MANCHESTER, NH – In the book “Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation,” authors William Strauss and Neil Howe popularized the term Millennials to describe people born between 1982 and 2004. Now, as they work their way through their 20s and even into their 30s, we are starting to learn more about who the Millennials are and what drives them.
What we are finding out excites non-profit organizations like Catholic Charities New Hampshire.
According to a Resource Interactive & Communispace survey, the top five types of organizations Millennials donated to over a period from 2007-08 were Religious Organizations, Local Schools, Federated Charities, Disaster Relief Agencies and Human Services.
In other words, the things Catholic Charities New Hampshire represents.
Lisa B. Merrill-Burzak, Vice President of Development for Catholic Charities New Hampshire, has seen the energy and passion Millennials have for serving. She also sees their focus on a cause and is quick to point out that Catholic Charities New Hampshire is a veritable buffet for these young people, offering a multitude of causes for them to pick out to devote their time to.
“We aren’t about one ribbon,” Merrill-Burzak said. “We have a whole bouquet of ribbons.”
Catholic Charities New Hampshire, which received the 2014 NH Business of the Year Award in the Non-Profit category, fits in with each of the top five causes that are important to Millennials, in part, because it is one of the largest private, non-profit service agencies in the state.
Religious Organizations. The Parish and Community Services program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire supports and assists in examining pressing social needs (poverty, aging, disability, hunger, etc.) and developing volunteer-driven, collaborative responses rooted in gospel values. The professional personnel help parishes to respond to public needs through maintained relationships with pastoral staff and through the involvement in collaborative efforts and programs between parishes and the community.
In addition, the program provides periodic training for volunteers as well as information and referral services in an effort to assist people who are struggling through difficult circumstances.
Local Schools. The St. Charles Children’s Home, which has been serving children in need for over 100 years, works with local school districts to provide one-on-one behavioral treatment for children so that they can integrate back into school systems and succeed.
Federated Charities. The New Hampshire Food Bank serves as the only food bank in the state and supplies nutritious food and resources to more than 400 partner agencies to help meet the needs of people who do not know when or where their next meal will come from. The NH Food Bank offers programs to address the root causes of hunger including: Mobile Food Pantries, Cooking Matters® (nutrition education, smart shopping, and resources through hands-on learning), Culinary Job Training, a Production Garden and SNAP Outreach.
Disaster Relief Agencies. Disasters come in many forms. For the multitudes of immigrants who come to this country every year, many are escaping personal disasters caused by persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a group. Through programs offered by Catholic Charities New Hampshire, individuals and families that are eligible for immigration benefits, but who cannot afford private assistance, are provided with low-cost immigration counseling and legal representation. In addition, the program offers some social services to both the immigrant and refugee.
Human Services. The mission of the New Hampshire Catholic Charities is as simple as it is inspiring: To respond to those in need with programs that heal, comfort, and empower. Its programs and partners do just that.
From in-home care to long term nursing care, Trinity Health Partners provides loving professional care in the setting most suitable for our residents and those we serve. OUR PLACE addresses the needs of teens and young adults who are expecting their first child; providing education, support, and an opportunity for parents to begin to make positive changes in their lives and the lives of their children. Catholic Charities New Hampshire provides counseling for individuals, couples and families that struggle with a variety of personal difficulties including: depression, stress, family conflict, relationship problems,
anxiety, substance abuse, life adjustment issues and grief.
Catholic Charities New Hampshire has seen the influence Millennials are making through their involvement with AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), a federally funded program managed in state by Catholic Charities New Hampshire, as well as their involvement in other programs.
Catholic Charities New Hampshire was founded in 1945 and has remained true to its mission of helping children, the elderly, the homeless and people who are struggling. Those are issues that span generations. Catholic Charities New Hampshire is excited the newest generation, the Millennials, have become so involved with these issues.
To learn more about Catholic Charities New Hampshire, go to www.nh-cc.org.
