“You have two hands, one to help yourself and one to help others,” is a favorite quote of Ashley Nichols, an intern with Ascentria’s Therapeutic Family Connections (TFC) in New Hampshire. A graduate of Smith College, Ashley is working on a master’s degree in social work and a law degree, and spends two days a week volunteering with Ascentria’s TFC program.   Read more

Diane Baker is a long time Nashua resident and a retired developmental disabilities social worker who answered the Call to Volunteer in more ways than one. “When I got a call to mentor a young man from Sudan I thought, I don’t have a car, I have some trouble walking, but I’ll go for it, he only lives a few blocks away. He’s my neighbor so of course I should help him.”  Read more

With a smile on his face and a self-assured presence, LSS (now Ascentria Care Alliance) volunteer tutor Herlis Montalvan commented, “Volunteering helps me and it helps the students. We’re both learning at the same time and volunteering has helped me to mature and heal”.  Read more

Rachel Sanborn, currently majoring in sociology at St. Michael’s College, came to us this summer to explore the area of refugee resettlement. Prior to this, she was involved in Extended Service trips around the United States, such as volunteering at “Best Friends Animal Sanctuary” in Utah. Further, she is a mentor for two middle school girls at risk for not graduating high school. “I just want to make a positive impact,” Rachel said with a smile. And that is what she has accomplished this summer. Read more

“I wanted to help a non-profit organization that was really making a positive and practical difference in people’s lives, since I hope to eventually work for an organization like this after I graduate. I had heard good things about LSS (now Ascentria Care Alliance) and decided to look at the volunteer positions available. Good News Garage (GNG) offered a volunteer position assisting the marketing manager. As a business major, I am interested in the fields of public relations and Marketing and wanted to get some experience and observation in these areas.”  Read more

Gracie, a small white poodle with expressive brown eyes was trained and certified as a service dog in February 2010.  Her area of expertise was to serve as a therapy dog in hospital and nursing home settings.  Sister Carol Weaver was serving as a parish deaconess at a Lutheran church in Rhode Island when Gracie was certified, but it wasn’t long before the duo accepted a call to serve LSS (now Ascentria care Alliance) in church relations in April 2010.  Read more

Before Anne Marie bustled out the door to bring a refugee family to the WIC office, we were able to sit down and chat about her time interning with LSS, Services for New Americans (now Ascentria Care Alliance). Its amazing Anne Marie has been with us as much as she has, given that she is taking a 24 credit hour course load, is part of the French Club, Student of Social Work Club, and is a mentor at the Aspiring Hands UNH Somersworth Youth Safe Haven after-school program. Anne Marie is in her final semester at UNH Durham where she is finishing her dual major in Social Work and French. Read more

Chayanna Acevedo landed in the halls of UNH Durham as a nursing major, but observation hours at a local hospital caused her to reconsider. “I wanted to help people for the long term and be more closely involved to address the root issues not just provide the short term fixes,” she contemplated. It was during her time at the hospital that one professional group stuck out-- the social workers. She noticed they were doing exactly what she was after. Read more