FAMILIES IN TRANSITION VISTA PROGRAM WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS TO THE GRANITE STATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2017

For information, contact: Michele Talwani, (603) 641-9441 ext. 239

2016-2017 Families in Transition AmeriCorps VISTA Team

PHOTO: FAMILIES IN TRANSITION BRINGS AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE TO FIGHT POVERTY – The Families in Transition VISTA Program welcomes a new group of AmeriCorps VISTA members to fight poverty and inequality at 15 nonprofit organizations and government agencies throughout New Hampshire.

21 AmeriCorps VISTA Members to Fight Poverty at Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies Across New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, NH – The Families in Transition (FIT) VISTA Program recently welcomed 16 new AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members to the program, along with five members who have committed to serving a second year. The FIT VISTA members will be working as full-time, professional volunteers at 15 nonprofit and government agencies throughout New Hampshire to build funding and foster sustainable programs to help the most disadvantaged populations in the state.

AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program that started in 1964 and was designed specifically to fight poverty. VISTA members commit to working full time as paid professional volunteers for one year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, foster economic development and otherwise assist low-income communities. Most relocate from different areas of the country for their year of service.

“We are proud and excited to have these new AmeriCorps VISTA members join our program,” said Emily Melhorn, Families in Transition Manager of Volunteers and FIT VISTA Program. “Last year, our FIT VISTA members raised more than $710,000 for their organizations to be able to build capacity for the most disadvantaged members of their communities. The impact that these individuals have on their community and New Hampshire as a whole is extraordinary.”

The roles of this year’s VISTA members include positions in research and program development, community impact and outreach, volunteer engagement, marketing and communications, and graphic design. The participating organizations and agencies are spread throughout seven communities in New Hampshire.

VISTA’s are working for the below nonprofits in seven New Hampshire communities:

Bedford: The CareGivers, Inc.

Concord: Early Learning NH/Spark NH, NH Department of Health and Human Services and NH Department of Education

Lebanon: ReThink Health: Upper Connecticut River Valley

Manchester:  Child Health Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire, Families in Transition, Manchester Continuum of Care, NH Coalition to End Homelessness and Old Sol Music Hall

Nashua: United Way of Greater Nashua

New Castle: Arts in Reach

Portsmouth: Portsmouth Housing Authority and United Way of the Greater Seacoast

The Families in Transition VISTA Program is one of the largest networks of AmeriCorps VISTA members living and serving throughout New Hampshire. The program recruits volunteers and nonprofits to join the VISTA team, with the goal of improving the quality of life for the most disadvantaged members of the Granite State. Since 2010, it has been a program of Families in Transition, a Manchester, Concord, and Dover, NH, based homeless housing and services provider. For more information about the program or FIT, visit www.fitnh.org or call 603-641-9441.

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