Weather it's a weekly commitment, once a month or a single project, starting off 2016 by volunteering your time sets good precedent for the remainder of the year. Check out the following list of opportunities, all at worthwhile nonprofits, in the Upper Valley.

Their Mission: "As New Hampshire's only comprehensive, full-service children's hospital, the Children's Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (CHaD) provides an extended system of care that offers advanced pediatric services. CHaD was recognized in 1992 as a "children's hospital within a hospital" by the Children's Hospital Association. CHaD is one of 205 children's hospitals in the United States providing care specifically focused on children."

Ways to help: Volunteering your time in any way is always helpful, Friends of CHaD Events, Family Advisory board,CHaD ambassador program and volunteering with patients.

Their Mission: "The Upper Valley Haven is a nonprofit, private organization that serves people struggling with poverty by providing food, shelter, education, clothing and support."

Ways to help: There are several programs available to volunteer for such as; seasonal shelter, food shelf, healthy eating program, after-school program, dinner teams, childcare, education & skill building development and board members. For more information about programs click here.

Granite United Way

Their Mission: "More than 22,000 donors and volunteers working together to provide more than $13 Million in support to 300,000 individuals across New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont. That's a snapshot of what Granite United Way is. Granite United Way is the result of six United Ways merging together to create a single, efficient organization that covers more than 80% of New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont."

Ways to help:

• Become a Community Impact Committee member and help make the critical funding decisions in your community
• Join your local Campaign Cabinet and raise funds for your community
• Participate in annual Day of Caring events held throughout our regions each September
• Become a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program volunteer and be trained to provide free tax preparation to struggling individuals & families
• Provide administrative assistance in any of our United Way offices

Their Mission: "AVA Gallery and Art Center (Alliance for the Visual Arts) is dedicated to promoting the visual arts through exhibitions and educational programs that nurture, support and challenge New England artists, and to providing art classes for children, teens and adults of all levels and abilities.  AVA’s programs—including special events that foster interaction among artists, patrons of the arts and the community, and which emphasize sustainability—are dedicated to recognizing the ways in which art enriches our lives."

Ways to help:

• If you’ve appreciated an exhibition in our galleries, a volunteer gallery sitter was there to welcome you.
• If you’ve enjoyed yourself at one of our many receptions, a volunteer assisted with the refreshments, and, behind the scenes, helped with the set-up and clean-up of the event.
• If you and your family participated in AVA’s plein air studio at the Lebanon Farmers’ Market, volunteers make that program happen.
• Every time you use an easel or a drawing donkey in our teaching studios, know that a volunteer made them.

Their Mission: Currently they are working on what defines there mission and it will be posted to there website in late January. However Spark! is a community center focused on helping in any way they can. They offer classes throughout the week for kids and adults. Some classes are craft making, games challenges like Yahtzee club,  outing club, cooking and so much more.

Ways to help: They are looking for help in the following areas.

• Assisting staff with day to day operations
• Assisting with our 3-4 large scale fundraising events throughout the year
• Assisting with special events
• Teaching a life skills or other type of class
• Helping to develop arts and crafts projects
• Helping to develop science experiments
• Serving on various fundraising and event committees including:
  Fall Theater Production
  Spring Theater Production
  Halloween Costume Party
  Holiday Bazaar
  Dinner, Dance, and Penny Sale
  Golf Tournament Fundraiser
  Summer 5k Run

Their Mission: "The Good Neighbor Health Clinics, Inc. is a non-profit free health care facility established in 1992 for the purpose to offer free primary medical and dental care to the people of the Upper Connecticut River Valley who are in need and lack the resources to obtain adequate care.  In 1996, and in response to the increased need for dental care, the Red Logan Dental Clinic became part of the organization. Today, Good Neighbor Health Clinics includes various clinics that depend on community support to provide services to residents of New Hampshire and Vermont."

Ways to help: 

• Admissions staff (greeting patients, helping with forms, scheduling)
• Clinic managers (tracking medications and providing other needed resources for patients and medical staff)
• Office assistants
• Mowing the lawn
• Organizing recycling
• Carpentry
• Organizing wellness activities
• General help

Their Mission: "UVHS has worked to create a compassionate and humane community with innovative and leading edge strategies and has received national recognition from American Humane, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Humane Society of the United States. UVHS is proud to be at the forefront of a growing movement in animal welfare by serving our communities through care and resources for companion animals and families."

Ways to help: Dog care, cat/small animal care, event support, fostering pets, running a donation bin/can, assisting during monthly spay/neuter clinics, general cleaning/upkeep, helping with administrative projects, and more! We have many opportunities for leaders in our volunteer program who will act as event coordinators for all aspects of shelter management.

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