Location, location, location.
Did you know that The River Center, physically located in Peterborough, provides services for individuals and families in a number of towns? Our focus is on serving residents in Greenville, Mason, New Ipswich, Rindge, Jaffrey, Dublin, Peterborough, Greenfield, Temple and Sharon. If someone lives outside these towns, we may be able to support them but will encourage them to connect with a family resource center closer to home.
Let me explain how family resource centers (FRCs) work in New Hampshire. There are more than 20 centers spread from the North Country to the Seacoast, Upper Valley to Monadnock and everywhere in between. Each family resource center came into being as a result of the needs in that particular community. This is why each FRC looks a little different. Some are part of larger organizations like Healthy Starts is part of HCS in Keene; some are smaller independent nonprofits like The River Center.
Some have preschools as part of their programs like The Grapevine in Antrim. Some have remote offices like the Family Resource Center in Gorham. Whole Village Family Resource Center in Plymouth has 14 other social service nonprofits located under its roof. Every FRC in New Hampshire serves a multiple-town community, and each has the goal to serve people in the community where they live, to help connect them to the services and supports they need to provide safe, stable, nurturing homes for themselves and their families. Family Support New Hampshire is the coalition of our state’s family resource centers and hosts an online FRC locator map at fsnh.org/members.html.
As a family and community resource center, The River Center provides parent education, family support and community connections in a welcoming environment to strengthen individuals and families in the Eastern Monadnock Region. We carry out this mission wherever we can. This month, The River Center has programs running at Mascenic and ConVal High Schools and a weekly walking group in Jaffrey. The Mini-Explorers will be exploring Gilson Pond in Jaffrey and other fun spots, the Baby and Me group meets in West Peterborough and the pregnancy group and the See the Able group meet on Zoom. The home visitor provides one-on-one support for young families in many of our towns.
The free tax program prepares returns for residents from many area towns. We host the monthly Provider Network on Zoom that connects more than 100 local social service professionals and volunteers with information about needed services and programs for our community members.
So, don’t let the address fool you. Yes, our address is 9 Vose Farm Road, Suite 115, in Peterborough. But we are ready to meet you where you are.
Margaret Nelson is executive director of The River Center in Peterborough.