$500K endowment for Farnum Center to aid veterans battling addiction

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Farnum Center CEO Larry Gammon speaks during a big announcement regarding expanded services for veterans at Farnum Center. From left, Cheryl Wilkie of Farnum Center, Dan Plummer, Renee Plummer and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH.
Farnum Center CEO Larry Gammon speaks during a big announcement regarding expanded services for veterans at Farnum Center. From left, Cheryl Wilkie of Farnum Center, Dan Plummer, Renee Plummer and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH.

MANCHESTER, NH – During a short ceremony to announce the Dan & Renée Plummer Endowment Fund, Renée Plummer’s cell phone signaled a loud alert. Plummer silenced her phone, smiled apologetically, and then the ceremony went on.

A few minutes later, Plummer took the podium and shared the message from her cell phone with the small crowd gathered at the Farnum Center on Queen City Avenue.

It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Screen Shot 2016-02-14 at 10.25.07 PMIt was from Carey & Giampa Realtors in Seabrook, confirming their $50,000 donation to the endowment fund, pushing it over the $300,000 benchmark, well on its way to the goal of $500,000 by September.

The endowment fund was established to provide financial support, in perpetuity, for service members and veterans of all eras, to receive substance abuse treatment and recovery services through Easter Seals NH programs, including a new residential treatment center known as Farnum North, in Franklin, set to open its doors and quickly fill the 20 beds. It honors the Plummers, of Portsmouth, for their significant service to their community and the state, including their generous support of Easter Seals NH’s Military and Veterans Services and Veterans Count.

Treatment services will include Easter Seals alcohol and/or drug abuse services, along with Care Coordination through Easter Seals Military & Veterans Services.

  • Residential treatment, a 30-day program, at the Farnum Center in Manchester or Farnum North in Frankin
  • Peer-based recovery program for 30, 60 or 90 days, through Webster Place at Farnum North in Franklin, medical detoxification, available 24 hours a day, at the Farnum Center
  • Outpatient programs
  • After Care support, including an alumni program offering clinical and peer support, and transitional housing support, ensuring everyone who completes the program has a place to go.
  • Easter Seals Military & Veterans Services Care Coordinator, providing ongoing support and help with other needs such as, employment, housing, co-occurring issues (TBI/PTSD), childcare issues, counseling and emergency financial assistance through Veterans Count, the program’s philanthropic arm.

Fundraising for the Endowment began in October 2015, and will conclude in September 2016.

One of those challenges, of significant magnitude, is substance abuse among returning service members, who struggle with the disease of addiction, and due to financial circumstances, are unable to receive the treatment they need to put them on a path to recovery.

  • Alcohol and drug addiction are among the top three critical issues facing veterans and service members today. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • New Hampshire has the fifth-highest veteran population per capita in the United States. According to the 2012 Census Bureau, there are 115,415 veterans in New Hampshire.
  • As reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veteran suicide rates are 22 individuals a day or one every 65 minutes. Substance abuse issues may be a factor in many of these instances.
  • Problems with substance abuse have been clearly documented in both veteran and active military populations. From 2012-2013, the NH VA medical Center provided substance abuse treatment to 758 post 9/11 veterans. Source: NH Legislature Commission on PTSD and TBI
  • VA-enrolled veterans seeking residential treatment often stay on a waiting list to receive the care out of state. When faced with this reality, many choose not to pursue treatment.

The Farnum Center, with locations in Manchester and Franklin, is a private 501c3 non-profit organization committed to providing quality, cost effective, gender-specific services for adults seeking recovery from alcohol and other drug abuse and dependence. Services are geared to provide those struggling with the disease of addiction the tools to lead them on the road to recovery.

Since 2007, Easter Seals Military & Veterans Services has served more than 9,000 individuals in a variety of ways including suicide prevention, homelessness, substance abuse treatment, employment, transportation, and mental health issues resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder and/or traumatic brain injury. Veterans Count supports families through a care coordination model and provides emergency financial assistance for food, home maintenance, housing, rent, fuel assistance, utilities, vehicle repair, gasoline, medical bills, and child care.

For more information about the Farnum Center, please visit www.estreatment.org. For more information about Easter Seals Military & Veterans Services, please visit www.easterseals.com/nh.


 

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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!