KNP Korner – March 2024

To volunteer email info@KNPnh.org

Press release
Mollay Jallah, Hardy Hasenfuss, Janet Miller Haines, and Patsy Steverson have a blast on the KNP spelling team.  Photo: Nancy Allenby

Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners (KNP)

January’s Konnect Kearsarge symposium of local organizations took a deep dive into the wide-ranging impacts of loneliness and isolation for folks of all ages in our area. The conference led to some creative pilot programs that arrange transport of adults to social functions and outdoor activities, and children to after-school programs. If you are interested in joining one of these pilots, or in obtaining more information about the programs as either a driver or a participant, please email KNP at info@nullKNPnh.org.

New Hampshire Housing has approved the funding for New London’s 60 units of workforce housing, conditioned on several requirements which Twin Pines expects to be able to meet over the coming months. With this critical piece of financing in hand, they will be working with their engineers and other team members to confirm the availability of water for the project. Assuming they have the necessary water, they will work towards starting construction this coming summer, keeping us posted on their progress at each stage. It has been a long road to get to this point, and they want to thank all of you who have supported them through the process.

Caring KNP volunteers went out of their way to send “we’re thinking of you” greetings to neighbors throughout the region who recently received volunteer services. Volunteers mailed lovely Valentine cards to each neighbor, often hand-crafted, and sometimes with a little treat inside.

Planning for the 5th annual Tray it Forward vegetable seedling distribution program began Tuesday, January 30, and will meet every other Tuesday morning at 9 AM to attend to all the details of this great community gardening project. If you would like to be part of the team that organizes Tray it Forward, please email KNP at info@nullKNPnh.org.

KNP entered a talented 4-person team in the Adult Spelling Bee at Whipple Hall in New London on February 3. The event was part of New London’s Winter Carnival, co-sponsored by (and benefiting) the New London Recreation Department and the New London Rotary Club. KNP challenged twelve other teams representing area organizations in a lively night of grown-up entertainment. Spellers and audience alike had a wonderful evening of fun!

All donors are special, and we’re extremely grateful for what donations allow KNP to do! Thanks to those who contributed in memory of local resident and cheerleader of all things KNP, Dick Dutton, at the request of his family. Dick was committed to building community and was an inspiration to all who knew him. In addition, we thank the Kearsarge Middle Schoolers who chose KNP as a recipient of their recent “Penny Wars” in which each grade “battled” to collect the most pocket change.

“Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners (KNP) is a non-profit dedicated to building a community where neighbors help each other flourish. We collaborate with over 40 community partners serving ten towns in the Kearsarge region, matching the needs of neighbors with committed volunteers who can help in short-term or longer-term situations.”