Families in Transition 2014 Volunteer of the Year Awards

Recently, Families in Transition (FIT), a Manchester, Concord and Dover, NH, based homeless services provider, held events to recognize and award their volunteers. In 2014, the organization had 1,400 people who volunteered 35,800 hours to the agency enabling the organization to provide housing and social services to homeless families and individuals.

“The events are all about letting our volunteers know how much we appreciate them and how important they are to us,” said Families in Transition President, Maureen Beauregard. “Everything that we do is possible because of the support from volunteers. The over thirty-five-thousand hours of volunteer time helped save the agency over $800,000 in resources, which equates to the cost of providing housing and services to 85 families living with us.”

The 2014 Volunteer of the Year Award Winners include:

· Volunteer of the Year: Aino Elliott of Deering, NH. Since 2012, Ms. Elliott has volunteered nearly 800 hours of her time at OutFITters Thrift Store Boutique in Concord, NH.

· Youth Volunteer of the Year: Sam (11 years old) and Andy (7 years old) Louis of Manchester, NH. For the last several years, both Louis children have volunteered at the agency’s various events, including the bimonthly “Birthday to Remember” celebrations for the children of Families in Transition.

· Business of the Year: Merchants Fleet Management, Hooksett, NH, Starting in 2012, with an “extreme makeover” week at the organization’s emergency family shelter, Merchants Fleet Management has not only volunteered their time, but also provided materials, equipment, and supplies for a variety of projects and programs making a big impact on the organization.

· School Group of the Year: Concord High School SOCK (Save our Cold Kids) Club, Concord, NH. Over the last year, the group of high school students donated nearly 200 hours of their time at OutFITters Thrift Store Boutique and Families in Transition.

Families in Transition is a nonprofit organization that provides safe, affordable housing and social services to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, enabling them to gain self-sufficiency and respect. FIT also owns and operates two thrift stores, OutFITters Thrift Store, in Manchester and Concord, NH, as well as a commercial cleaning company, FIT Cleaning Solutions, all of which serve as economic engines to help pay for services that FIT provides. For more information about FIT, volunteering, stores, and commercial cleaning company, visit www.fitnh.org or call 603-641-9441.

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