JANUARY FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPER

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL! Our January supper will be held at the Allard Center, YMCA on Goffstown Back Road. We'll begin with a pizza supper after which, the facility is open and available for your recreational enjoyment!

WRITE TO A HERO WRITING CONTEST!

http://www.pentel.com/national_handwriting_day/rules.html

Wouldn't this be a great way to start the New Year? A great family activity for Christmas vacation!

NOVEMBER FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPER!

NOVEMBER FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPER!

YMCA MEMBERSHIP INFO!

Applications will be available soon at the Goffstown Library, courtesy of Jennie Labranche. I will also bring some to the supper next week.

The DoD YMCA membership is available to title 10 personnel, deployed to non-embassy position. Family time comes with Y membership and child watch is free of charge. Goffstown Family time is M, W, F 4:45-7:15 and Saturday 8-11 AM. Child watch is 8:15-12:45. You may use child watch/family time services up to 2 hours/day. Manchester family time is M, T, TH 4:30-7:30 PM, t and Th 8-12. child watch is 9 am -1pm M, W, F. There is free parking athe th Brady Sullivan garage for up to 2 hours the $2/hour after that. Street parking is available on some streets-read signs!

DECEMBER FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPER!

JOIN US FOR A HOLIDAY PARTY!

NOVEMBER FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPER!

Peals of laughter issuing from the play area, smiling faces, and full bellies all affirmed the mission of this group! With the largest attendance to date, we enjoyed a bountiful repast prepared by parishioners from the Methodist Church and... St. Matt's as well as other generous souls. Sandy Loomis, Easter Seals Family Support, provided a wonderful overview of their program and fielded questions relative to the support available. There are no words to describe the positive energy and warmth that filled the Undercroft! Thanks to all the families who graced our presence and thanks to all who created the embrace I believe they experienced!

http://www.kintera.org/site/c.dwKXLmO5LpKcF/b.6360131/k.BCDB/Home.htm

CARE PACKAGE SUGGESTIONS!

Tried and true suggestions from troops and loved ones. Why not send a care package today? They aren't just for holidays anymore. Nothing says love like a fun-filled box of goodies from home!

Smart Phone App to track post deployment stress

Boston Bruins Event for Operation Homefront!

VETERAN'S DAY AT BIG LOTS

NOVEMBER FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPER!

SUPPORTING STUDENTS IN MILITARY FAMILIES

Military Siblings

http://youarethechamp.com/

HOLIDAY CONCERT/GLOBAL WEBCAST

TENLEY WESTBROOK’S CHRISTMAS FOR THE TROOPS

LIVE CHRISTMAS CONCERT/GLOBAL WEBCAST

Saturday December 18, 2010 1:00 P.M. (EST)

First United Methodist Church

129 Miller Avenue

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Recording artist and singer-songwriter Tenley Westbrook, a well known fixture of the New Hampshire seacoast music scene, will be hosting a very special live Christmas Concert to be webcast around the globe to military personnel and their families on Saturday December 18, 2010 at 1:00 pm (EST) at the First United Methodist Church, 129 Miller Avenue, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 03801. The concert will include Christmas and patriotic music by Tenley Westbrook and several guest artists, which include John Paul, Daniel King and Leslie Loomis, along with holiday video greetings by military personnel to and from their families.

Members of the military, their families and the public are invited to attend this free concert, donations gladly accepted at the door. Seating will be limited and on a first come first serve basis, so concert goers are asked to pre-register online at www.tenleywestbrook.com. The concert can also be viewed online via her website www.tenleywestbrook.com. The proceeds generated by the concert will go to the not-for-profit FreedomSong Foundation, which supports members of the military and their families.

OPERATION TRIBUTE-HOLIDAY GIFTS

Operation Tribute acknowledges the sacrifices being made by the children of
all military families living in New England, New York and New Jersey
including the Coast Guard, National Guard, Reserves, Army, Navy , Air Force
and Marines by offering them a holiday gift.

At the request of a member of a military family, Operation Tribute will
provide an age and gender appropriate gift to each child registered ranging
from newborn to age 16. Each participating military family will be required
to make the request between September 1 through November 15 and include the
name, age, and gender of each participating child, the address that the
package will be shipped to and the name, email address, service, rank and
unit of the military service person.

Registration can be done by calling their Corporate offices at (207)
221-0296 or can be done online at http://operationtribute.com/registration/

Registration forms will only be accepted through November 15, 2010.
Requests will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis based upon the
amount of funds available. If funding is not sufficient to provide a gift to
each child, families of the children that will not receive a gift will be
notified by email before December 5.

ANOTHER GREAT DINNER!

Another successful supper! The ladies of the Congregational Church provided a lovely ham dinner for the attendees. We were honored to have 3 families at the table as well as a number of Handy Helpers! Clearly things are beginning to gel. Roz was able to provide a Handy Helper update and overview and the families assured us that the word is spreading. Blessings to all!

OCTOBER SUPPORT SUPPER!

MILITARY DISCOUNTS

http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/OnlineCommunity/Webinars.aspx

http://www.opgratitude.com/

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=NH+soldiers+come+to+aid+of+Afghanistan+villagers&articleId=fbfe306c-face-4197-bd37-92cb7c3bf177

http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13725

http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/

September Deployment Support Supper

THANK A HERO CARDMAKING

KNIT A THON

9/11 CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

The September Project

Free Cards for Troops

http://shop.quickiecards.com/FREE-GREETING-CARDS-FOR-OUR-TROOPS_c85.htm

Home Depot Military Discount

effective March 1st, 2010 The Home Depot offers, when
asked, a 10% discount, up to a $500 maximum, to all active, reserve,
retired or disabled veterans and their family members with a valid
military ID. . Please note that The Home Depot will offer a 10% Military
discount up to $500.00 maximum. The Military discount cannot be combined
...with any other promotions.

3rd Deployment Support Supper

Another successful dinner and what a spread! The women of the Goffstown Congregational Church provided a magnificent roast beef dinner replete with china and a dessert cart! Thank you, ladies for a wonderful meal and welcoming atmosphere.
Our guest was Ken Grey from NH Operation Military Kids. He provided an overview of a number of the programs they offer to support military kids and their families including educator training on military culture, Hero Backpacks, summer camps, babysitting training, etc. Thank you, Ken, for making the long drive from Littleton! Your knowledge and passion were energizing and inspiring. I'm quite sure you'll be hearing from us in the near future!

Goffstown Public Library Deployment Resource Collection

August Family Support Supper

Students in Military Families continued

Aside from the many useful resources that were made available at last week's workshop, we were also given a breakdown by SAU of the latest figures available to the NH National Guard with respect to numbers of dependent students who will potentially be affected by deployment of a parent. In the GADFS area, 46 were identified. While this is not a HUGE number, it is significant in that it represents only ages 0-18 and only dependent children. It does not take into account any children with deploying siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, etc. And it still represents 46 children and their families who may just be viewing and experiencing life a little differently over the next few months.

Let us all be mindful and do what we can as a community to keep these families healthy and whole!

Supporting Students in Military Families

"When the heart speaks, listen. Then respond compassionately and consistently."
Mona M. Johnson

I had the opportunity to attend an educator's workshop in Manchester on Wednesday where the topic was "Supporting Students in Military Families." Presenters were both military and non-military and covered a myriad of topics from the emotional cycles of deployment, deployment and students with special needs, basic military culture, designing lessons across the curriculum and ages that are sensitive to the military students, what homecoming and reintegration are like, and so much more! A workshop that began with a disclaimer that some topics would be emotional and if anyone needed to leave the room, trained counselors would available not only tugged at my heartstrings, provided much useful information and many additional resources but affirmed the mission of GADFS.

Before the presentations, we had the opportunity to go around the room, state our name and reason for being there. Of course, I gave my name, my title and a little about GADFS as well as my role in the group. I was the only non-school or military person in the room. Unhindered by my "difference", I participated fully in our breakout activities...or at least to the best of my ability. At our first break, 2 participants came to me and commented about the amazing efforts of GAFDS. Both felt we should be held up as a model for communities everywhere. Gushing with pride enough for all of us in GADFS, I agreed! One of the military guys (I'm not good with rank) also mentioned they had never had a library in attendance! The educator also praised our efforts. She was in awe. However the big payoff came as I left the room. The last presenter, a Colonel's wife, stopped me and quietly said, "Word is out there about what you are doing in Goffstown and I want to say thank you. Please take my card and call if there is anything you need!"

GADFS, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

July Family Support Supper-KIDS!

Of course St. Matthew's playroom was abuzz with activity during the July family support supper! Kids being kids...the way life should be!

2nd Family Support Supper

On 7/15, GADFS held their 2nd monthly family support supper at St. Matt's church. Once again, parishioners and community members prepared a bountiful feast! With 4 military families in attendance, 2 preparing for deployment and 2 having experienced deployment, there was much to share. Lisa Aldridge, Transition Assistance Advisor, provided a very helpful overview of package-sending do's and don'ts as well as a general mailing timeline. As we went around the tables giving our names and reasons for attending, hearing the children proudly state, " I am here because my daddy is in the military" sincerely touched my heart.

"You are not in this alone."

As communities throughout New Hampshire prepare for the deployment of unprecedented numbers of servicemen and women, individuals in Goffstown, New Boston and Dunbarton have come together in support of the families and loved ones who will carry the weight of these deployments from the homefront. Formed in April of 2010, Goffstown Area Deployed Family Support is committed to providing support to area families who are engaged in the deployment cycle. In addition to monthly family suppers, the group has developed a call-list of "handy helpers" who are willing and able to help families with household tasks such as lawncare, air conditioner installation and de-installation, and others. The Goffstown Public Library is developing a collection of resources available to adults and children who are experiencing the deployment of a loved one. In addition, links to outside resources and support services are being compiled on a continuous basis. The group can be found on Facebook at Goffstown Area Deployed Family Support and more information is available at the Goffstown Public Library at 497-2102 or goflib@goffstown.lib.nh.us.