Partnerships:
For our community partnerships the Meelia Center assigns a student on-site coordinator to manage the placement and support of volunteers. The coordinator acts as the communicator between our center and the agency, helping to ensure a quality volunteer experience.
Bartlett Elementary School
Bartlett is a small school in Goffstown with a high percentage of low-income students. Volunteers have the opportunity to participate in the 2nd Step Violence Prevention Program, establish relationships through playground activities, work as a classroom aide, and participate in the After School Program. Hours: Monday-Friday, School Hours- After School Program 3-5:30
Girls Incorporated
Inspiring all girls to be Strong, Smart and Bold! Girls Inc. is an after school program located in downtown Manchester that targets economically disadvantaged and/or at-risk girls aged 5-17. The program provides a supportive and secure environment designed to cultivate confidence, develop individual skills, overcome the effects of discrimination, provide hands-on informal education. It celebrates diversity and build girls' capacity for a responsible, economically independent and fulfilled adulthood. Hours: After school Monday - Friday
Head Start
In this program for low-income children volunteers act as classroom aides, assisting the teachers in different activities while also establishing relationships with the kids ages 3-5. Volunteers may also choose to work with high risk children. Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00-5:00
Highland Elementary
An opportunity working with students in grades K-5. Volunteers assist in classroom activities, lead small groups, or tutor one-on-one. You can also participate in occasional programs such as story-time, art projects, field trips, etc. Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-3:00 (can accommodate to fit your schedule)
Hillsborough County Nursing Home (HCNH)
HCNH is a local nursing home where volunteers can be matched up one-on-one with residents and/or also work in the area of activities and recreation. The one-on-one matches have proven to be of mutual benefit and have enhanced the quality of the resident's lives. Hours: Daytime hours Monday-Friday
Kids Café
Kids Café is a soup kitchen run by the Salvation Army for children in need. Volunteers help serve the children dinner, participate in after dinner activities (sports, arts, crafts, etc.), and act as tutors. Hours: Monday-Thursday evenings 5:30-8:30
Youth Development Center (YDC)
YDC is a secure locked facility for delinquent youths of New Hampshire. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring, being a Big Brother or Big Sister, or helping with the running or weight lifting clubs. Hours: Monday - Thursday evenings 5:30-8:00
VNA Child Care Center
VNA is a childcare center in Manchester for children of all ages however specifically targeting the children of low-income families. Volunteer opportunities include becoming a teachers aide in the classroom, or being a Big Brother or Big Sister, specifically matched with one child who needs extra attention. Hours: Weekdays from 8:30-5:30
Southside Middle School
Working in special education classrooms with middle school students who need extra support. These middle schoolers need lots of encouragement and attention and the teachers are in desperate need of extra help in their classrooms.
English for New Americans (ESL)
Is a program designed to help refuges and other New Americans survive in a new environment. We offer English classes for both young kids and adults. We provide additional support to the New Americans by helping them with citizenship and cultural adjustments. Volunteers at this site help to support the teachers in classrooms and tutor some of the ESL students.
SNH HIV/AIDS
Southern New Hampshire HIV/AIDS Task Force. The volunteers at this site are used as mentors or make home visits to people with AIDS. There are also other outreach and support activities volunteers can do.
Hillsborough County Department of Corrections (HCDOC)
The DOC is a very secure locked facility for adults. The department supports a variety of educational / rehabilitation programs in which volunteer services are used. The volunteers at this site work with the inmates in a classroom environment, they tutor individuals in English and Spanish, prepare others in the GED program, and work in the law library.
Child and Family Services
Here volunteers would be working in the Teen Services Program. It is one of the more challenging and can be very a very rewarding and eye opening experience Working with Runaway and Homeless Youth, working with the staff and going out on the street with the street outreach team, or working in the Adolescent Substance Abuse Program.
Special Programs:
These Meelia Center initiatives as managed by student Coordinators and involve the sharing of Saint Anselm student resources across the community
Digital Divide - Program working one-on-one with area elderly in nursing homes or in their homes. Volunteers teach them basic computer skills and connect the senior citizens to 3rd graders at Bartlett Elementary.
Mentoring
The Mentoring Program is a one-on-one match with a school age child. This is a wonderful opportunity to truly connect with a child and to become a positive role model in their lives. There is a minimum commitment of 2 semesters and contact over the vacation periods is requested through phone or through e-mail. Hours: Flexible (mostly after school and on weekends)
America Reads
Part of a National Initiative to match trained literacy tutors with at risk readers in grades k-6. Saint Anselm tutors currently serve 3 elementary schools with training and support provided by the reading specialists at the schools.