The people involved with the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter in Peterborough would like to thank the many donors of items for our guests last year. Many individuals and families gave gift cards to local stores for clothing, food, gas, and other necessities. Some also gave gifts of items mentioned on our Wish List. MATS also received a wonderful donation from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Henry L and Patricia J. Nielsen Fund. Thank you!
Our guests were able to enjoy a beautiful Christmas because of everyone’s generosity. At Thanksgiving, the Divine Mercy Church donated dinners to our families again last year which was greatly appreciated.
MATS assisted many people in 2019: we gave a safe and warm home to eight families – nine adults and 17 children for a total of 26 people. Of the children, six were under six-years old; 10 were between six and twelve; and there was one child over 13. Our guests came from Peterborough, Greenfield, Wilton, Antrim and Gilford, New Hampshire.
Our annual Candlelight Vigil held on the Winter Solstice in late December was attended by just under 40 people this year. And many of those people went on to the United Methodist Church on Concord Street to enjoy a delicious soup supper free of charge. The Vigil is always an inspiring service, remembering people who were homeless throughout New Hampshire, and had died last year. What makes it so special is hearing about the individuals and what they had loved to do in life.
Last year, MATS sponsored several fundraisers: a BBQ in Greenfield to raise money for our Stephen Fund (funds are used for children at the shelter to participate in local activities that require a fee); a Trivia Game Night; a “Buy-a-Light” to decorate an outdoor pine tree at the Monadnock Community Hospital.
When our Project Manager, Susan Howard, was at The River Center last year for her weekly office hours there, she experienced 130 contacts with 45 people assisting them to follow through with the appropriate resource. She also helped them with housing applications and finding community agencies; more often than not her guidance helped them avoid homelessness.
We hope that you will notice the donation jars that MATS puts in many local stores. To name a few stores that have them, please look in Steele’s, Roy’s Market, the Hancock Market and the Harvest Market in Greenfield. We are very grateful for these donations and thank all who share their change.
WISH LIST: A reliable car; gift cards for gas and to local stores for the many items people need and cannot buy with food stamps (such as feminine products). MATS is listed in the business section of the phone book under Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter, or call Susan at 924-5033 and leave a message about how to pass them on to MATS. Or visit our web site: www.matsnh.org. Thank you.
Hope Pettegrew is a lon gtime MATS volunteer.