HOW YOU CAN HELP - DONATE YOUR TIME, MONEY, GOODS
Individuals and organizations can support HCSC and its mission to help homeless community members and families achieve independence and self-sufficiency. Whether you donate your time, or make a financial donation online or by mail, or drop off food or goods, we appreciate your support!
VOLUNTEERING
The Shelter welcomes new volunteers anytime. You can donate as little as one day per month to a steady schedule of one day per week. Shifts range from 2.5 to 5 hours.
To volunteer at HCSC, the following is required:
Volunteers are the backbone of the Shelter. Would you consider volunteering?
NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY
It is the policy of the Homeless Center of Strafford County (HCSC) to serve all individuals who are eligible for its programs without regard to any non-merit factor. Accordingly, HCSC does not tolerate discrimination by its employees/volunteers when they are serving individuals who are eligible for its programs based on any non-merit factor, including race, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability (physical or mental), age, status as a parent, or genetic information.
All of HCSC's employees and volunteers are responsible for complying with this policy.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination should contact the Executive Director at (603)332-3065 or by mail at PO Box 7306, Rochester, NH 03839.
If there is a finding of non-compliance with the non-discrimination policy set forth above, appropriate disciplinary action, ranging from counseling to termination, will be taken against the employee/volunteers who violated the policy.
To contact us about volunteer opportunities, please click on the button below. We thank you for your interest!
To volunteer at HCSC, the following is required:
- Attend a 2 hour training orientation
- Complete a background check
- Shadow with a seasoned volunteer
- Sign a confidentiality agreement and a code of conduct agreement
Volunteers are the backbone of the Shelter. Would you consider volunteering?
- Volunteer to help with office work, shift coverage, to help children with homework, holiday wrapping, reading to toddlers and more
- Volunteer as an organization to do a project at the shelter - your team can make a difference
- Organize a fundraiser for The Shelter
NON DISCRIMINATION POLICY
It is the policy of the Homeless Center of Strafford County (HCSC) to serve all individuals who are eligible for its programs without regard to any non-merit factor. Accordingly, HCSC does not tolerate discrimination by its employees/volunteers when they are serving individuals who are eligible for its programs based on any non-merit factor, including race, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability (physical or mental), age, status as a parent, or genetic information.
All of HCSC's employees and volunteers are responsible for complying with this policy.
Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination should contact the Executive Director at (603)332-3065 or by mail at PO Box 7306, Rochester, NH 03839.
If there is a finding of non-compliance with the non-discrimination policy set forth above, appropriate disciplinary action, ranging from counseling to termination, will be taken against the employee/volunteers who violated the policy.
To contact us about volunteer opportunities, please click on the button below. We thank you for your interest!
CASH DONATIONS AND GIFT CARDS
When you donate to The Shelter, your gift truly makes a difference. Here's a little food for thought:
- A $20 gas card will help fuel a family's car for the week
- $40 will pay for 4 prescription co-pays
- $50 will buy a meal for the entire Shelter - you will be feeding 20-25+ individuals
- $100 pays for the transportation shuttle to and from the shelter for a whole week for residents without vehicles
To make a secure online donation with a credit or debit card, please click the "DONATE" button below. To send your donation by mail, please address to:
The Homeless Center for Strafford County
PO Box 7306, Rochester, NH 03839
Contribute to The Shelter in memory of someone special: you and your designated honoree will receive an acknowledgment card. The amount of the donation will not be included on the honoree's acknowledgment card unless requested. Please include the honoree's contact information with your donation.
The Homeless Center for Strafford County
PO Box 7306, Rochester, NH 03839
Contribute to The Shelter in memory of someone special: you and your designated honoree will receive an acknowledgment card. The amount of the donation will not be included on the honoree's acknowledgment card unless requested. Please include the honoree's contact information with your donation.
DONATIONS OF GOODS
The shelter will be relocating in Fall of 2021 to 202 Washington Street, Rochester, New Hampshire. We are currently fully stocked with two years of paper goods and food. At the moment we are overstocked with personal hygiene items and are sharing with other area non profits.
We cannot accept adult clothing or furniture at this time, as we do not have the storage space. See our wish list below for the most urgent needs.
Keep in mind that annually we host a fund raising event called our GALA and that area businesses can also contribute items for our live and silent auction at the annual dinner event! This year's event will take place on October 9, 2020 at the Governor's Inn Ballroom.
We cannot accept adult clothing or furniture at this time, as we do not have the storage space. See our wish list below for the most urgent needs.
Keep in mind that annually we host a fund raising event called our GALA and that area businesses can also contribute items for our live and silent auction at the annual dinner event! This year's event will take place on October 9, 2020 at the Governor's Inn Ballroom.
SHELTER WISH LIST
Food items:
-Fresh food: meats, veggies, fruits, etc.(or gift cards to Market Basket or Hannafords for fresh items)
-1 or 2% milk ultra pasterized.or shelf ready versions of milk
-Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Nuts for Baking Classes
-Seasonings (spices, garlic powder, pepper, etc,)
-Coffee.............We consume a lot of coffee here!
-Crisco, condiments (our "littles" love ketchup!) , salad dressings
-Healthy afterschool snacks for our school aged kids (real juice-juice boxes, peanut butter crackers, low sugar animal crackers, nutrigrain bars, non sugared apple sauce, sweet hummus and graham crackers)
Kitchen Move Out Kits (6 needed) :
-Silverware, sets of 16 or 20 (yes they can be used)
-Pots and Pans (yes they can be used)
-Baking Sheets (yes they can be used)
-Matchign Glassware (yes they can be used)
-Dish sets or four plates and four bowls (yes they can be used)
-Cooking Utensils (yes they can be used)
OR Gift Cards to Walgreens,Wal-mart or Amazon
Office and Household Products:
--Paper Towels (we go through about 5 rolls a day)
-13 Gallon trash bags
-Copier paper
OR GIFT CARDS TO STAPLES or Best Buy!
-Stamps (forever stamps)
-shower curtains and liners (yes the shower curtains can be used!)
-Dryer Sheets
-Toilet Brushes for Cleaning
Christmas Giving:
We typically help 20-35 families with Christmas Gifts and make lists with the theme; Something you want, Something you need, Something to wear, Something to read!
The best gifts beside winter wear and shoes tend to be EXPERIENCES that come in the form of enrichment activities.
Some great gift ideas: Movie Tickets, Seacoast Science Center tickets, Children's Museum Tickets, Boston Aquarium Admission or the Boston museum of Science, Admission to area Skating, Indoor play areas etc.
We love to ensure our "littles" have experiences outside the shelter that help their bodies, minds and hearts grow!
If you have questions about donation of funds, items or volunteer hours, please do not hesitate to call our Executive Director, at 603-332-3065.
The Shelter is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. Federal Tax ID number: 02-0519859. All donations are tax deductible.
The Shelter is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organization. Federal Tax ID number: 02-0519859. All donations are tax deductible.
