Haven in the News

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.