Haven in the News

Valley News – Upper Valley winter shelters kept dozens warm and dry LEBANON — Organizers of two new emergency shelters, which kept dozens of Upper Valley residents off the streets this winter, are reflecting on the season and sorting out […]

[Press Release] Upper Valley Haven Recognition of Vermont’s Homelessness Awareness Day on January 18 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 2024 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org   Upper Valley Haven Will Light and Display 337 Luminaires to Symbolize the Number […]

[Press Release] Upper Valley Haven’s Food Shelf Renovation Update FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   January 2024 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org      Upper Valley Haven has Postponed the Relocation of the Food Shelf White River Junction, VT – The Upper […]

Year-End Message from Michael Redmond Dear Friends, It is a special gift to me in my role at the Haven to be able to send best wishes to you at this time of year. It’s been a busy week for [...]

[Press Release] Annual Memorial Candlelight Vigil for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in the Upper Valley  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   December 2023 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org      Upper Valley Memorial Candlelight Vigil for People Experiencing Homelessness Area social service agencies […]

Valley News – Haven plan for low-barrier shelter in downtown WRJ gets approval WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Upper Valley residents experiencing homelessness — even those under the influence of drugs and alcohol — will have access next year to a […]

Dear friends, I hope you had a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving with friends and family. At the regularly scheduled meeting of the Hartford Planning Commission on Dec. 18, I’ll appear on behalf of the Haven seeking approval for an important [...]

Housing shortage is a community-wide issue For the Valley News by Michael Redmond “Do we have homelessness here?” many Upper Valley residents asked only a few years ago. Rural homelessness has often been invisible to many in our communities. The [...]

[Press Release] Jake’s Quechee Market Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary with a Food Drive   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 2023 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org   Jake’s Quechee Market Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary with a Food Drive to Benefit […]

The Lebanon Seasonal Shelter is Underway! The city of Lebanon, NH has taken a significant step towards addressing the issue of homelessness. With a notable rise in housing insecurity and a strained budget, city officials knew they had to produce [...]

Message from Michael Redmond July 28, 2023 15, 16, 17, 18    95, 100, 108, 104, 147   35, 67 Dear Friends of the Haven, No, these aren’t my selections for the latest PowerBall or MegaMillions drawings, but there is a […]

Valley News – In many Upper Valley communities, meal programs for kids will lapse this summer The Hartford Community Coalition runs its summer meal program, Take a Bite Out of Hunger, in a hybrid fashion. In all, last year the […]

Tom’s Long Journey Toward Home Once you read Tom Brown’s story, you’ll truly admire his motto: “Never give up.” Tom was living the good life—a Navy veteran, working a job he loved in the dining hall at Norwich University, family […]

Goodwill and Giving at All Ages When Devin Wilkie was growing up in Cornish, NH he and his two brothers always had what they needed, but not much more. Devin described growing up “relatively poor.” His family got by, had […]

[Press Release] Upper Valley Haven Welcomes Two New Board Members FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 2023  CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org  UPPER VALLEY HAVEN ANNOUNCES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS THIS SPRING The Upper Valley Haven is excited to welcome […]

Food Stamp Cuts Are Here, But we Can Take Action Valley News Op Ed by Michael Redmond Friday, March 10, 2023 The Valley News recently reported on the impact of ending a COVID-era increase in benefits for individuals and families […]

Valley News – As pandemic fades, Upper Valley nonprofit groups adapt to changed landscape During the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura Gillespie started to notice a change in the grant applications she completed as director of development and communications at the Upper […]

Free trifold brochure to help spread information on how to stay warm during cold winter months. Lebanon High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club took on a leadership project to focus on a challenge that impacts the Haven […]

[Press Release] Joe Major Joins Upper Valley Haven Board FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   January 2023  CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org  JOE MAJOR JOINS HAVEN BOARD OF DIRECTORS   The Upper Valley Haven has announced the election of Joe Major to […]

[Press Release] Upper Valley Haven Hosts Recognition of Vermont’s Homelessness Awareness Day on January 19 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   January 2023  CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org      Upper Valley Haven Will Light and Display 205 Luminaries to Symbolize the […]

Homeless in New Hampshire – Valley News Editorial From Haven Executive Director, Michael Redmond, “Thanks to the Valley News for its lead editorial in yesterday’s edition, “Homeless in NH” calling for renewed efforts to address this increasingly worsening situation with […]

Reflections from the Haven at Year End New Year’s greetings, I wanted to share the experience of the Haven’s annual ceremony marking the Candlelight Vigil for People Experiencing Homelessness. On December 21st when daylight was a memory and the Vermont […]

[PRESS RELEASE] Upper Valley Haven Hosts Annual Memorial Candlelight Vigil for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness in the Upper Valley FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   December 2022   CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org      Upper Valley Memorial Candlelight Vigil for People Experiencing Homelessness […]

Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 19 Days of Norwich and the Valley with a song performed by Upper Valley Haven staff, board members, the Angels, and Helena Binder.

10 Years of 19 Days of Norwich and the Valley In November 2013 a customer walked into Dan and Whit’s General Store in Norwich to purchase items for the food shelf at the Upper Valley Haven because the shelves were [...]

The Haven’s annual Turkey Day will be on Saturday November 18th at Hartford High School from 9 am to 12 noon. We will operate using a drive-thru method again this year. Dartmouth Health's Thanks for Giving Blood Drive donated over [...]

This fall, the Haven has partnered with Finding Our Stride to offer free after school running and programming to our after-school program participants. The Upper Valley based running program boosts fitness, self-esteem and resilience and connects kids to peers, mentors and community. [...]

https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/stories/article/food-medicine-cancer-center-food-pantry

Dear friends, Over the course of 2022 I’ve shared several communications with you about our dream of being able to add a new building to our campus that would include a shelter for people with no place else to stay, […]

Community Partnership  I’m joining the Haven as the Director of Shelter and Clinical Services during a time of opportunity and challenge.  The ongoing pandemic continues to shape our response to operating our shelters safely. The extremely tight housing rental market […]

[PRESS RELEASE] Blue Trident Foundation Pledges $50,000 to the Upper Valley Haven FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2022 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org Blue Trident Foundation Awards the Upper Valley Haven $50,000 Matching Gift for Food Programs Campaign The […]

“End the Stigma. End Homelessness.” A video by Dartmouth student, Matt Gannon, that features Haven Service Coordinators Emily and Nancy G, Programs Director at Listen Community Services Angie Zhang and Research Associate Professor at Dartmouth, Elizabeth Carpenter-Song. “Everyone is one paycheck […]

[PRESS RELEASE] Upper Valley Haven Awarded Northeast Delta Dental Foundation Grant FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2022 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org Northeast Delta Dental Foundation Awards the Upper Valley Haven a $10,000 Grant for an Oral Health Fund […]

[PRESS RELEASE] Vermont Housing & Conservation Board Pledges $1 Million to the Upper Valley Haven FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  May 2022  CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org    Vermont Housing & Conservation Board Awards $1 Million to the Upper Valley Haven […]

St. Paul’s Expansion is Crucial for Unhoused – Valley News Op Ed by Michael Redmond

Haven Shares Design of Its New Emergency Shelter and Day Station  The Haven’s new St. Paul’s project includes a two-story building with a low-barrier shelter and day station/resource center. The shelter will have 17 beds, a number similar to the […]

The Parkhurst Supportive Housing Project: A Review of Program Outcomes after 3 ½ Years Michael Redmond, Executive Director, Upper Valley Haven April 2022 Summary This paper provides an analysis of the outcomes of a permanent supportive housing project in Lebanon, […]

We are proud to announce we have been chosen as the Upper Valley Business Alliance  Nonprofit of the Year for “extraordinary efforts during the pandemic to address homelessness under unprecedented circumstances.” Thank you to everyone who voted. It was an […]

[PRESS RELEASE] Upper Valley Haven Announces New Director of Shelter & Clinical Services    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   April 2022   CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or   ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org      UPPER VALLEY HAVEN HIRES NEW DIRECTOR OF SHELTER & CLINICAL SERVICES  The Upper […]

[PRESS RELEASE] Upper Valley Haven Announces New Board Members FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2022 CONTACT: Spencer Sanders, (802) 478-1806 or ssanders@uppervalleyhaven.org UPPER VALLEY HAVEN ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS The Upper Valley Haven has announced the election of three new board […]

January 31, 2022 Dear Neighbor, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has partnered with the Upper Valley Haven and Twin Pines Housing to address the need for affordable housing and services for the homeless, and to ensure sustainability for the finances of […]

With a vacancy rate hovering around 1% and prices increasing more than 20% over the past year, housing in the Upper Valley is difficult to find, especially for those people at risk of homelessness. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in White […]

The Haven will host its annual Turkey Day & Flu Clinic as a drive-thru event on Saturday, November 20th at Hartford High School from 9 am to 12 noon. Each household will receive a turkey and sides after registering with […]

The Upper Valley Haven, a nonprofit located in White River Junction, VT announces that it has completed the purchase of 657 Hartford Avenue, adjacent to its campus on the south side. The property includes buildings containing apartments and office space. […]

June 15, 2021 Valley News To the Editor: I’m writing in response to the article published on Friday, June 11, 2021 “For some, food allergies complicate food insecurity” written by Associated Press reporter Kathleen Ronayne. The article described the challenges […]

Media Release For Immediate Release: June 8, 2021 Contact: Michael Redmond Executive Director Upper Valley Haven 713 Hartford Avenue White River Junction, VT 05001 mredmond@uppervalleyhaven.org (802) 478-1802  Upper Valley Haven Hosted Hunger Free America, Legislators, and Local Anti-Hunger Organizations to Discuss Lessons Learned from Pandemic […]

Jack Thurston’s story for My NBC5 highlights how the issue of hunger came into sharp focus during the pandemic. He visited the Upper Valley Haven on June 3rd for an event with national and local anti-hunger advocates and legislators and […]

NH Gives is a statewide campaign helping non-profits across the state come together to amplify their messaging to a wider audience and share in a day of giving. We are asking you to help us meet this demand and help those that have been impacted disproportionately by the epidemic.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michael Redmond Upper Valley Haven 802-295-6500 mredmond@uppervalleyhaven.org Upper Valley Haven Welcomes 2021 Board Members White River Junction, VT (May 20, 2021) – The Upper Valley Haven elected and welcomed two new board members in April 2021, […]

In the spring of 2020, the Haven’s Food Shelf operations moved to a 20’x20’ tent in our parking lot, and then a larger tent, to continue serving residents of Vermont and New Hampshire in need of groceries. There were many challenges and shifts necessary to […]

Noah Freundlich, a senior at Dartmouth College, is no stranger to the Upper Valley Haven as one of the leaders of Dartmouth Feeding Neighbors, a program that shares food with the community. But the pandemic made deliveries of food to […]

Over the last year or so, we have been heartened to see additional legislation and state and federal funding for food programs. There has been a lot of activity: change, benefits, confusion, paperwork, and deadlines. It’s difficult to keep track […]

The Upper Valley is a special place, and a lot of its unique charm comes from the value placed on connectedness within and between our towns and cities. This region’s listservs are one example of the area’s focus on neighborhoods, and more notably, our neighbors.

Last month, a donor approached the Haven about donating their Toyota Prius if it could be utilized by one of our clients. The donor explained, “We know how challenging it can be to have an independent life in the Upper Valley without a [...]

On December 8, 2020, the Upper Valley Haven will begin a yearlong observance of its 40th anniversary.

Since the pandemic arrived in the Upper Valley, safety has been at the center of our planning and actions. This priority has resulted in many changes including the way we operate our programs and even decisions to serve fewer people [...]

September 2020 Dear Friends, September is a busy time at the Haven with a particular focus on food, food insecurity, and hunger. September is Hunger Action Month, the time that is set aside for focus on these issues and root [...]

A Message from the Board and Staff of the Upper Valley Haven When our country has failed to live up to its values through systemic racism and repeated patterns of police violence against Black Americans, how should we respond? We [...]

Contact: Upper Valley Haven Michael Redmond, Executive Director 802-478-1802 mredmond@uppervalleyhaven.org   The Haven Adapts its Service Delivery to Safely Support the Upper Valley During the Coronavirus Pandemic   White River Junction, VT—While many regional businesses are now delivering services remotely [...]

In supporting people without homes, the Haven not only provides material support and services, but we work every day to ensure they are not invisible or forgotten. This month, that vision statement is literally true. People who are homeless are [...]

Dear Friends, Next year is the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Haven. While much has changed in these past four decades—growth of programs that now reach over 14,500 people annually, 48 staff, a $3.5 million operating budget, extensive [...]

Just over a year ago, the Haven community gathered to honor Sara Kobylenski for her extraordinary service as Executive Director. Then board chair, Merritt Patridge, announced plans for a fundraising campaign to recognize Sara's service and record of accomplishment during [...]

The Upper Valley Haven will be open this Saturday and Sunday, July 20 and 21, to provide a place of respite from the very high and dangerous temperatures predicted for this weekend. The Haven, located at 713 Hartford Avenue in […]

When Sam LaCroix donated blood at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) last year, the Blood Donor Program receptionist told him that he would be entered into a drawing to win a one-year lease for a 2018 Honda Civic hatchback. This special, [...]

Dear friends, Does the Haven make a difference? This is a question we're often asked, and I've thought about it in my brief time in my new role. Here's how I think about the answer: We know we support over [...]

Men and women who live in the Haven's Hixon House Adult Shelter spend, on average, two months working with Service Coordinators towards solutions to prepare them to move back into the community. Often shelter guest are ready to leave and [...]

During the winter months, the Upper Valley Haven's Caruso Café undergoes a quick makeover each evening, transforming from a cafe, gathering place, and registration area for the Food Shelf to a temporary overnight shelter that can host 15 guests (and [...]

"If you hold on hard enough and believe firmly enough that anything is possible, you change your own life and you change someone else's." - Sara Kobylenski Wednesday, October 17 began and ended with chilly weather and a bit of [...]

Many thanks to the Valley News for spotlighting all the ways that volunteers can get involved at the Haven! Kathy and Lynn are our Wednesday Good Eats chefs in the Caruso Cafe. They always cook and serve a tasty lunch! Learn [...]

Children's Services at the Upper Valley Haven provides opportunity, support, and a safe space for current and former school-aged shelter guests year-round at Bev's House (the Beverly Fowler Fiertz Community Center). Summer 2018 marked the fourth full summer of all-day [...]

Leadership Upper Valley is a 10-month professional and personal development curriculum that builds knowledge and networks to help local leaders succeed in and serve the Upper Valley. The program was created by Vital Communities, a nonprofit organization based in White [...]

Kristen Coats, Community Relations Development Coordinator at the Haven, was recently honored with the 2018 Leadership Award by the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship of NH/VT. Seen here with Fellowship Program Director, Nancy Gabriel, Kristen has invested herself as a mentor to [...]

Late February snow flurries fell gently on the Haven’s small orchard, but the activity surrounding the trees was far from dormant. Eight eager gardeners were deepening their pruning skills with none other than the Gardening Guy, Henry Homeyer. Buckets, tarps, [...]

The Haven’s own Executive Director, Sara Kobylenski, was recently appointed to the Vermont Housing Council by Governor Phil Scott. She will serve through January 2019 alongside other community members and representatives from housing development, planning, and financing entities. Sara’s role [...]

When they are not busy managing programs and services that take place on our campus in White River Junction, leaders at the Haven are active in policy work and advocacy at the state and national level, striving to improve the lives of those in poverty.