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Serving Rockingham, Strafford

&  Southern York Counties

 



January 2016

Last night, Cross Roads House provided shelter to 81 individuals, including 10 families with 13 children.

 
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You can reach us at 
603-436-2218


FAQ 
 

Immediate Needs
 
Walmart and gas gift cards

Baby wipes

Cough drops

Tissues

Pepto Bismol 
 
 
Pantry Needs
 
Pasta sauce
 
Coffee
 
Sugar
 
Baking mixes (cakes, brownies, etc.)
 
Snack packs (chips, granola bars, crackers, etc.)
"I've had the opportunity while I've been here to experience healing..."

Dennis on his last day at Cross Roads House.
   
Dennis owned a small consulting business in Rochester, but there wasn't a call for the services he was offering and his bills began to pile up. "Over time it got more and more hard to sustain myself. It was just impossible."

When he could no longer afford the rent at the motel he was staying in, he came to Cross Roads House. He admits that his arrival was a bit of a whirlwind, "At 11, I didn't know what Cross Roads was, and by 11:30, I was in the lobby."

Dennis said that staff made him feel welcomed and safe. "I needed a place to be by myself and read my bible and [staff] Pat found me one. She's just like that. She wants to take care of people."

During his time at Cross Roads House, Dennis was able to connect with many of our partner agencies. "There were some issues with my health when I got here. I didn't have insurance and through Families First I was able to get a colonoscopy. I had never had one in my life and I was 59 at the time. We were able to get some answers as to what was going on. I also found out I was borderline type two diabetic."

"I think for me, the biggest challenge has been trying to override the sense of shame of ending up at a homeless shelter at this stage of my life. I think that in our society if you grow up in a traditional middle class home, go to college, it's like your life is just going to keep [getting better] and by the time you are in your 50's, you're thinking 'Do I want to retire, where do I want to go?'. And at 59 ½, I end up in a homeless shelter."

Last month, Dennis moved into his own apartment. He is working full time. "I've had the opportunity while I've been here to experience healing not only physically, but emotionally, and spiritually, and that's been a real gift. You don't often get that in life. That's one of the greatest gifts that this place has given to me."

Dennis credits his faith and the kindness of others for helping him through his time here. "Nobody here has ever made me feel like I was lesser than because I was here. Thank you for the work you folks do here. It has made a world of difference in my life and the lives of many others I've known who've come through here."
15th Annual Comedy Xxtravaganza to
Benefit Cross Roads House                   


Give the gift of laughter this Valentine's Day! The Portsmouth Music Hall will be hosting Mike McDonald's 15th Annual Comedy Xxtravaganza on Friday, February 12th at 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from the show will be donated to Cross Roads House. Click here for more information about the show. To purchase tickets for this event, click here or call the Music Hall Box Office at (603) 436-2400. 

Volunteer Orientation - January 14, 2016 

Interested in volunteering at Cross Roads House?

Seven nights a week, our volunteers prepare and serve dinner to our residents.

 

Find out how you can become a volunteer by attending Volunteer Orientation on Thursday, January 14th, or Thursday, February 11th, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the shelter. Orientation includes a shelter tour, an overview of kitchen operations, and volunteer expectations. 

 

If you have any questions about volunteering or about our orientation program, e-mail JoAnn Rohde at j.rohde@crossroadshouse.org or call 603-436-2218 ext. 107. Pre-registration for orientation is not required. 

 

Please Note:  Volunteers must be over 18 and out of high school to volunteer at the shelter   

 

Click this link for driving directions and parking instructions. 

Thank You Pease 'N Carrots

Everyone at Cross Roads House would like to extend a special thank you to the individuals and companies at Pease Tradeport who participated in the 8th Annual Pease 'N Carrots Food Drive this year.

This year's Pease 'n Carrots Holiday Food Drive, organized by Mark Sullivan, collected over 11,500 pounds of nonperishable food items and more than $15,000 in cash contributions, making this the most successful year to date. Proceeds from the Annual Pease 'N Carrots Food Drive benefit Cross Roads House and the Seacoast Family Food Pantry.

Thirty-two companies participated in this year's food drive. Thanks to Abilities Physical Therapy, BANK W Holdings, BayRing, Belle Peppers, C&J, CP Management, Discovery Child Center, Great Bay Kids Company, Grill 28, Hospital Corporation of America, IPSUMM, Int'l Assn of Privacy Professionals, International Office Suites, John Hancock, Loftware, Long Term Care Partners, Neoscope, Northeast Rehabilitation, Optima Bank, Paddy's Grille, Pease Development Authority, Pierce Atwood, PixelMEDIA, Redhook Brewery, Seacoast Asset Management, Seacoast Media Group, Service Credit Union, Sig Sauer, Sprague, Two International Group, United Way of Greater Seacoast and Wiedema, Lavin, Grott & Riendeau. Additional thanks to Philbrick's Fresh Market for providing grocery carts.

Whether you donated food, volunteered to be a drop off site, or delivered donations to the shelter, your generosity is appreciated. Donations we received from the Annual Pease 'N Carrots Food Drive are so helpful in making sure that our volunteers can prepare our evening meals!

Thank you

Cross Roads House would like to thank all the very thoughtful donors and volunteers who helped to make the holidays a little brighter for our residents. Whether you made a donation, adopted a family, purchased wish list items, or volunteered your time and talents, we are so grateful for your contribution.

This holiday season staff and volunteers helped to organize activities such as building gingerbread houses, preparing and serving special meals, providing portrait sessions for residents, and even a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Additionally, we were able to provide gifts for every resident.

We are so grateful for this outpouring of support from our friends in the community!

Thank you Eastern Bank for donating $5,000 to assist with shelter operations. Pictured above are Stephen Witt, Senior Vice President, Eastern Bank and Jessica Parker, Marketing and Development Coordinator.

Thank you TJX for donating $5,000 to assist with shelter operations. Pictured above are Margo Mackay, Store Manager, Portsmouth Homegoods, Martha Stone, Executive Director, and David Lane, District Manager.

Thank you to everyone who donated items from our Holiday Wish List. We were able to fill 65 gift bags for our single adult residents this year. Special thanks to the staff members from Well Sense who helped to organize all the personal care items.

Thanks to all the volunteers and staff who helped to sort, stuff, and distribute gift bags for our adult single residents. Pictured above is volunteer Sophie Stone with some of our gift bags. Gift bags were generously donated by Portsmouth Regional Hospital. 

Thank you Tuscan Kitchen and Market, Portsmouth, for providing adopt-a-family gifts. Pictured above are Suzanne Bresette, Board President, Joe and Samantha Faro, Owners, Tuscan Kitchen and Market, Martha Stone, Executive Director, and Jessica Parker, Marketing and Development Coordinator.

Thank you Unitil and Greater Seacoast United Way for providing gift bags for Cross Roads House Staff. Pictured above are Kristen Anderson, Sr. Customer and Community Relations Specialist at Unitil, and Martha Stone, Executive Director. 
Cross Roads House
600 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Ph  603.436.2218  Fax  603.430.9217
www.crossroadshouse.org