ROCHESTER, N.H., � Holy Rosary Credit Union (HRCU) launched the first leg of their 2015 Christmas Caring Campaign by making donations to five local non-profit organizations in Strafford County. The Community Food Pantry of Somersworth, Interfaith Food Panty of Farmington, Christmas for the Elderly in Rochester, the SHARE Fund of Rochester, and Seeds of Faith in Somersworth were the charitable recipients.
"Last year was our first Christmas Caring Campaign, and we wanted to continue our mission to give back to our friends and neighbors who extend a helping hand to those in need in our local communities," said Brian Hughes, President & CEO of HRCU. "On behalf of our members, staff and volunteers, we are pleased to be able to help so many organizations again in 2015."
The Christmas Caring Campaign will run through the month of December, and will recognize 16 local non-profit organizations with a total of over $25,000 in charitable giving.
"If it were not for organizations who give back to the community like HRCU, we wouldnt be here," said David Vachon, who along with his wife, Patricia, manage The Community Food Pantry located at First Parish Church in Somersworth.
HRCUs donation will go towards helping the Vachons and their team of dedicated volunteers to continue providing necessary food items for over 300 families a month from Somersworth, Rollinsford, Lebanon and the Berwicks.
The SHARE Fund, which operates Gerrys Emergency Food Pantry in Rochester, and the Interfaith Food Pantry, located in the First Congregational Church of Farmington, also provide food assistance year round to those in need in the community. The SHARE Fund assists over 5,000 families annually with food, clothing and emergency financial assistance, while the�Interfaith Food Pantry will provide basic food essentials to nearly 2,000 families and individuals in 2015.
"We always see an increase in need during the winter," said Torey Kortez, Executive Director of the SHARE Fund, which will provide families in need with over 500 Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets. "The holidays are supposed to be a happy time of the year, so we do our best to make people happy."
Christmas for the Elderly and Seeds of Faith are two local organizations also spreading cheer this holiday season. Christmas for the Elderly, an all-volunteer organization located in Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church in Rochester, will provide over 100 low-income seniors struggling to live independently in the community with a gift basket that includes basic necessities. Seeds of Faith, who operates a food pantry in Rollinsford and a thrift boutique in Somersworth, has earmarked the donation for their Angel Tree Program, which will give nearly 250 disadvantaged children gifts around Christmas. In addition, HRCU also presented gifts for the six Angel Tree children they adopted.
"Every child should have presents during the holidays," said Theresa Tozier, Founder of Seeds of Faith. "We make sure that every kid goes home with one thing they want and one thing they need."
To donate or volunteer with any of the non-profit organizations mentioned, contact HRCU Marketing Coordinator Michael Mengers at (603) 332-6840.
