NH Gives Fundraising & Unselfie Challenge

NH Gives is almost here and we are super excited! Last year we raised over $16,000 for our scholarship fund during NH Gives and we hope to do the same this year. In order to be as successful as last year, we need your help!

Here are some easy ways that you can help:

• Sign up to be a fundraising champion. Go to our NH Gives profile, click the "Fundraise" button, and follow the prompts to set up your fundraising profile. First fundraising champion to raise $1,000 wins a Friends of Mascoma t-shirt!
• Participate in the unselfie challenge on Facebook. Download the PDF sign, print it and write why you are supporting Friends of Mascoma, and post it to our Facebook page with the hashtags #unselfie #nhgives and #friendsofmascoma.
• Ask five of your friends and family members to donate $5 to Friends of Mascoma.
• Tell everyone you know about NH Gives and the great local nonprofits who are participating.

Want more information? Email info@friendsofmascoma.org. Thank you in advance for your support!

Snacks for Schools Drive Collects 286 Pounds!

Many thanks to Twin State (NH/VT) Positivity Club and Volunteer Flash Mob for organizing the Snack for Schools Food Drive. The Drive brought in a wide variety of single-serving, non-perishable snacks in all shapes, sizes, and forms and even utensils. We also received much appreciated monetary donations and reusable bags.

Thank you to Jessica Bishop Grace, Tim Lenihan, Amity Alize, Bridget Labrie, Canaan Hardware, Canaan House of Pizza, Community Lutheran Church, Enfield House of Pizza, Family Pharmacy, Raq on Dance and everyone who contributed, shared news about our drive, and transported items and organized. Special thanks Lana Evans for keeping tally for us throughout the month!

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Teachers and staff offer these snacks to fuel our young learners in all four schools throughout the day so they may focus on their studies. While this Drive is over, snacks and other donations are always needed and appreciated any time of the year. We are sharing a list of ideas for single-serving snacks in case you are looking for inspiration. Snacks of all sizes are welcomed; the single-serving ones are geared for easy distribution and often sent to the schools.

Interested in hosting a Food Drive through your organization or for a special occasion like a birthday? E-mail us at food@friendsofmascoma.org

Seasons of Growth Tapestry Hanging & Student Art Display

April 5th was a blustery and cold day, but that did not discourage a good crowd from attending the Seasons of Growth tapestry hanging and student art display! Becky Powell, Chris Morse, and Dave Shinnlinger shared details on how they worked with the students to help the tapestry come to life: from building the loom, to creating the artwork that inspired the design, to weaving. It was truly a community project and we thank everyone who helped along the way. To see more photos please visit us on Facebook.

Mini-Grant & Scholarship Deadlines - April 30th & May 1st

The mini-grant and scholarship application deadlines are HERE. Please remind district employees to apply for mini-grants by April 30th and Mascoma High School senior(s) to apply for scholarships by May 1st. The links to more information and the applications are:

• Mini-Grant: http://friendsofmascoma.org/mini-grants/
• Scholarship: http://friendsofmascoma.org/scholarship/

NH Gives to Benefit the Scholarship Fund

Friends of Mascoma Foundation and other local nonprofits are participating in NH Gives again this year. NH Gives is a 24-hour period from June 6th to June 7th were nonprofits are celebrated. This is our third year participating in this great event.

We are raising money for our scholarship fund again this year and need your help! If you would like to help hang posters, set up a personal fundraising page, or donate a prize to encourage donors please email Holly West at hspwest@friendsofmascoma.org.

Coming to the Mascoma Valley!! June 2, 2018

The New Hampshire Food Bank

will be bringing their awesome Mobile Food Pantry to our Friends Feeding Friends food  insecurity program on a Saturday morning, June 2.  We will keep you posted on exact time and location!  This incredible opportunity has the capacity to give a food boost to approximately 200 families.  

2017 Annual Report

At long last, our 2017 annual report is ready! Want a paper copy? Shoot us an email at info@friendsofmascoma.org to request one. Thank you for your continued support!

Save the Date for NH Gives

Friends of Mascoma Foundation and other local nonprofits are participating in NH Gives again this year. NH Gives is a 24-hour period from June 6th to June 7th were nonprofits are celebrated. Please stay tuned for details from us and other local nonprofits!

Attention Garden Lovers!

Spring is finally here and we are making garden plans! If you are interested in volunteering to help plant and care for gardens at EVS, MVRHS, or the Canaan food pantry please email us at info@friendsofmascoma.org.

Friends of Mascoma Foundation Scholarship & Mini-Grant Deadline

The scholarship and mini-grant application deadlines are rapidly approaching. Please remind the Mascoma High School senior(s) in your life to apply for scholarships by May 1st and district employees to apply for mini-grants by April 30th.

The links to more information and the applications are:

• Scholarship: http://friendsofmascoma.org/scholarship/
• Mini-Grant: http://friendsofmascoma.org/mini-grants/

Seasons of Growth Tapestry Hanging Celebration & Student Art Show

Please join us for a tapestry hanging celebration and art show at the Media Center in MVRHS. Festivities will take place on Thursday, April 5th at 6:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Snacks for Schools Food Drive presented by Twin State Positivity

We are thankful to Twin State (NH/VT) Positivity Club and Volunteer Flash Mob for organizing the Snack for Schools Food Drive. This group is made up of positive community members from a number of local organizations who band together to do good works of all types and size. Past projects have included assembling baskets for David's House, supporting Silent Warriors, and delivering treats to highway department workers.

There are three great ways to join in the snack drive:

Click here to access full size PDF Poster & Suggested Snack List for printing.

1. Donate single serving snack items at any of the following locations: Canaan Hardware, Community Lutheran Church, Enfield House of Pizza, Family Pharmacy. DHMC Employees may contact Bridget Labrie through internal email to arrange drop-off in the Borwell Building location.
2. Volunteer your local business or organization to host a collection box (easy printable materials are linked below). Email Kate Plumley Stewart to let her know the name and location of your collection and to arrange pick-up.
3. Host a Snack for Schools Drive in your office and be a champion in the fight against food insecurity.

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Hannaford West Lebanon Chooses FOM as Hannaford Helps Recipient During the Month of March

Great news! Friends of Mascoma Foundation's Friends Feeding Friends program has been chosen again for the Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program. For this round, please visit the West Lebanon Hannaford during the month of March, purchase either bag pictured below, and Friends Feeding Friends will receive $1.00 per bag.

We are thankful for Hannaford's ongoing support both through programming and product donations to our pantries.

Friends Feeding Friends Food Insecurity Program Celebrates Year 2

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Friends Feeding Friends 2nd Anniversary Celebration and Open House!

Kat McDermott, our first FOM Intern, introduced Carol Cusick, our Treasurer and Food Pantry Champion, who explained what it takes to run the pantries and recognized our many awesome volunteers and contributors. Visitors got to see firsthand the latest surprise haul from the New Hampshire Food Bank along with standard items we pick up. Willing Hands, the Enfield Mascoma Lions Club, Enfield Fire Department, and MTD's Property Maintenance were all represented and recognized for their valuable contributions. We celebrated after the remarks with a delicious and beautifully lettered cake donated by Carolyn Neville-Freese of Duck Soup Catering.

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunt participants went home with FOM Euro Car stickers. Kat did the honor of drawing the winner of the T-Shirt from a Hannaford West Lebanon Fight Hunger bag - the winner is Sue Jukosky!

Some of the questions and hints scattered throughout the pantry included:

• How many pounds can "Forkie" the fork life handle? 2200 lb.
• What local company sent us 4 employees to volunteer as part of their community service program? Hypertherm
• How many turkeys did we supply to our community this year? 135
• How many refrigeration/freezer units do we have at the Canaan Food Pantry? 8
• Did you know Friends Feeding Friends received approximately 131,685 pounds of food for distribution in 2017?
  • NH Food Bank 117,014 lb.
  • Willing Hands 4,671 lb.
  • USDA 10,000 lb. approx.

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See additional photos on Facebook [here] and [here].

Learn more about Friends Feeding Friends on our website.

#community #fighthunger #friendsfeedingfriends #friendsofmascoma #FOM

Earn 2 Free Meals for our Partners at the NH Food Bank

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Who do we love? YOU Mascoma!! We also love our partners at the New Hampshire Food Bank and we’d like your assistance to do a little something to help them out. It’s as easy as using your mobile phone (text rates apply if they aren’t free on your phone, but otherwise this is completely free too!)

1. Text MEALS to 35350.
2. When you receive the zip code prompt Text back 03109 (the Food Bank’s zip code in Manchester, NH).

General Mills will give 2 meals to our friends at the NH Food Bank. It’s that easy and simple to say THANK YOU and help us give back!

#bettertogether #community #fightfoodinsecurity

Mark Your Calendar for NH Gives June 6-7, 2018, 6 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Last year, in one 24 hour #NHGives fundraising session, Friends of Mascoma members raised $17,000 toward Scholarships to be awarded to graduating Mascoma students. That's just over $11.40 each minute!

How did we do it? We didn't, YOU DID and we need your help again this year. Without giving away all of our strategy (this is, after all, a competition), we want you to mark your calendars and watch for updates so we can work some #MascomaMagic again together. When we say the word, we want you to break out your devices, share, like, and chip in a few dollars to help us raise funds and win each category like we did last year!

FOM 2017 Scholarship Recipients

This is a photo of the students from the Class of 2017 who were awarded scholarships from us during Mascoma Senior Award's Night. These students are going on to do great things in the next chapter of their lives. We are very proud of everything they have already accomplished and eagerly await news of their future successes!

Please join us for #nhgives as we replenish our scholarship fund for future graduates. There is plenty of fun to be had two as FOM members of all ages share the spirit of micro-philanthropy and love for our school community.

Board Member Liz Murray showing her #NHGives spirit in 2017

Learning to give starts at a young age.

Mini-Grant Applications are Due April 30th

Any member of the Mascoma Valley Regional School District’s instructional or professional staff (i.e., teachers, counselors, librarians, paraprofessionals, or nurses) is eligible to apply for a mini-grant through FOM. Mini-grants support, encourage, and facilitate great teaching ideas that would not be possible within the existing school budget.

If you know someone with an exciting idea for a project that works for the MVRSD please send them the following link and let them know the next deadline is April 30th: http://friendsofmascoma.org/mini-grants/!

Scholarship Applications are Due May 1st

Are you graduating from Mascoma this year or do you know someone who is? Our scholarship application deadline is May 1st. For more information and to apply please visit http://friendsofmascoma.org/scholarship/.

Come and Join us! Thursday, February 15! 6:00-8:00 PM

Ever wondered what the inner workings of the Friends Feeding Friends Food pantries looks like? 

Curious about joining our amazing team of volunteers?

Wondering what type of resources we have to offer our community?

Please JOIN US for a casual evening of community conversation and see our food insecurity efforts to help our Mascoma Valley. TOUR our Canaan Food Pantry, ASK your questions., CELEBRATE volunteers, and LEARN MORE about what you can do to help access our resources or contribute.  

Treats and punch will be served throughout the evening and tours will be given regularly. Our first MVRHS intern, Kat, will offer a brief welcome and introductions at about 6:15 followed by CAKE CUTTING. 

Call for Garden Volunteers

Calling all gardeners! Do you have 1-2 hours a week for volunteering in a garden? Friends of Mascoma is looking for volunteers to help plant and tend small raised garden beds at EVS and MVRHS this spring and summer. Vegetables and herbs grown in the gardens will be enjoyed by students and families in our school district. Promoting gardening is another way we are working to reduce food insecurity in our district. If you are interested in volunteering please email hspwest@friendsofmascoma.org.

Have you been curious about the gardens at Enfield Shaker Museum? If so, this is another opportunity to be a volunteer gardener. For the 2018 season, the Enfield Shaker Museum is looking for volunteers for both its Village and Children’s Garden programs. These programs run from May through October. Village Gardeners help maintain and harvest the Museum’s herb gardens and production beds. The Children’s Garden program gives a chance for local youth groups to learn the basics of organic gardening from experienced volunteers.  If you are interested in either of these programs or would like more information, please contact the Museum at (603) 632-4346 or email education@shakermuseum.org.