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.