Winter/Spring 2014 Newsletter
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Transcript of Winter/Spring 2014 Newsletter
Family Matters Winter/Spring 2014 1
Family Matters
Because of You! Joshua is making our world a
safer place
Page 1
Santa didn’t miss
the Bishop family!
Page 2
Meagan is going to college!
Page 3
Jennifer and over 60 more
families can build better lives
Page 4
Winter/Spring 2014
Volume 1 Number 1
A Note from our Executive Director…
Kimberly Bavaro
I t is truly incredible how one person can touch so many lives.
Joshua Guthrie was a listless young man when he first came to The Upper Room.
He struggled with school and didn’t think he was capable of getting his diploma.
Through your support, we provided Joshua with the tools he needed to
become self-sufficient and earn his GED. Joshua learned how to set and ac-
complish goals. He gained invaluable studying habits and social skills,
catapulting him into his future.
Not only was he able to earn his diploma, Joshua is training as a diesel
mechanic in the United States Army and is currently on a six month
deployment in Afghanistan. Joshua now protects the lives of every
single American.
Joshua always visits TUR when he comes home for leave. He volunteers as a
mentor to GED/HiSET students in the hopes that he can help them find their
purpose.
It is a tremendous gift to show a child or parent a glimpse of a new future
and give them the tools and resources they need to bring it to reality. It is
also hard work.
The children and families who visit us often face overwhelming hardships.
They live in poverty. They don’t know where their next meal is coming from. They have
little or no family support. They escaped abusive situations. They lack transportation.
Often, they have never confronted the emotional turmoil that lingers inside of them.
Who believes in these people when they want to give up on themselves?
We do.
Who makes it possible for them to turn their lives around when there is no
where else to go?
You do.
The Upper Room is such a special place, and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the
people who make up its foundation— YOU! Thank you!
Because of you, Joshua learned invaluable skills that have
catapulted him into his future.
36 Tsienneto Road Derry, NH 03038 (603) 437-4877 www.urteachers.org
Facebook.com/urteachers
Twitter: @urteacher
Family Matters Winter/Spring 2014 2
NORA Systems of Salem, NH donates
hundreds of volunteer
hours to beautify The Upper
Room campus for program
participants and staff.
Last spring, volunteers from
NORA Systems installed new flooring, donated by the company, in
the Briggs Center. They also plan to donate and install new flooring
in the Food Pantry in the coming months.
“NORA volunteers beautify TUR’s campus by gardening, installing
new floors, painting or renovating whole rooms, making TUR a
place people feel good about visiting,” says program coordinator,
Brenda Guggisberg. “They host coat drives, collect backpacks and
distribute Thanksgiving baskets. We cannot say thank you enough
for all their kind and selfless efforts.” Thank you, NORA Systems!
Jack of All Trades. Master of Kindness: Andrea Younie
For over three years, Andrea has
dedicated her free time to the
service of TUR as a member of the
annual auction committee, food
pantry co-coordinator, parent mentor,
advocate and so much more.
“Andrea is the first person to offer
help,” says Executive Director,
Kimberly Bavaro. “She is dependable
and reliable— simply amazing!”
Thank you, Andrea!
V olunteer Spotlight
NORA Systems volunteers take
a break from summer
landscaping to pose for a
picture.
T he holiday season can be a stressful time
for many families. Budgets are tight, heat-
ing bills are extreme, and putting a meal on the
table is tough under normal circumstances.
This was especially true for the Bishops.
Mom and Dad lived in their car while their five
young children were split up and living with
relatives. It was a huge accomplishment for
them to finally get an apartment in time for the
holidays, but it completely wiped out their
savings. The children worried Santa wouldn’t
know where to find them.
Santa did find them
because of your generosity
The Bishop family was able to set up house
through your generous donations of personal
care items, grocery store gift cards, clothes, and
tools. The donation of a beautiful tree, decora-
tions and other holiday trimmings sent a signal
to Santa, telling him the children awaited his
arrival.
Hundreds of southern NH families
were helped this holiday season
because of you!
Donations of turkeys, food, gift cards, clothes
and shoes, and so much more poured in to aid
struggling families served by The Upper
Room.
By supporting The Upper Room,
you’re providing vital educational
services and community resources
to children and families in crisis.
So when the Bishop family says,
“Thank You!” we couldn’t agree
more.
Join us!
2014 Supporters’ Reception
Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 5:30-7:30 PM
36 Tsienneto Road, Derry, NH
To honor YOU!
For more information and to register visit: ursupporters2014.eventbrite.com
The “Bishop” Family says:
THANK YOU!
Because of you, Santa didn’t miss
them and they can focus on
recovering from homelessness
Andrea Younie at
our 2013 auction.
Family Matters Winter/Spring 2014 3
A bright future for Meagan 2013 GED graduate accepted to college, aspires to teach
2 013 GED graduate,
Meagan Peterson is going
to college! She was accepted
to the Early Childhood
Education program at
Manchester Community College and
started classes in January.
After a host of obstacles, including over twenty surgeries for her heart and
back, Meagan completed the GED preparation program at The Upper Room
and graduated in May.
“All I have ever wanted was to get an education and work with children. I want
to be a teacher,” says Meagan. “The GED program at The Upper Room was
awesome. It made learning fun and it was a comfortable environment. Thank
you!”
Meagan continues setting goals for herself, a skill she learned during her time at
The Upper Room. She wants to work as a childcare provider, buy her own car,
and get good grades in all her courses.
“Meagan is a determined and exuberant young lady,” said GED/HiSet Preparation coordinator, Brenda Guggisberg. “I
have no doubt in my mind that she will fulfill all of her goals and be a vital part of her community.”
H elp us give teens and young adults a chance to succeed.
Your gifts to The Upper Room support educational programs such as GED/HiSET preparation courses so teens and
young adults, like Meagan, can accomplish their individual goals. Your gifts break down barriers, whether financial or
emotional, to bring these programs within easy reach of those who need them. Most of all, your gifts give participants
hope that their lives will be better, making them stronger, happier and more independent.
“All I have ever wanted
was to get an education
and work with children.
Thank you!” Meagan Peterson (21), at The Up-per Room’s May GED graduation, now attends Manchester Community College for Early Childhood Education.
Education Champions make it possi-ble for over 50 teens and young adults, for whom mainstream edu-cation is inappropriate, to graduate from The Upper Room’s GED/HiSet prep program each year. The cost for one student to begin to pave the road to success is $160.
Our Wish List
Canned fruits and vegetables
Canned protein (tuna, beans,
chicken
Macaroni & cheese
Coffee, oatmeal, cream of wheat
Pasta, pasta sauce
Condensed milk
Peanut butter, jelly
Canned soups
For families struggling to make ends meet
your help to put a wholesome meal on the table is a blessing.
1 in 9 New Hampshire residents are food insecure, meaning that they don’t
know where their next meal is coming from.
You can keep friends in our community from going hungry.
Drop off food items for The Upper Room’s food pantry at 36 Tsienneto
Road, Derry in marked donation bins in the back entrance vestibule.
Know someone who needs help? Have them contact us at 603-437-8477, Ext. 27.
Provide a Meal for a Struggling Family
Family Matters Winter/Spring 2014 4
You Matter! Make
a Difference
When you support
The Upper Room, A Family
Resource Center you provide
children and families with the
critical resources they need to
improve their lives.
It’s never been easier to show
your support!
O ver 250 guests came out to cele-
brate TUR’s 12th
annual Family Matters Auction and were treated to
“A Night in Paris” complete with mimes and can-can
girls. Local restaurants pitched in to support the event
with savory bites and sweet treats.
Through live and silent auctions, games, raffles, and
other festivities, over $30,000 was raised to support the
children, youth, and parents that visit TUR in search of
help.
The highlight of the evening was when former
TUR participant, Jennifer, shared her story of
transformation.
“I knew I was a good mom,” said Jennifer during her
emotional remarks. “I just needed help to rebuild my
confidence in myself and my parenting. The Upper
Room was there for me and my family.”
Jennifer came to TUR after separating from the father
of her three children. She was isolated, anxious and
overwhelmed. She struggled with her new life as a
single mother.
“The woman at the auction was not the same woman I met a year ago,” remarked Jen-
nifer’s home visitor, Michelle Moraros. “As we worked together, I saw the reigniting of
her light. Jennifer is a confident, capable , and wonderful mother and person. I am so
proud of how far she has come.”
Nearly 60 guests pledged to
Fund a Family after hearing
Jennifer’s story.
“We were humbled by the
outpouring of generosity,” said
Executive Director, Kimberly
Bavaro. “Now, TUR can assist
sixty more families than last
year.”
The 2014 Family Matters
Auction is scheduled for
Friday, November 7th.
Stay tuned for details as
planning begins!
Auction helps families build better
lives
Thank you to our sponsors for making
the evening such a great success!
WBIN-18
Dollar Bill’s Auction
Outlet & Wholesale Co.
Bank of New England
Parkland Medical Center
Well Sense Health Plan
Enterprise Bank
Royal T Car Wash &
Detailing
NBT Bank
E-Z Test Pool Supplies
Inc.
Parnell & McKay
Ram Printing, Inc.
DiBona design
Sign up for our e-newsletter
at www.urteachers.org
Donate today at
www.urteachers.org/
involved-financial
Ask your employer to match
gifts you make to TUR.
Fund A Family: An annual
gift of $250 supports the
transformation of a southern
NH family.
Shop online with iGive at
www.igive.com/urteachers
Be a Friend of the Food Pantry
to provide shelf-stable food
and personal care items on a
rotating monthly basis.
Just in time. . .
for Mothers’ and
Fathers’ Days!
Make a donation to TUR in
honor of your mother or father
and we’ll send them a personal-
ized card in time for Mothers’
Day or Fathers’ Day.
Donations must be received by
May 5th and June 9th, respec-
tively. Donate online or by
mail, include name and mailing
address for mom or dad.
TUR Home Visitor Michelle
Moraros (L) and TUR participant
Jennifer (R) at the 12th annual
Family Matters Auction.
The November 1st event raised
critical funds to support the
children, youth and families that
participate in TUR’s programs and
services.