NEW LONDON — One recipient said, “KNP always takes such good care of the people!”
“Kearsarge Neighborhood Partners (KNP) is a nonprofit dedicated to building a community where neighbors help each other flourish. We collaborate with over 40 community partners serving 10 towns in the Kearsarge region, matching the needs of neighbors with committed volunteers who can help in short-term or longer-term situations.”
Almost 70 dozen cookies were delivered on December 7 to neighbors’ homes throughout the 10 towns in KNP’s service territory, along with KNP greeting cards, pens, and brochures. Thanks to all who baked, signed and mailed cards, and delivered bags of cookies. You made folks smile and let them know that they are remembered during the holiday season.
Sweet Beet Market has another supply of cordwood, which neighbors in the Bradford area can take to obtain emergency heat. Thanks to the volunteers who spent two frosty mornings last week loading trucks and trailers at the woodpile and stacking the wood at Sweet Beet. AND thanks to Sweet Beet for partnering with us on this important collaboration!
KNP volunteers made us aware that low- to middle-income households can have their federal and state tax returns prepared for free through the AARP Tax-Aide program. For more information, please call 802 359-7480, after January 15, or email.
KNP’s community partner, Marshall’s Garage, supports Kars for Kearsarge by providing cars and repairs. Like many auto shops, Marshall’s uses Express by Facepay as an automated customer checkout method. Marshall’s nominated KNP for Express’s charity donation giveaway, and we won! Many thanks to Marshall’s Garage — both for nominating us, and for going above and beyond to support our community through Kars for Kearsarge!
KNP has a new “Seedlings” fund, which is a mini-grant process offering funding to projects that improve connections within the 10 KNP towns. Many projects are replicable, and their impact can be multiplied, thereby nurturing a “seedling” of an idea that can grow over time, and in different places. Here’s what has been funded thus far:
Drivers Education scholarships will allow six students to receive their driving permits so that they can get themselves to school and work. In return, they will each contribute 20 hours of volunteer service in an area of their interest with an adult mentor.
Yoga Classes at Kearsarge High School provide students a way to settle their minds and bodies during the school day.
Ten students had senior photos taken and we’re thrilled that they will now be included in their yearbooks. A classroom teacher received a stipend for taking the students’ photos and he did a fantastic job!
A KNP donation to the Cougar Cupboard will help children who live with food insecurity by providing food items that will go home from the Sutton Elementary School on weekends, holidays, and vacations. If you are interested in further supporting the effort, please reach out to the Sutton Central School PTO.
A quick reminder that the Kearsarge Elementary Schools and Andover Elementary School are seeking adults to mentor children through Windsor County Mentors for one hour/week, during the school day. For more information, email: info@nullwcmentors.org, or call 802 674-5101.