Partner News: December 2018

River Center announces January programs

The River Center, located in Peterborough, has a great line-up of programs starting in January: Tweens and Teens weekly parenting group with Bonnie Harris is back on January 8 from  noon to 2 p.m. Kelli Tourgee who runs our Wednesday morning playgroup will oversee another weekly playgroup for kids and their adults, “Jump, Tumble & Roll,” beginning Thursday, January 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at Monadnock Gymnastics in Suite 260, 9 Vose Farm Rd. On January 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Katrina Nugent of the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention will talk with parents and caregivers about “Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development” in children. The Jaffrey Parent-Child Playgroup will meet on Fridays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.. Call Kelli Tourgee at 603-562-7048 for more information. Call Wendy Hill (313-8660) or Carol Lunan (588-2620) for information on their monthly Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren group.
 
To RSVP or learn more about any of the activities, call 603-924-6800 or visit www.rivercenter.us/register.

SCS scheduling appointments for fuel and weatherization assistance 

Southwestern Community Services offers two services that can help people during the winter months. The fuel assistance program can offer help with heating costs, even if heat is included in your rent. The program can also assist with past-due fuel bills. Those who are eligible for fuel assistance may also be eligible for the weatherization program. Call SCS at 603-352-7512 in Keene or 603-542-9528 in Claremont to schedule an appointment to determine if your household is income-eligible for assistance.

Combat-Injured Veterans may be eligible for tax refund

Thanks to an act of Congress, more than 130,000 combat-injured veterans may receive a tax refund. The Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act, passed in 2016, allows veterans affected by a federal tax administrative error from 1991-2016, to get a refund of wrongfully-withheld taxes. Veterans have until July 2019 to file an amended return to claim the refund. The minimum amount of refund possible is $1,750; the average so far has been about $5,500. 
 
It is estimated that more than 500 eligible veterans live in New Hampshire. The Low-Income Taxpayer Project of the New Hampshire Bar Association’s Pro Bono Referral Program is working to spread the word about this tax relief, especially to homeless veterans and the agencies who assist them. The tax clinic is available to help all veterans claim the refund, so long as their household income is below 250% of the poverty line -- $62,750 for a family of four.
 
For more information, contact Barbara Heggie, staff attorney and coordinator for the tax clinic, at bheggie@nhbar.org or 603-715-3215. 

WIC services, and preventative dental care, available in Keene

Southwestern Community Services, which runs the region's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, reminds residents that WIC is the nation's most successful and cost-effective public health nutrition program. WIC provides wholesome food, nutrition education and community support for eligible women who are pregnant, new moms, infants and children up to 5 years old. The program also offers support to anyone who cares for a child, including mothers, fathers, grandparents, foster parents and guardians.
 
The Keene WIC office also has a preventative dental program supported by funding from the Monadnock United Way and others. Children and pregnant women can receive dental services from a certified dental hygienist at their regular WIC appointment. 
 
To learn more about WIC, or to apply, call 603-719-4234.  

Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center and  Monadnock Adult Care Center receive grant

Monadnock RSVP Volunteer Center and Monadnock Adult Care Center (MACC) received a $5,000 grant from the Bishop’s Charitable Assistance Fund. RSVP’s Neighbors-In-Deed program enables low-income seniors, adults with disabilities, veterans and military families to maintain their independence in their homes with the companionship and support from RSVP volunteers. MACC provides physical, social and cognitive services during the day to adults who require supervised care in a safe and comfortable setting. 
 
The Bishop’s Fund makes grants to tax-exempt organizations without regard to religious affiliation for projects that help people in New Hampshire meet their basic needs. The Fund is operated by volunteer lay men and women who serve as directors and make recommendations to the Bishop of Manchester for grants to any organization whose mission is consistent with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.  

Winchester Learning Center receives grant from NHCF  

The Winchester Learning Center recently received a $10,000 grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. This grant was awarded from the Henry L. and Patricia J. Nielsen Fund and will allow the center to provide access to services to children who are in the care of relatives. The grant will help further the center’s mission of providing quality childcare, preschool and family resources.