Local Artistic Talent

Artwork of Former Client

Photo by George Chase

Photo by George Chase

Photo by George Chase

Fellowship Housing Receives Donation of New Winter Coats

In January, Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. was the fortunate recipient of a generous donation of winter wear to be distributed to various individuals in need living in the Concord area.  While the individual making the donation desired to remain completely anonymous, Fellowship Housing would like all to know this gift is greatly appreciated.  We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to this individual for the compassion, care, community spirit and generosity shown in donating this large collection of newly-purchased items for those in need.  We extend our gratitude on both our behalf and on behalf of those it will benefit most.

Fellowship Housing has recently joined the effort to support Be Local Concord, an initiative of the Main Street Concord Be Local Committee, whose aim is to enrich the community by inspiring citizens to invest in the community and by contributing to the success of locally owned businesses and nonprofit organizations serving Concord.  More information can be found on the Main Street Concord website www.mainstreetconcord.com and on their Facebook page here.

Fellowship Housing Recipient of $100 Donation from PSNH

To celebrate their 85th birthday, Public Service of NH asked their customers to submit the name of their favorite non-profit agency into a random drawing to win a $100 donation.  We were lucky enough to have had our name submitted by someone, and then were doubly lucky to be the winner of a donation!  Thank you to Virginia Rhinehardt for submitting our name and to Public Service of NH for giving back to the community-based non-profit organizations they serve.  For more information on this contest, please click the logo at left.

Renovations to the Fellowship House Group Home Kitchen

The residents of Fellowship House were treated to a brand new kitchen this month!  New cabinets, backsplash, flooring and countertops were all installed with the help of Wes the Handyman.  The replaced countertops and cabinets were the originals installed when the group home was built in the mid-eighties.  They served their purpose well and were well maintained for many years, just as the new furniture will be.  Click the picture at left to see a more detailed image of the newly renovated room our residents are currently enjoying.

Fellowship Housing Awarded by NH Partners in Education

Fellowship Housing and Bow High School were recently recognized for outstanding business and education collaboration by New Hampshire Partners in Education.  Bow High School and Fellowship Housing have worked together in the past to help students interested in working in the mental health field gain work experience, and life experience while helping our staff in both our group home and community settings.  We look forward to continued collaboration in the future!

United Way Day of Caring 2011

Fellowship Housing was the lucky recipient of an outpouring of community support on this year's Day of Caring.  Volunteers from Orr & Reno, Northeast Delta Dental, Casey Family Services, Lowes, Capitol Paint, and Shea Farm gathered together, or sent donated supplies to our managed property on Spruce Street, to paint the interior of the dwelling for the home owner and tenants.  With their help we were able to complete the project quickly and make the inside of the home sparkle like new.  Click the logo at left to see some of the results!  We thank each and every person involved in accomplishing this much needed, and appreciated, task!

Improvements to Fellowship Apartments Building

In keeping with our mission to provide housing options that are not only affordable but decent to Concord area residents living with, and recovering from, mental illness, Fellowship Housing has completed a renovation in our Fellowship Apartments building.  Improvements made include new flooring installed by Karpets by Kerry, new counters and countertops installed by Wes the Handyman, and painting done by Brushworks Painting, Inc.  Click the link at left to view pictures of the end result of a lot of hard work.

2011 Capitol Kids Spring Art Show

For the second year in a row, Fellowship Housing is proud to showcase the artwork of some of Concord's finest budding artists for Main Street Concord's annual Capitol Kids Spring Art Show.  The yearly event strengthens the bonds between Concord community members and local businesses.  There are many pieces of artwork on display throughout downtown Concord and we encourage you to come see for yourself.  If you are unable to visit the downtown area in person, please view some photos of the artwork hanging in our Administrative Office windows.

Fellowship Housing to Host VISTA Volunteer

Fellowship Housing is happy to announce that we have been chosen, along with thirty other NH locations, as a host site for Families in Transition's VISTA program.  VISTA volunteers work with selected host sites for a one year period to aid in building capacity and efficiency while gaining valuable work experience.  Click the image at left for FIT's press release, detailing the program.

Coats and Clothing Donated to Fellowship Housing

Warmth from the Millyard, a UNH student and community collaboration partnered with Fellowship Housing through the Global Awareness Club of New England College to offer coats and warm clothing to Concord area individuals with very low incomes living with mental illness.  We received dozens of articles of clothing which we were able to distribute among our clientele.  To get more information about this wonderful program, please click the image at left.  Click here for a recent write up in the Goffstown News.  From all of us at Fellowship Housing, and those we serve, to everyone at Warmth from the Millyard and the NEC Global Awareness Club:  Thank you!

Fellowship Housing a Qualified Granite United Way Partner

Fellowship Housing is proud to announce our qualification as a Granite United Way Partner.  Becoming a Qualified United Way Partner signifies that we meet all criteria of qualification, competence and capacity to be considered for potential project funding through Granite United Way.  We look forward to many years of working alongside Granite United Way, meshing the goals and purpose of our mission with those ideals held by Granite United Way for the betterment of our community! 

Local Consumer of Mental Health Services Delivers Speech To House

Terry Marcille has been a consumer of mental health services in the Concord area for 16 years.  Terry lives with bipolar disorder though, as she states: "[my illness] is not who I am; it is something I have."  When word of the NH House Finance Committee's proposed budget (with its deep cuts to mental healthcare funding) became public knowledge, Terry stepped before the committee and delivered a heartfelt speech intended to inform the members of the committee of the facts and realities of mental illness and how the end result of their uncaring cuts would play out in the Concord community.  Terry has graciously supplied Fellowship Housing with the handwritten copy of her speech for us to share with you.  We applaud her involvement in the political affairs of our community & appreciate the time & effort she put into fighting for the cause of mental healthcare funding.

United Way Day of Caring 2010

Fellowship Housing gratefully accepted an offer from Frank Lamay, owner of Millstone Engineering &  Construction, in the fall of 2010 to help rebuild a porch at our Fellowship Apartments building.  Volunteers Ernest Briggs and Wayne Champagne, along with Fellowship Housing's Maintenance Coordinator George Chase, went the extra mile in completing this project.  Fellowship Housing greatly appreciates the help and thanks Ernest, Wayne, and Frank for their volunteer efforts!

Executive Director States:  Let Them Eat Pie!

Page Cannon, Executive Director of Fellowship Housing, has taken first prize in the Concord Insider Pie Recipe Contest.  Our fearless leader crafted a delicate French Silk Pie to bring home the gold.  To try this award winning recipe yourself, just click the picture at left.  Congratulations Page!

Olive Garden comes to Fellowship House

David Perry, Manager of the Olive Garden restaurant in Manchester and great friend and neighbor to Fellowship Housing, dropped by this past week with a gift of great food and friendship for the residents of our group home, Fellowship House.  In their spirit of "Hospitaliano", the Olive Garden has developed a program entitled "Mentoring Folks with Disabilities" and David was kind enough to think of including us in this program.  David spent the evening hours with our residents; serving them and sharing in good fun and conversation.  We thank him for his kindness towards our residents and for his sincere interest in helping those we serve.

Action Needed to End Homelessness

Page Cannon, Executive Director of Fellowship Housing, and Ellen Fries, both members of the Board of Directors of the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, issued a statement to the Concord Monitor urging members of the Concord community to take action now in planning and implementing a response to the needs of homeless individuals and families in our area.  Not only is a shelter for the winter months needed, but an effective 10 year plan to end homelessness is essential.  Read their message here and please contact Page directly with suggestions and questions by telephone at 603.225.1767 or by email.

2010 Rally for Mental Health

The rally to save mental health service funding in New Hampshire successfully took place on the front lawn of the Capitol Building during the afternoon of May 4th.  Speeches were delivered by Page Cannon, Executive Director of Fellowship Housing, as well as the CEO of Riverbend Community Mental Health Center, Louis Josephson.  Numerous mental health service consumers ranging from children to senior citizens also made their voices heard on the podium.  Nearly 5000 signatures were collected by The National Alliance on Mental Illness.  Please visit their website for information on adding your signature to this vital petition.

NH Nonprofit Capacity Building Project

Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. is proud to announce that we have been accepted into the Capacity Building Project offered by the NH Center for Nonprofits.  The project is designed to strengthen the capacity of nonprofit organizations helping low-income families in seeking employment, increasing family stability and gaining economic security.

Local Artist Donates Artwork

In June 2009 Caroline L. Bacon, owner of specialty stained glass design and creation company Hot Tin Roof, presented Fellowship Housing with a beautiful piece of stained glass art.  Her original design and composition hangs in our Administrative Offices at 36 Pleasant Street.  Please click here to see a full image of this wonderful gift.

Executive Director Awarded

Page Cannon, Executive Director of Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc., received the Community Service Award presented at the Third Annual Rainbow Awards Ceremony.  The Rainbow Awards are presented by Riverbend Community Mental Health Center and celebrate champions for mental health.  Page received the award due to her tireless efforts in securing safe and affordable housing for those in the community who suffer from mental illness.

2008 DHHS Commissioner Visit

In 2008 Fellowship Housing was paid a visit by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas.  Commissioner Toumpas toured the Fellowship House community residence, our Administrative Offices, met with our staff, and spent time with a few of our residents.  His visit enabled him to have a first hand look at who we are and what we do for our community.  We thank him for taking the time to visit with us, and extend an open invitation for him to visit us again in the future.

2007 NH CDFA Aids in Building Purchase

In 2007 The New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority was able to make a difference in the community by investing money for Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. to purchase and renovate an apartment building in Downtown Concord.  The site now consists of nine apartments for rent through our On Your Own But Not Alone Program, houses our administrative facilities, and offers a large function room for resident and community member programming.  Along with NH CDFA, many generous donations were made by members of our community, local businesses, and also area trusts and foundations.  Fellowship Housing extends our gratitude to everyone who took part in making the Pleasant Street Project a reality.

Fellowship Housing Wins 2006 Competition

In July of 2006 Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. was thrilled to learn that we had won the $20,000 first-place award in the first-ever TD Banknorth "Housing for Everyone" grant competition.  TD Banknorth's R. Scott Bacon stated:  "We believe that the recipient organizations exemplify the mission of TD Banknorth’s ‘Housing for Everyone’ grant competition – to increase the availability of and access to affordable housing in our communities."  Fellowship Housing Opportunities, Inc. remains dedicated to our mission of promoting recovery from mental illness through decent, quality housing and behavioral health services.