What We Do
Since 1980 the Upper Valley Haven has provided temporary shelter and educational programming for homeless families and adults as well as food to anyone in need.
Where People Find Hope and Discover Possibility
The Upper Valley Haven is a private nonprofit that provides support and assistance to community members struggling with poverty in Vermont and New Hampshire. We meet people where they are, address immediate needs through food and shelter, and offer longer-term solutions that foster independence and housing stability. Everyone deserves to have their basic needs met and a community is stronger when we offer a hand up to our most vulnerable neighbors.
News & Stories
Explore our blog for insightful articles, stories about the people we serve, and ideas that inspire action on the topics you care about.
July 25, 2024
Hi Friends, Though summer can be the time that things slow down, it seems we’ve been busier than ever. This enews edition provides insights into a lot of the activity at the Haven and in the community. We’re thrilled that […]
July 25, 2024
Our service coordinators do excellent work. Below is a brief conversation with community member Quiana, who, with the help of Haven service coordinators Diane and now Brie, has been able to find permanent housing, a stable job, and a safe [...]
June 29, 2024
Letter to the Editor from Haven Executive Director Michael Redmond For the Valley News, Saturday, June 29, 2024 The recent heat wave and the resultant health risks for broad sectors of the population have been on the minds of many. […]
Donate Now
Nothing would be possible without the support of our community and for that we are eternally grateful. At The Haven over 70% of our operating budget comes from private companies and individual donations. Using your gift carefully is how we honor our donors. We couldn’t do our important work without you, thank you!
A new name for a familiar resource! With the recently-completed renovations and having customers back shopping inside the Haven, we wanted a fresher name that destigmatizes "food shelf," so we`re happy to announce the Upper Valley Haven Community Food Market. Everyone is welcome to stop by M-Th 10am-4:30pm, F 10-3 from anywhere for whatever reason.
We are extremely grateful to all the donor, volunteer, staff, and community support that made this possible. We couldn`t have done it without you!
💓🌟 Today, we want to shine a spotlight on one of our MOST amazing business partners, @DanAndWhits, who consistently go above and beyond to support our work. 🎉 Their consistent generosity through monthly checkout roundups, milk 🥛 and egg 🥚donations, and extraordinary holiday giving throught the #19Days, make a huge impact! We are so grateful for their ongoing support nd for all they do for the #UpperValley! 👏🏼🤝 #CharitableCauses #CommunitySupport #GeneralStore 💝 🌟
🌱🥕 The Haven`s gardens are more than just beautiful green spaces, they play a role in welcoming visitors and guests to our campus, and provide an edible landscape showcasing an abundance of food. We are grateful to volunteers from #HavenPartner @NovoNordisk who spent time harvesting peas, greens, & garlic.🌽🍅 #FoodSecurity #CommunityGardens #SustainableLiving
Did you know that the Haven delivers perishable, non-perishable, and tasty prepared foods twice weekly to @DartmouthHealth Moms in Recovery Clinic? #Hunger is a barrier to #recovery success, so the Haven ensures fresh, nutritous food is available for the moms and their children when they attend appointments. 🍊🥒🍇🥚🥛
We so appreciate the donors who support our food services programs throughout the Upper Valley!
https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/moms-recovery
With the passing of universal school meals in Vermont back on June 17th, children in Vermont have access to at least two meals a day during the school year, but what happens in the summer? And what about families right across the river in New Hampshire?
A recent article in the @vnewsuv by Liz Sauchelli looked into these questions and reports on the status of food for Upper Valley children over the summer. The Haven’s Director of Food Programs and Finance, Jennifer Fontaine, is quoted in the story, which also describes our food services and recent trends.
Organizations like the @hartford_community_coalition and the @nh_food_bank are delivering to food sites across the Upper Valley. Hartford High School and the White River School are “open sites” for breakfast and lunch, while the White River Valley Supervisory Union is creating take-home kits with a week’s worth of food. Unfortunately, the Mascoma, Plainfield, and Cornish school districts do not meet requirements to be “open site” summer meal program hosts, leaving families to seek out food at private organizations.
The Upper Valley Haven has seen an increase in the average number of households visiting per day this summer, and there has been an increase in requests for snacks for kids. Fontaine is quoted in the article saying, “There’s been great strides in works on food security but there’s still many more steps to go,” Fontaine said. “I think summer meals are a piece of that. We need more communities offering summer meals.”
Read more at https://www.vnews.com/Summer-meal-programs-address-food-insecurity-55835218