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Collective Power

The Warmth for the Millyard warm clothing drive began for me this fall as a member of Kate Hansen’s Intro to Community Leadership class. One of the first things we did was to write a mission statement:

The mission of the Warmth from the Millyard Project (Fall2009) was to mobilize the UNH Manchester community in a winter clothing drive to demonstrate our collective power to address the community need for warm clothes through collaborative partnerships.

I was intrigued and inspired by the words collective power. Did this class of 8 have the collective power to address these needs?

As I look back I am amazed, in the course of 3 months this group mobilized the UNH Manchester students, faculty and staff. Who in turn used their collective powers to assist our core group. Our primary goal was to collect 700 pieces of clothing for three local agencies. We exceeded that goal by collecting over 5,000 pieces of warm clothing. We have provided warm clothes to more than 8 local organizations, which will keep hundreds of people warm this winter.

Not only is our success gauged in numbers of clothes collected. I feel that the real success was in the awareness that we created. Through our collective powers we informed our school community, co-workers, families and friends, and the NH community of the need for warm clothing in their community.

Through our collective power we became a place to go if you were in need, we didn’t turn anyone away, we tried to meet the needs of anyone that requested our service.

We collaborated with many groups outside of the UNH Manchester community to communicate the extensive needs of the community. We had a presence on both NHPR and WZID, both stations broadcast to thousands of NH residents.

At the conclusion of the official clothing drive, we celebrated with many of the partners that were made over the course of the project. I was proud to see what the collective power of the Community Leadership program had achieved, a program that will continue to provide warm clothing not only in the Manchester community but throughout the state of New Hampshire.

- Mary Ann Allsop

Making a difference

Angelina Jolie is someone who inspires me. She's more than a community leader- she's a global one. As a rich and famous Hollywood actress, like many people in her position, she could easily turn a blind eye to the pain in the world. Instead, she throws herself into it without hesitation.

She has donated millions of dollars to refugees and has visited more than twenty countries on humanitarian missions over the last nine years. She's been to Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Thailand, Colombia, Kenya, and Sudan, among many other countries. In Christmas of 2006, she spent time with refugees in Costa Rica, handing out presents. Apart from her children, spending time with refugees is "the greatest gift – the greatest life lesson I could ever receive." She funds the National Center for Refugee and Immigrant Children, an organization that provides free legal aid to refugee and immigrant children with no legal representation. She also founded the Jolie/Pitt Foundation which donated two million dollars to Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders. She is very politically active and has received numerous awards for her humanitarian work.

She has said, "We cannot close ourselves off to information and ignore the fact that millions of people are out there suffering. I honestly want to help. I don't believe I feel differently from other people. I think we all want justice and equality, a chance for a life with meaning. All of us would like to believe that if we were in a bad situation someone would help us."

A New Hampshire native community leader that is also very inspiring, whose name is not quite as well known, is AnnMarie Morse. Her daughter, Michelle Morse, died four years ago from colon cancer. Under the law at that time, Michelle wasn't able to leave school while undergoing chemotherapy because she would have lost her family's health insurance. She still graduated with honors, all the while fighting to change the law so that no one would have to end up in her situation. After she passed, her mother continued the fight. AnnMarie Morse has said: "No other family will have to walk in our shoes and fight to keep the coverage they pay for to keep their seriously ill or injured college student on their policy. We were fortunate that Michelle’s Law became a state and federal law in 4 years. I am pleased that no other family or college-student will have to make the choice Michelle had to make, choosing between her health insurance or her education."

AnnMarie lobbied for years to turn her dream into a reality and to protect college students across the nation. She continues to fight for health care reform today. She holds a great deal of compassion toward other people who are sick and don't have health insurance and she wants to fix the situation. Because of her hard work, she has made an enormous difference in the lives of many people.

Just these two stories show that anyone can make a difference, whether you are a rich and famous movie star or a mother from Candia, NH. People who are passionate about what they believe in can make this world a better place and can serve as inspiring community leaders. Ones such as Angelina Jolie and AnnMarie Morse have inspired thousands of people to support important causes and to take a stand. I think that community leaders who are sincere and determined attract like-minded people and effect change that they don't even know about. I'm sure that Angelina Jolie has no idea I am sitting here saying that she has inspired me to want to make positive changes in the world. Leading your community and setting a positive example infuses others with the enthusiasm and good will that you project. Community leaders don't just affect their community; they inspire everyone they encounter, and that inspiration incites change that is boundless.

- Whitney

Why study community leadership?

Three months ago, I didn't know anything about community leadership. When I saw that UNH Manchester was offering a class on it, I thought it sounded interesting. I was afraid I was a little out of my league because of my lack of background in this area, but this was something I had always wanted to try. I had just made the decision to apply to Master's programs in social work, and felt I really needed some experience under my belt.

When the ball got rolling for our warm clothing drive, I figured that we'd maybe collect a thousand clothing items. The economy is in horrible shape and no one can spare extra clothes or go out to buy some for strangers. We had all read the horrifying stories on Working It Out and contributed some of our own. I thought that we would meet the needs of the three organizations we had chosen, if we were lucky, and that would be that.

I did not expect such an overwhelming response from the community. Saying that we have collected over 5,400 items of clothing in a matter of a few weeks just blows my mind. Dozens upon dozens of total strangers donated brand new clothing to total strangers. The PASS students and City Year spent many hours carefully counting, sorting, and delivering the clothes. Everyone in class and all the volunteers put in a lot of work and effort into making this happen.

It was surreal that it reached the point where we were struggling to think of another organization to give to because we had given more than enough to half a dozen already. I can't tell you how fulfilling this experience has been, to know that thousands of people across New Hampshire will be warm this winter because of our drive. I think of one of the lessons that was taught in our textbook, that every volunteer should know what they are getting out of their work. I think I can speak for many of us when I say that what we get is the satisfaction of knowing we have taken care of our neighbors, friends, peers, and fellow human beings.

The connections we have made with various people through Warmth from the Millyard has been wonderful. Paula has encountered amazing people on Craigslist of all places; she pleaded for help on there and ended up receiving donations from very kind and selfless individuals. Delivering the clothes is highly rewarding. One woman from the Way Home thanked me and said, "You are helping a lot of people." She pulled out a bag of pants I had donated. They were the right size for a girl at the shelter who barely had any pants to wear. It just felt right that she had them.

Tonight at the celebration event, Kate said that there are no donors and receivers, because we all donate and receive. I can't agree with that more. I have no idea what will be going on in my life in ten years. I could fall on hard times and end up at a shelter. It can happen to anyone. We are all just getting by with what we have and are all vulnerable to misfortune. The people who received these donations may have once been donating themselves or will donate in the future. To me, it doesn't matter where they are, where they've been, or where they are going. All I care about is that right now they need warm clothes and I have a way to provide some assistance. I want us to share what we have because when we work together, a community has the power to lift everyone up. At the end of the day, we're all just humans. We are all the same. To serve others is a privilege, one that I think we should all partake in.

Kate asked us to reflect on the question: "How can something this small make a difference?" I think Warmth from the Millyard's progression over the years is the answer to that. It started out as an idea thought up by UNH Manchester students just a few years ago. It grew; more and more clothes were collected every year, more parternships were formed, more people became involved. This year, it shifted, and UNH Manchester started acting as a business partner, and we focused on acquiring clothes just from our community. Thousands of clothing items flooded in. The PSA on WZID brought in thousands of more clothes from people in the general area. Several other UNH Manchester classes became involved. We worked on forming a partnership with NH Public Radio. Just one idea spawned all of this success.

And now a new matching system is being introduced, whereby donors and receivers can team up online and clothes can be donated year-round. Through a partnership with the Department of Transportation, the Warmth from the Millyard will continue to expand.

This has all been possible because of the students in the Community Leadership program lead by Kate. She and her students have all mobilized their communities, friends, families, neighbors, and peers to support the Warmth from the Millyard and help it become the success that it is today. This is a perfect example of the power of community leadership. When you have the drive to lead your community for a cause, you can accomplish your goals, no matter what they are. If you persevere, you will surpass them. I think people should study community leadership because it is a compelling way to make a change and bring people together. If your community wants something and you organize yourselves to go after it, and you don't give up, there is no stopping you.

- Whitney

Food for Children

Here's an email from Kate Ferreira, director of the UNH Manchester Center for Graduate & Professional Studies. Every Saturday morning, she helps out at Food for Children, where volunteers give food to those in need. This past Saturday, students from WFMY were distributing clothes. Here is what she had to say:

Danielle!
A great big THANK YOU to you and the UNHM students that participated in the clothing distribution form Warmth in the Millyard on Saturday at Food For Children. Although Saturday was almost at freezing temperatures, it proved to be perfect timing for you to be there. The winter coats were a welcome addition for many, as the little boy that showed up wearing only a t-shirt. When asked where his coat was, he said he didn’t have one, but that was remedied with a cozy fleece jacket, hat, and gloves. A woman at church on Sunday was wearing the coat she acquired the day before and was just thrilled with it. Again, thank you to you and those that helped for being mindful of the community in need, it was a tremendous blessing!

Best regards
Kate

If you want to help out at Food for Children, they meet every Saturday morning at the JFK Coliseum at 303 Beech Street in Manchester.

BIO 413 essays

Students in Professor Patricia Halpin's class, BIO 413: Principles of Biology I, have researched the effects of cold on the human body so that we can use this research to raise awareness of the need for warm clothes. She has chosen five essays to share on our blog. Their findings demonstrate how crucial it is that everyone has proper clothing this winter, and how important our drive is to meet that need in our community.

Thank you to all of the professor's students for your wonderful work.

The Importance of Keeping Your Body Warm

By Kayla Bosela

Our bodies are constantly at work to keep everything functioning properly. When our internal systems are all where they should be and are stable, our bodies are successfully maintaining what is called homeostasis. The ways in which homeostasis is regulated is crucial to our survival. One great example of how homeostasis is achieved through various mechanisms is through a process called thermoregulation. We all know how important it is to keep ourselves warm when the temperature outside is colder than our normal state is suited to. That is why we wear heavy jackets, gloves, and hats in the cold winter months; to try to keep as much body heat from escaping as we can. However, losing body heat when we are outside and it is freezing is inevitable. This is where our body’s internal mechanisms kick in. Thermoregulation controls our internal body temperature. As soon as our body temperature drops below where is should be, a stimulus is sent to a control center in our brain called the hypothalamus. In this part of the brain, the hypothalamus processes the stimulus of our body temperature dropping. Then, it determines what to do about this stimulus in order to bring it back to homeostasis, since our bodies are constantly working to maintain homeostasis in every aspect. One way that this happens is by shivering. We all know that shivering is a result of being cold, but many of us do not know what shivering is accomplishing, or even think of it as a way of helping our body internally. Shivering is a result of our muscle tone increasing so much that our muscles go through small, short contractions. This in turn is generating heat in our muscles, trying to bring our body temperature back up to the homeostatic level. Another way that our body conserves the heat we hold is by decreasing the blood flow to our skin. With this mechanism, little heat is lost through possible convection or conduction. Also, with less blood flowing to the dermis, there is less radiation occurring due to the lack of heat at the surface of our skin. If the body was unable to perform these mechanisms in order to keep homeostasis, there would be a huge risk of getting hypothermia every time we went outside in the cold. Thermoregulation can’t guarantee safety against hypothermia, depending on how cold it is and other things specific to each individual, such as body fat. This is why it is so important to bundle up as much as possible before spending time outside in the cold.

Warmth in the Millyard

By Melissa Nighelli

Thermoregulation is an important process in the human body. The body is constantly working via various body systems to maintain optimal body temperature. Some of the systems involved include: the integumentary system, the muscular system, and the cardiovascular system.

The skin and various structures are important in regulation of body temperature. Improper care or attention to the skin during extreme conditions could cause many problems including difficulty in regulating temperature and damage to the skin. This is why it is important to have access to appropriate attire when exposed to severe temperature. One risk of prolonged exposure to cold temperatures without proper protection is hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can maintain or produce it. Though hypothermia can occur in various conditions and is not always related to drops in temperature related to weather, this is a very real risk. The onset of hypothermia can lead to the shutting down of all body systems including respiratory and cardiovascular systems resulting in death.

Risks of hypothermia include inadequate clothing for conditions and lack of shelter or proper shelter. People at greater risk for hypothermia include infants and the elderly. In these populations hypothermia can occur more rapidly and without the same warnings as others. Also at risk are those with mental impairment and those that abuse alcohol and drugs. This again is because the body does not receive the same signals and/or the person does not have the cognitive ability to do something about the signals it is receiving.

If treatment is sought early on hypothermia is certainly treatable, though the best method is prevention. Removal of wet clothing and slow warming can be helpful when medical care is not readily available. Once in the care of medical professionals other techniques can be used such as the administration of warm intravenous fluids and humidified oxygen to re-warm the body, blood, and airway.

The signs and symptoms of hypothermia should not be ignored. Nor should the risk be ignored. Helping the body maintain proper temperature via proper care is imperative. Those that are aware of the risks and what is needed for prevention should take every step able to help those at risk populations.

Warmth in the Millyard

By Rachael Stanley

Surviving the winter is tough for everyone. And in New England, freezing cold temperatures combined with blustering snow storms and blizzards are hardly an unfamiliar phenomenon. Now, imagine surviving that winter without something as simple as a winter jacket. The effects of winter on the body can be very dangerous if proper precautions, such as wearing winter clothing, are not taken.

Homeostasis is the maintenance of stable, internal body conditions (such as temperature) regardless of the exterior. The human body regulates homeostasis of body temperature by a process known as thermoregulation. This process is vitally important; it keeps body temperatures within certain limits so the body can remain stable and complete all vital functions. Homeostasis and constant internal body temperature rely on a balance between the heats lost through the environment and the heat gained due to regular metabolic activities.

When an individual is exposed to severely cold weather, the body tries to keep its internal temperature within the normal range. When the temperature drops below a normal temperature, the “heat-gain” center within the hypothalamus of the brain is activated to attempt to raise the temperature of the individual. The body attempts to conserve heat by reducing blood flow to the dermis; this helps keep the blood and the heat closer to the body core and the vital organs. Next, the body tries to generate more heat. This can be done through shivering. This causes the skeletal muscles of the body to contract. This produces heat, which warms the blood vessels and keeps the individual’s core warm.

The dropping of body temperature to a below-normal temperature is called hypothermia. When a person has hypothermia, they may experience uncontrollable shivering and be confused and weak. Also, their skin may appear blue or pale. In the later stages of hypothermia shivering may stop because mechanisms regulating temperature lose their sensitivity as they become less effective. Also, someone may become drowsy and ultimately can experience slowed breathing and heart rate. If someone’s temperature reaches below 82۫ F, they are likely to experience cardiac arrest. At this point, heart rate and breathing stop and body temperature continues to decrease. However, a person can still be revived after this stage, due to the ceasing of metabolic activities.

The effects of cold temperature on the human body can be devastating. Show your warmth by donating your new or lightly used winter clothing to a person in need today.

Warmth in the Mill Yard Essay

By Emily Therrien

Living in New England we experience a variety of natural temperatures as the seasons change. Some may feel nicer than others but if you have the proper gear and apparel the harsher elements are more bearable. Over the last year or so our economy as taken a turn leaving many who were financially secure in a less fortunate position. As we’re approaching winter where temperatures will most likely go below freezing, it is important that we start preparing for the snow and cold weather to come.

Homeostasis refers to the maintenance of a stable internal environment. It's all about a living creature keeping their inside as constant and stable as possible, whatever may be happening on the outside which is not always something we can control. There are six main bodily levels that need to be controlled. CO2 and Urea need to be disposed of, and Ion content, water content, sugar content (of the blood), as well as temperature all need to be kept at a constant level.

Blood temperature is monitored by the hypothalamus, which then sends nerve impulses to the skin. If we're too hot then the hairs lie flat, sweat is produced and vasodilatation occurs. Vasodilatation is the opening up of the blood supply to the skin to remove heat, and it's why we go red when we're hot. If we're too cold, our hairs stand up and vasoconstriction occurs. This is when the blood supply to the skin is closed off to try and keep heat in. The body also increases liver activity and makes us shiver when we're cold, all to the end of producing more heat.

What is hypothermia? Hypothermia is defined as a core, or internal, body temperature of less than 95°F. Anyone exposed to cold temperatures, whether for work or recreation, may be at risk of becoming too cold. Our body depends on the protection of warm clothing when its cold outside. To keep our body temp at normal levels the warm clothing provides extra layers. Since most of our body hear is lost through the head, we should wear hats to keep some of it in and jackets or sweaters around our core to keep our heart and organs stable since they are so vital to sustaining life.

There are two types of people living right now, the fortunate and the less fortunate. One may have the extra income to buy extra articles of clothing and the other is probably forced to spend what they have on other necessities such as food, housing, and children. Both people go through the same reactions when they get cold, how ever it’s not as easy for the less fortunate ones to find the resources to adequately find warm clothing and they are doing what they can, with what they have. Luckily most of us have warm shelter and decent clothing. I can't imagine feeling chilled to the bone regularly and not being able to get away from it. Nearly 700 people in the United States die each year from hypothermia.

This community event Warmth in the Millyard directly affects many people. We give to others and share because we can and it makes us feel good to look out for other people and make sure that they’re not wanting or hurting. And it makes others who could use our donations feel more comfortable and secure and know that there’s some compassion in this world, even though this dip in the economy has affected all of us in some way or another. If we all pitch in a little and waste less we can make sure that more people are being taken care of in this hard time. I feel like we a lot of the time take for granted how much we have, and it could be taken away from us. It makes me happy to help other people out and give of my time or extra things I may have and not be using. I think that this is a good community event that UNHM participates in it makes us appreciate what we have.

Finding the Perfect Balance

By Jessie L. Wood

Did you ever wonder why you get goose bumps and shiver when you’re cold? Perhaps you may have also noticed that on occasion your entire body is warm except for your fingers and toes which may feel numb. The aforementioned phenomena are the result of homeostasis. More specifically homeostasis refers to an organism’s innate ability to maintain an internal equilibrium by adjusting physiological processes. Homeostatic mechanisms primarily use negative feedback to keep the internal conditions of the body at a constant level. In particular negative feedback is initiated when a receptor detects a change in the external environment. The receptor then sends a signal to a control center within the body. The control center processes the incoming information and in turn sends out instructions for negating this change. These instructions are carried out by the effector. Once the instructions have been carried out the body returns to a state of homeostasis.

One of the simplest examples of homeostasis is that of thermoregulation which is exactly what is occurring when we develop goose bumps or shiver. In the human body temperature is controlled by the thermoregulatory center which is found in the hypothalamus of the brain. The hypothalamus receives information from two different sets of thermoreceptors. One set of receptors is in the hypothalamus itself and these receptors are responsible for monitoring the temperature of the blood as it passes through the brain, which is known as the core temperature. The other set of receptors are in the skin most notably the skin on the trunk of the body. These receptors monitor changes in external temperature. The body relies on both sets of receptors to determine the adjustments that need to be made to maintain homeostasis. Once information from the receptors reaches the thermoregulatory control center the center sends several impulses to different effectors in the body in order to adjust body temperature. For example the goose bumps one develops when they are cold are actually the result of muscles contracting on the outermost skin layer. This contraction causes the hairs of the skin to become raised which in turn traps a layer of warm air near the skin. Shivering is yet another response of effector. Notably shivering is the result of skeletal muscles repeatedly contracting and relaxing. This cycle of contraction and relaxation generates heat by way of friction. Finally even the scenario in which the trunk of one’s body is warm while the fingers and toes are cold is an example thermoregulation. Notably the effector in this case is the smooth muscles in the arterioles in the skin. The muscles contract causing vasoconstriction. As a result less heat is carried from the core to the surface of the body. While this helps to maintain the core body temperature the extremities most often feel cold, can turn blue and in some extreme cases can even suffer damage known as frostbite. All of these forms of thermoregulation are effective measures the body uses to maintain a stable internal temperature. In these three specific cases the thermoregulatory system is trying to prevent hypothermia wherein the internal body temperature drops dangerously low such that there is damage to organs, muscles and tissues. As one can clearly see goose bumps and shivering are not some haphazard occurrences. But rather they are integral part of the mechanisms used by the body to maintain homeostasis.

Count, PASS, and City Year

I am very excited to announce that we have collected 5,431 clothing items! More is on the way; the donation boxes will be left out this week because clothes are still coming in. If you or someone you know would still like to donate, now is the time.

We owe a great deal of thanks to the PASS students and City Year for helping us out last week. They counted, sorted, and delivered thousands of clothing items and have been wonderful partners during this drive. Thank you.

Bags of clothing counted and sorted at PASS.

Eric, Brian, and Damond from City Year.

Pictures

Our count is up to 2,376 items!

This is the McKenna House in Concord, a homeless shelter that we have donated clothing to.



Jean from The Way Home visited us to pick up and deliver clothing. Thank you!



Our bin from Morgan Storage:



Gary Sears (Security) and Bill Graening (Facilities Department):



Our class working on the clothing drive:

ADM 675 class

The ADM 675 class at UNH Manchester has done outstanding work for Warmth From The Millyard. We want to highlight their work and thank them for their contributions. Thank you!

Flyer they made:

Flyer link

PSA they wrote:

"PSA Information:
AIDA
Attention: Cold vs Warmth.
Interest: People in need. People with unwanted clothing.
Desire: Be part of a community effort. Give without spending.
Action: What, Why, Where, When, how.

Please join Warmth from the Millyard sponsored by UNH Manchester and keep people warm this winter. During the month of November we will be collecting your clean, unwanted coats, boots and other clothing at UNHM on Commercial Street. Your donations will be matched with recipients in need from your community non-profit agencies. For a listing of drop off dates and times, please visit Warmth from the Millyard on Facebook and WFTMY on twitter or contact Kate Hanson @ Kate.Hanson@unh.edu for more information!"

Ad campaign they wrote:

"Guerilla Advertising Campaign:
When: Week before donation acceptances begin – last day of donation acceptance.
Where: UNHM parking lots/area businesses/corners: Commercial/Canal, Commercial/Granite, Spring/Elm
What: Sandwich boards – flyer handouts
Our drive runs November 9th through December 4th! Stop by the UNH Manchester campus with your donations. Boxes will be available.

We need clean clothes, new or lightly used, size infant through adult: coats, boots, jeans, long shirts, kid's pajamas, pants, socks, underwear, and hats."

Count

We have collected 2,297 clothing items so far! Our goal is 3,000 this year and I am more than confident that we will surpass this number. There are several bags uncounted in the bin and we will be collecting clothing until December 4th. Please keep donating and tell your friends and family members about the drive. With your help, every person from all of our organizations will be warm this winter.

We need more coats, boots, pajamas, and longjohns, but we need warm clothing of all kinds- hats, jeans, sweaters, everything.

Help is always needed for sorting and counting. Please contact me if you would like to volunteer.

Thanks for supporting WFMY!

The Bhutanese Refugees and Sister Irene Marie

Sister Irene Marie, member of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, in Manchester, volunteers for Catholic Charities while working with recently arrived immigrants. She has been doing this for many, many years. Although she broke her knee recently, her enthusiasm and passion is barely contained as she directs operations from her wheelchair.

She is currently working with about Bhutanese 48 families, but this number changes often, as more and more families are sent to Manchester at intervals. The US government in 2007, has accepted 60,000 Bhutanese to be settled in this country. The families have spent up to 17 years in refugee camps as they fled ethnic cleansing in Bhutan, many of them under threat of death or torture. These are extended families which include parents, children, and grand-parents.

These people arrive in the USA in the clothes they were wearing in the camps. The climate where the camps are located is like New Hampshire in early fall… it never is like our winter!

Initially they are given low income housing, and other help, but not clothing. They are given four months to find work before aid begins to dry up. In this economic climate, they are facing nearly impossible odds to get ahead…. Or even stay afloat.

These are a small and slim people. Your size smalls and mediums will find a welcome home with them. Please be sure to wash and thoroughly dry them before donating them.

- Paula

Updates

We have collected 995 items of clothing so far!! Thank you all so much! Our goal is to collect 3,000 items. Keep an eye on the thermometer down in the lobby that will track our progress.

Our drive has been extended to December 4th. Please keep bringing in clothes and tell your friends and family members about our drive.

One of the greatest needs out there is for coats and boots. Winter is here and snow is on its way. People really need to have protection against the cold. Some of our recipients are out right now walking around in sandals. Let's work together to help them feel more comfortable this winter.

The next drop off is tomorrow from 12-2. Hope to see you there!

Press Release

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2009
UNH Manchester
Kim Wall, Kim.Wall@unh.edu

Warm Clothes Needed

Manchester, NH –As the temperature falls we are reminded of the many adults and children in New Hampshire who cannot afford warm coats and clothes for the winter season. This is especially true this year with the unemployment rate near record levels and so many people struggling financially. This winter your coat and clothing donations will matter more than ever.

The Warmth from the Millyard warm clothing drive, now in its third year, will begin November 9, and will continue through November 20, 2009. Coordinated by students in UNH Manchester’s Community Leadership Program, the goal is to collect new or lightly used coats, sweaters, jeans, hats, mittens, boots, and socks for children and adults. There is also a need for warm children’s pajamas. Morgan Storage generously donated the use of a portable storage bin to temporarily store the clothing before delivery. Donations will be delivered to New Horizons, Southern New Hampshire Services, and Child and Family Services in Manchester. The community is invited to drop off their donations at the UNH Manchester campus, 400 Commercial Street, in the donation bins on the first floor.

Warmth from the Millyard has inspired students to get involved and give back to their community. One student wrote in on the project’s blog about her experience, “This project has reinforced my self-motivation and compassion for others and made me realize that I can make a difference even if I never meet the individual I am serving.” Students in the Community Leadership Program are participating in marketing, outreach and volunteer recruitment. The Communication Arts Program is creating a documentary film about the project. Students in a zoology class have collected clothing and are conducting research on the effects that cold weather has on the human body. The First Year Experience Program and the Student Activities Office have also been involved in the collection.

The Community Leadership Program at UNH Manchester is designed for students who wish to transform a passion for community activism into a rewarding career. Community Leadership is one of only a handful of programs nationwide to combine hands-on community outreach with an academic study of leadership, communities, citizen influence, and non-profit organization management. Because of this unique curriculum, the program is included as part of the New England Regional Student Program in all of the New England states. Learn more about this unique and rewarding program at www.unhm.unh.edu

If you would like additional information, or to be a part of the Warmth from the Millyard project, contact Professor Kate Hanson at Kate.Hanson.edu or by visiting the Warmth from the Millyard blog at: www.warmthfromthemillyard2009.blogspot.com

UNH Manchester, UNH's urban campus, offers liberal arts and applied majors in business, science, and technology, all with an urban focus. UNH Manchester is UNH. Learn more at www.unhm.unh.edu

2007-2009 Donors and recipients

This is a list of the donors and recipients that have been involved with the Warmth From The Millyard.

Donors

• NH D.O.T
• Bedford Toll
• Hooksett Toll
• Hampton Toll
• Hampton Side Road
• Dover Toll
• Rochester Toll
• Merrimack Tolls (Exit 10, 11, 12)
• TMC Building
• Bureau of Traffic
• Merrimack Maintenance
• Nashua Maintenance
• DOT Administration Building
• AutoDesk
• Manchester Historic Association
• SEE Science Center
• Boys & Girls Club of Greater Derry
• 211 NH
• FIRST
• B&G Salem
• Santos Office Building
• New Hampshire Business Review
• Morgan Storage
• Hillside School
• The Launching Pad
• Dunstable Library / Senior Center
• Bedford Deli
• Hollis Yoga

Recipients

• Nashua Food Kitchen & Shelter
• Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua
• New Horizons
• City Year
• The Salvation Army-Manchester
• Child and Family Services
• PSCC and SOP Programs at the Greater Manchester Family YMCA
• STAY Program, Greater Manchester Family YMCA
• SNHS Head Start
• Selma Deitch Early Learning Program
• DCYF
• B&G Manchester
• McKenna House
• YMCA Manchester
• Wilson Elementary
• Stay Program
• State Program at Parkside Middle School
• ELL Program Hillside
• YWCA

UNH Manchester partners

Here are our partners at UNH Manchester that are helping us out with the drive. We can't thank you enough for your support.

ACADEMIC CLASSES AND DEPARTMENTS:

ADM 635 Students in Free Enterprise: students in Kelly Kilcrease's class will be providing expertise in marketing and organizing the project here on campus.

ADM 675 Integrated Marketing Communication: a team of students from Bill Troy's class are advising us on how to create a marketing plan, how to create consistent messages, and how to organize a radio campaign.

ADM 675 Sustainable Business: students in Walt Alderman's class will be donating 10% of their profits to the WFMY project as well as promoting the project on their sales tables.

BIO 413 Principles of Biology I: students in Patricia Halpin's class will once again research the effects of cold on the human body so that we can use this research to raise awareness of the need for warm clothes.

Communication Arts: The Communication Arts faculty have generously recommended the CSL 201 class to some of their students--who are just terrific!

CSL 204 Managing Change and Conflict in Communities: Ginger Lever is working with her students to research the issue of poverty in our area and to consider the policy implications of this research. The students will also be recruiting other business partners to supply clothes to other recipient organizations.

CSL 207 Fundraising for Community-Based Organizations: a student in Susan Cole's class has chosen the WFMY project as the focus of her fundraising plan and will share this outline with us.

Education: Judy Sharkey has invited us to co-sponsor the upcoming film The Other Side of Immigration on Oct. 29 at 5pm. Students working on the Warmth from the Millyard Project will be hosting a table outside the film to share information and invite participation.

Ecn 444 Power: Tom Birch's students will be creating a video of the Warmth from the Millyard project that can be used to highlight the issues the project addresses as well as detail the project itself.

UMST 599 First Year Seminar: Colleen Sasso will be working with her students to identify an aspect of the WFMY project for their community service focus. They'll be working closely with students from CSL 201 and other classes to address an aspect of the project.


STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:

Art Club: will be helping with the design of the "drop off" boxes and other visual aspects of the project

Jamie Saucier has been working with the CSL 201 students to help them make connections with other student organizations.


DEPARTMENTS/STAFF: These are people who have offered to help share their expertise and support the project either as individuals or through their departments. (I apologize if I've forgotten anyone--let me know--and please know there is room for many more!)

Colleen Bolton: Academic Counseling
Karlea Brunelle-Joiner: First Year Experience
Jamy Cote: Academic Computing
Vicky Doherty: Barnes and Noble Bookstore
Annie Donahue: Library
Lloyd Feder: Facilities Department
Kate Ferreira: Center for Graduate and Professional Studies
Regina McCarthy: Academic Student Services
Donna McIntire: Associate Dean's Office
Trece Mettauer: Community Outreach Scholarship
Laura Piazza: Marketing and Community Relations
Ellen Ruggles: Associate Dean's Office
Mihaela Sabin: Computer Information Systems
Gary Sears: Security Services
Mica Stark: Carsey Institute
Carol Sweich: Academic Counseling
Brian Tobin: Marketing and Community Relations
Kim Wall: Marketing and Community Relations

First sorting day

So far, we have collected 475 items of clothing and the drive only started yesterday!

We had our first sorting day this past Friday in the student lounge. Check it out.


Created with flickr slideshow.

Working It Out

How has the economy affected you? The people around you? What have you seen happen to the people and places in your surroundings?

Please take a minute and post your story on Working It Out. http://www.nhpr.org/wio

Raffle tickets

Support The Warmth From The Millyard buy buying a raffle ticket! Tickets will be sold $1 a piece or $6 for five tickets. They are available until November 20th.

The prizes are:

4 box seat tickets to the Fisher Cats
$25 gift card to T-Bones or Cactus Jack's
1 free night with breakfast at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester
A polar fleece UNH vest
A pair of tickets to see UNH vs. Dartmouth at the Verizon Wireless Arena
$25 off beauty services at Suzanne's Hairwaves

Carsey Institute: Child Poverty High in Manchester

The Carsey Institute has released a disturbing demographic analysis of children in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Some findings:

In Manchester, 25% of children live below the poverty line. This is in stark contrast to the amounts of children living in poverty nearby and across the state: 8% in Nashua, 5% in suburban areas in Hillsborough, and 10% in all of New Hampshire.

"Analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the report finds additional contrasts between the cities of Nashua and Manchester and suburban Hillsborough County. After significant growth between 1990 and 2000, Manchester and Nashua barely grew from 2000 to 2007: Manchester grew by only 1,700 residents, or two percent, and Nashua by 200 residents, just .3 percent. The rest of Hillsborough County, however, grew by nearly 20,000 people, or 11 percent. Suburban Hillsborough is gaining migrants while Manchester and Nashua are experiencing migration loss.

The Manchester-Nashua metropolitan area is New Hampshire’s most diverse, with nearly half of all the state’s minorities living there. Minorities fueled the modest growth of Nashua and Manchester, with the minority population growing 32 percent in Manchester and 24 percent in Nashua, while non-Hispanic white population declined in both areas. In the suburbs, most population gain was fueled by non-Hispanic whites, though the minority population also grew."

UNH Press release: http://www.unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2009/oct/bp26manch.cfm

The full report is available to download here: http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/IB-Johnson-Manchester.pdf

Want to help?

This form will be emailed to me, you just have to remove the asterisks (*). Feel free to skip the form and comment here or contact me elsewhere!

Name:

Email:

How would you like to help the WFMY?

Attend the kick off event
Sort clothes
Staff a table
Other

What times are free for you to volunteer?



Any questions or comments?

Collection Dates and Times

We have our collection dates and times. Come to the lobby at UNHM with your clothing donations. We'll have a table set up. I look forward to seeing you there!

November 9th from 4-6
November 10th from 12-2
November 13th from 4-6
November 17th from 12-2
November 19th from 4-6
November 20th from 12-2

Statistics

"The poverty rate increased from 12.5% to 13.2% between 2007 and 2008, representing an additional 2.6 million people living in poverty. The large increase in poverty suggests that as anti-poverty policies have come to depend more on paid work as the main pathway out of poverty, the safety net has become less effective in reducing economic hardship when the economy and job market are underperforming.

The poverty rate for children was 19.0% in 2008, representing 14.1 million kids living in poverty. In 2008, over one-third (35.3%) of all people living in poverty were children.

Hispanics and Asians were particularly hard-hit by increases in poverty in 2008, increasing by 1.6 and 1.4 percentage points, respectively, from 2007 to 2008.

In 2008, over one-third (33.9%) of all black children and nearly one-third (30.6%) of all Hispanic children were living in poverty (increases of 0.2 and 2.0 percentage points, respectively, since 2007).

In 2008, 37.2% of all families headed by single mothers were living in poverty (up 0.2 percentage points from 2007). In 2008, of the 8.1 million families living in poverty, 3.6 million of them were headed by a single mom."

http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/income_picture_20090910/

Manchester, NH poverty data:

http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Manchester-New-Hampshire.html

Culhane Dennis. “Summer 2009 Research Newsletter” National Alliance to End Homelessness. 6 Aug 2009. http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/2470

Shierholz Heidi. “New poverty, income data reveal only tip of the recession iceberg.” 10 Sept 2009. Economic Policy Institute. http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/income_picture_20090910/

Kickoff

We're kicking off our drive with the screening of, "The Other Side of Immigration," which will be moderated by its director, Roy Germano.

From the site: "ABOUT THE FILM. Based on over 700 interviews in Mexican towns where half the population has left to work in the United States, The Other Side of Immigration asks why so many Mexicans come to the U.S. illegally and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought-provoking, director Roy Germano provides a perspective on undocumented immigration rarely witnessed by American eyes, challenging audiences to imagine more creative and effective solutions to our illegal immigration problem."

http://www.theothersideofimmigration.com/HOME.html

We think this film is fitting because so many of the Manchester people in need are immigrants trying to get back on their feet. It's important to educate the public on this issue whenever possible.

People from the organizations we are working with have all been invited and you are welcome too! The film is screening on Thursday, October 29th at 5:00 p.m. in the third floor auditorium at UNH Manchester.

New Horizons

New Horizons – Homeless Shelter/Soup Kitchen/Food Pantry, Manchester NH

Mission Statement: Our mission is to provide food and shelter to people in need
and offer supportive services to achieve self-sufficiency.

From New Horizons’ website:

For Shelter clients, many more services are available than simply a safe place to stay and meals. On site, clients have access to case management services, referral services, medical services, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

New Horizons is a "wet" emergency shelter, located at 199 Manchester Street. It can accommodate 63 men and 13 women in dormitory style sleeping areas. The shelter is available to homeless individuals 18-years-old and older.

Shelter residents are required to sign in daily between 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Although alcohol or illegal substances may not be used on, or brought onto, New Horizons property, adults with active addictions are admitted. While not a treatment facility, we recognize that many of the chronically homeless who use our shelter are addicted to alcohol or other substances, and we work with them to seek treatment when they are ready.

Dinner is available at 3:00 pm for seniors and again at 4:30 for others including adults who do not reside at the shelter. Breakfast is available for shelter residents. There are also shower and laundry facilities on-site as well as health related services.

Angie's Shelter for Women was opened in recognition of the unique needs of homeless women - especially those with addictions - and who may be facing homelessness as they leave, or await openings in, treatment centers or IOP (Intensive Outpatient Programs). Up to 16 women can stay at Angie's Shelter. It is a small, homelike environment where women can access the support and services they need while working to rebuild their lives. Angie's Shelter clients are required to regularly meet with their case manager to create a goal plan to achieve independent living.

The Soup Kitchen serves breakfast for Shelter guests daily. It also serves a complete dinner to seniors (over 50) at 3:00 p.m. (weekdays) and for those over the age of 18 beginning at 4:30 daily. The Soup Kitchen typically serves 200 meals a day. [2009, they are serving 225-250 meals a day.]

The Food Pantry provides pre-packed food items to impoverished families and individuals in Manchester. The pantry provides food to over 700 households each month. [in conversation, the number of households being served in 2009, is 850 families a month.] Between 700-800 children reside in these households.

From Paula's visit and conversation with Mary Silva, volunteer coordinator 9/29/09:

Services are available to Manchester residents only. I asked Kevin (staff: statistics etc) (sorry, didn’t get his last name) how many homeless there actually are in Manchester. “Whew” was the answer, which is also basically unanswerable as so many are “hidden” (couch jumping, etc) He guessed there are generally roughly 1500 people, but this number also includes people in transient housing. At the January “point-in-time” survey, 560 people were found to be sleeping by the river. He couldn't even guess how many live below the poverty line.... says we have to await the census.

They have 100s of volunteers, and 26 paid staff between the 199 Manchester street shelter and Angie’s Shelter.

The residents of the shelters must leave the shelter early and for the day, from May 1 – October 1, weather non-withstanding. They must leave the dorms, but may stay in dayroom from October 1 to April 30.

I have been given verbal permission to include their logo on our info sheets on the donation boxes.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOR NEW HORIZONS;
200-300 coats for adults, men and women. Also they are begging for even USED BOOTS, which for the recipient will be so very much more welcomed over the canvass shoes they are wearing, or better than the shoes or boots they currently have that have huge holes in the soles, at the heels and toes.

SNHS Head Start

SNHS Head Start offers part day and full day daycare for children up to two years prior to public school age entrance, up to three or four years old. They have centers in Nashua, Manchester, Hudson, Wilton, and Hillsborough. Eligibility criteria for Head Start is based on age, income, and weighted selection criteria. Income guidelines for families are 100% poverty. A family unit of four, for example, makes around $22,050. Part day Head Start is free. There is tuition assistance available for full day Head Start. They are benefited by The Quality Early Learning Initiative, a scholarship program that serves families whose total household income does not qualify them for childcare benefits.

SNHS Head Start offers pre-writing and pre-reading activities, family education, community access and outreach, coordination with educational and therapeutic services, monthly parent meetings, volunteer opportunities, and nutrition services. They offer medical services such as free hearing and vision screenings.

Activities in Head Start promote literacy, math, and social and emotional development. The centers provide the children nutritious meals in compliance with USDA through the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Currently, there is an enrollment of 299 children in both urban and rural sites in Hillsborough County. Each child has an individually designed program. Early Head Start has an enrollment of 64 infants, toddlers, and prenatal clients.

SNHS’s site says: “Southern New Hampshire Services Child Development programs are designed to meet each child's individual needs. Every child receives a variety of learning experiences that encourage social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth."

There are many options for families who want to join Head Start. Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants, toddlers, and their families in center based and home-based programs. Centers in Hillsborough county offer after school programs for children in elementary school. Centers in this county also offer a full day care for children of age five who are in kindergarten.

For more information, visit their site: http://snhshome.homestead.com/childdev.html

Mission

MISSION: The mission of the Warmth from the Millyard Project (Fall 2009) is to mobilize the UNH Manchester community in a winter clothing drive to demonstrate our collective power to address the community need for warm clothes through collaborative partnerships.

Our goal is to meet the needs of three Manchester organizations: New Horizons, SNHS Head Start, and Child and Family Services. Our clothing drive will run from November 9th through November 20th. Boxes will be set up in various places throughout UNH Manchester's campus.

We need warm clothing of all kinds and sizes, infant through adult. We are collecting new and lightly used coats, boots, jeans, long shirts, kid's pajamas, pants, socks, underwear, and hats. We just ask that they are clean.

Please help out your community by donating.