keene Day Care Center
- The Children's Learning Center (TCLC) at Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock (CMC/DH)
- CDC at Keene State College (KSC) Child Development Center
- Rise for baby and family
- Keene Family YMCA
- Walpole Village School
- Home Away from Home in Walpole
Early Childhood Region 1 Coalition
Mini-Grants for Family Childcare Providers (ECR1 Grant)
- Region 1 supported 16 family child care centers with grants to help increase their number of infant and toddler slots
- Family childcare centers were able to create an additional 24 infant and 44 toddler slots in the region
Community Building Initiatives
Impact Monadnock Business Ambassadors
StartSmart: Birth Gifts with a Purpose (Impact Monadnock)
A project of the Impact Monadnock Business Ambassadors, the StartSmart: Birth Gifts with a Purpose program offers individuals the opportunity to welcome a new baby with a gift that can help that child's brain development AND also contributes to the enrollment of a local, at-risk child in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This means more books for local kids! Since 2018, over 100 birth gifts have been purchased providing new babies and parents a Smart Start for the future.
Hinsdale ACERT (Impact Monadnock)
- Helped to secure funding to launch an ACERT program in Hinsdale
Advocacy for Childcare
EDUCATION
Grant Funded Programs
Childcare Expansion Educational Pathways for Teachers (CCE Grant)
Professional Development for Early Childhood Professionals (ECR1)
- 22 targeted training sessions offered in the first half of 2023
- Topics ranged from Toilet Training, Feeding Children, Trauma, Pyramid Model, Nature-Based Playgroups, Sleep, and Infant Toddler Best Practices.
- 93 individuals within the region benefited
Building Early Childhood Supports in Rural NH Libraries** (ECR 1)
- Utilizing a mix of face-to-face and virtual resources, this project focuses on enhancing access to resources related to healthy child development.
Community Building Initiatives
Advocacy
Community Awareness Building
FINANCIAL STABILITY
Funded Partner Programs
Monadnock Food Pantries Collective
- Served 23 towns and 2,854 people in 2023
- 2,000 clients received information regarding other available resources for individuals and families
- The Collective continues to develop a robust food-sharing system
The Collective includes the following pantries:
- The Community Kitchen (Keene)
- Joan’s Pantry (Chesterfield)
- The Federated Church Food Pantry (Marlborough)
- Helping Hands of Troy
- Jaffrey Food Pantry
- Kidz Cupboard (Marlborough)
- Rindge Food Pantry
- St Vincent de Paul Society
Cheshire County Emergency Housing Collaborative
- Served 412 people in 16 towns in 2023
- Provided 31,236 bed-nights to 412 neighbors facing a housing crisis
- 58% of clients participated in self-improvement and educational opportunities
The Collaborative includes the following organizations:
- Southwestern Community Services
- Hundred Nights
- Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention
Quality Child Care Centers
- Served 249 children in 30 towns in 2023
- Provided tuition assistance to families in need
- Expanded training opportunities for staff
Childcare Centers include:
- Keene Day Care Center, Inc
- Monadnock Community Early Learning Center
- Hillsboro Child Development Center (SNHS)
- Walpole Village School
- Winchester Learning Center
Monadnock Resource Alliance
- Over 50 businesses, developers, municipalities, environmentalists, and nonprofits convened in October to launch the Monadnock Resource Alliance Housing Collaborative; aimed at taking coordinated action to solve our region’s housing crisis.
Grant Funded Programs
Emergency Food and Shelter Program
The Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) was created on March 24, 1983, under the "Jobs Stimulus Bill," Public Law 98-8. A National Board, chaired by FEMA, oversees the program with representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, and United Way Worldwide. MUW in Cheshire County links EFSP and local food and shelter programs, overseeing fund allocation determined by the National Board.
Community Building Initiatives
211
211NH call and referral data in 2023 for the Monadnock Region
- 3,444 calls
- 6,614 referrals for services including:
- Homelessness
- SUD & Doorway
- Tax Prep Assistance
- Housing
- Utilities
- Legal Services
- Public Assistance
- Food
- Health Support Services
- Mental Health
My Free Taxes
- 23 individual households received $22,088 in refunds through IRS filings with MyFreeTaxes.
SingleCare Prescription Drug Savings Program
- 903 Cheshire County residents saved $159,381 using SingleCare for prescription drugs in 2023