Building on Hope Seeks Support for Upcoming Renovation of
Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire in May
Hundreds of New Hampshire businesses are signing up to support extreme home makeover style renovation of emergency shelter in Concord; help and donations still needed
Concord, NH – In an effort to complete a more than $500,000 renovation, a New Hampshire group of volunteers and a local nonprofit supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence are turning to the New Hampshire community for help in the form of skilled labor volunteers and donations. Building on Hope, an organization of New Hampshire volunteers who have completed $3.6 million in community-supported, nonprofit renovation projects since forming in 2009, will break ground on May 11 to renovate the Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire (CCCNH) in Concord. Hundreds of generous businesses and individuals have stepped up from all over the state, but additional help is needed to ensure Build Week, which concludes with a reveal day celebration on May 20, runs smoothly.
“This is our fifth renovation project, and each year I am blown away with how members of the local community and beyond step up to help in any way that they can,” said Jonathan Halle, co-chair of Building on Hope. “With the groundbreaking just a few weeks out, there are still materials and volunteers we need to provide skilled labor during Build Week in May. It’s incredible the difference even one person can make by donating a few hours of their time or making contributions through our GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/BOH18-CCCNH.”
Building on Hope is seeking skilled carpenters, painters, flooring installers, plumbing & HVAC technicians, electricians and general laborers to donate their time for a specific day during Build Week. Interested businesses and individuals can contact Building on Hope’s volunteer coordinator, Sue Bee at sueannbee22@gmail.com.
CCCNH, the only agency exclusively dedicated to working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Merrimack County, served 1,184 people, answered 4,950 hotline calls and provided 2,991 bed nights in 2017 alone. CCCNH’s building is old with outdated systems, an inefficient floor plan, and a kitchen and bathrooms appropriate for a family of four, not for a shelter that regularly houses 13 women and children. The building also hosts office space for all nine of CCCNH’s staff members. Upon completion of Building on Hope’s renovation, the shelter will nearly double its size from four bedrooms with 13 beds to seven bedrooms with 24 beds.
A full team of local designers, demolition and construction crews, electricians, carpenters and more will completely renovate every inch of the building during Build Week. Building on Hope’s goal is to create a warm, tranquil and comforting space that will meet the needs of women and children seeking refuge. In addition to more bedrooms, which will be updated to include serene colors, natural light and custom shelving, bedding and storage, the renovated building will include an adult-only relaxation lounge, an advocate meeting area, children’s play areas, an ADA-compliant bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and entrance on the first floor, and multi-function space in the basement for laundry and personal and secured storage space for residents of the shelter and for CCCNH supplies.
In order to make the best use of every square foot of the building, CCCNH will move its staff to a new building that will eventually become The Center for Survivor Support. Currently, all survivors working with CCCNH are referred to services they need in the community, such as law enforcement and legal, often with children in tow. The new location will provide a space for all survivors served by CCCNH, not just those staying at the shelter, to receive services in one location. The space will be used for support groups, prevention presentations, counseling, appointments with attorneys, intakes with social service agencies and more.
“The vision I’ve had for the emergency shelter and eventually a center for survivor support seemed like a distant goal, many years away. I’m in complete shock at how quickly this is all becoming a reality,” said Paula Kelley-Wall, executive director of CCCNH. “I’m entirely overwhelmed with emotion and cannot begin to thank Building on Hope and the New Hampshire community enough for everything they have done for us so far. To be able to expand our space and increase our capacity to help people find independence from their abusers and become thriving members of the community that helped them get there is a once-in-a-lifetime gift.”
For more information, please visit www.buildingonhope.com. Individuals interested in volunteering time, labor, materials or financial donations can visit the volunteer page for more information at www.buildingonhope.com/get-involved.
About Building on Hope
Building on Hope is a community organization of hundreds of volunteers who work with builders, architects and designers to provide physical improvements to facilities associated with non-profit service groups. Since forming in 2009, Building on Hope has completed $3.6 million in community-funded, non-profit renovation projects. The steering committee consists of the following individuals: Co-chairs Jonathan Halle, Warrenstreet Architects & Karen Van Der Beken, Easter Seals NH; Rick Broussard, New Hampshire Magazine; Emily Shakra, Nick Shakra Real Estate; E.J. Powers & Grace Ames, Montagne Communications; Lorrie Determann, LTD Company; Greg Rehm, Liberty Hill Construction; Craig Liffner, Sullivan Construction; Dave Waldman, B2B Video; Jeff Feingold, New Hampshire Business Review; Ellie Davis Melloy, Artistic Tile, LLC, Jayna Stevens; Pam Bissonnette, Duprey Hospitality; Sue Bee, Opportunity Networks; Stacy Clark & Tony DaCosta, Turnstone Corporation; Suzanne D’Amato, Suzanne D’Amato Design LLC; Brian O’Keefe & Stephanie Ouellette Manchester Police Department; Adam Hollis, JP Morgan; Leslie Thompson, Wal-Mart; Jen Bartholomay, Fulcrum; Larry Johansen, NH Retirement System; Emma Paradis, Impeccable Nest; Tom Reid; Kelly Leitner, Warrenstreet Architects; Tara Reardon, NH Community Loan Fund; and Paula Kelley-Wall & Karen McNamara, Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire. To learn more about Building On Hope please visit www.buildingonhope.com.
About Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire
The Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire, formerly The Rape and Domestic Violence Crisis Center, has been serving Merrimack County since 1978. Supporting those affected by domestic & sexual violence, stalking, elder and child abuse and neglect. As a nonprofit, Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire provides services to victim/survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, elder and child abuse. The mission is to empower individuals to make positive changes in their lives. Free and confidential services are available to everyone, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, income, or physical ability. Advocates can be reached be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To learn more about Crisis Center of Central New Hampshire please visit www.cccnh.org.
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