Is your cultural organization organizing a food drive, assisting seniors, reaching out to patients, mentoring students or performing some other type of community service? If so, the Department of Cultural Resources wants to hear about it!

As you know, we are living in extraordinarily challenging times. Requests at New Hampshire food banks are up 30-40 percent this year. Homelessness is on the rise. Due to stresses caused by the economy, more students than ever need mentors. Senior citizens can use a helping hand in many ways. Budget constraints have left firefighters, law enforcement officials, EMTs and other first responders in desperate need of vital, life-saving equipment. Each of these groups—and others—can benefit from community service projects.

In response to the growing need for these types of support, the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources is organizing a community service campaign called Culture Cares. We are asking cultural organizations of all types—libraries, historical societies, arts nonprofits, theatres, movie houses and others—to let us know about any service projects they undertake in their communities, so that we can share their good work with the public, inspiring others to join them in helping those in need.

On this page you'll find a list of community service projects coordinated by cultural organizations from all over New Hampshire. Please consider joining in their efforts.

If you would like to have your cultural organization's community service project listed here, please provide us with the following information:

1. Name of your organization
2. Name of community service project (10 words or fewer; e.g. "food drive," "reading to seniors," "free admission for students")
3. Location
4. Date and Time
5. Do you need volunteers to help with the planning, etc.? Yes/No
6. Website and/or name and phone number to find out more information about the project

Information should be sent to: Shelly Angers, Communications Coordinator, NH Department of Cultural Resources, shelly.angers@dcr.nh.gov.

NOTE: Please feel free to use the Culture Cares logo when you promote your event online, in emails or in print. Right click the links below to download the various versions.

Download logo to use on web, email and other multimedia formats (.gif file)
Download logo for commercial print, such as advertisements (.eps file)
Download logo to print out on 8.5" x 11" paper (.jpg file)

We will be updating this webpage often! Please be sure to check back for new opportunities happening in your community—and please also help by passing along the word about Culture Cares.

UPCOMING (see "Ongoing" events, below)

Organization	Project/Program	Location	Date/Time	Volunteers needed to work?	For more information
Nesmith Public Library Teen Advisory Board	Bake sale to benefit Shepherd's Pantry	Windham	November 21; 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	no	www.nesmithlibrary.org
Concord Public Library / Concord City employees	Non-perishable food drive to benefit the City of Concord's Human Services Department	Concord	November 30-December 12, during library hours	no	(603) 225-8670 ask for Sandi Lee
NH Dept. of Cultural Resources & Currier Museum of Art	Non-perishable food drive—bring an item (or two!) to the Commissioner's Roundtable on Cultural & Heritage Tourism	Manchester	December 3, noon-2	no	www.nh.gov/nhculture (603) 271-3136
Stawbery Banke Museum	Holiday Toy Drive at Candlelight Stroll	Portsmouth	December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20; 4-9 p.m.	no	www.strawberybanke.org (603) 433-1100
St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts	Christmas Concert to benefit Salvation Army—admission is non-perishable food, toy or cash donation	Berlin	December 9; 7 p.m.	no	www.stkieranarts.org (603) 752-1028
American Independence Museum	Holiday food drive	Exeter	December 1 thru 15	no	www.independencemuseum.org (603) 772-2622

ONGOING (see "Upcoming" events, above)

Organization	Project/Program	Location	Date/Time	Volunteers needed to work?	For more information
Nesmith Public Library Teen Advisory Board	Food drive to benefit Shepherd's Pantry	Windham	throughout November	no	www.nesmithlibrary.org
Gale Library	Food drive to benefit the Newton Food Pantry	Newton	through November 30	no	(603) 382-4691 ask for Theresa Caswell
Lisbon Public Library / Lisbon Lions Club	Book Drive for Children	Lisbon	through December 21	no	www.lisbonpubliclibrary.org (603) 838-6615 ask for Karla Houston
Pontine Theatre	Performances at Assisted Care facilities	Various locations throughout NH	throughout December	no	www.pontine.org
Currier Museum of Art	Free admission for all under 18	Manchester	ongoing	no	www.currier.org
Currier Museum of Art	Free admission for all--SATURDAYS, 10-noon	Manchester	Saturdays, 10-noon	no	www.currier.org
Currier Museum of Art	Free school visits and bus transportation for Manchester and Nashua students	Manchester	As scheduled	yes	www.currier.org
Currier Museum of Art	Food drive to benefit New Horizons Food Bank	Manchester	ongoing	no	www.currier.org
Currier Museum of Art	Scholarships for studio art classes	Manchester	as scheduled	no	www.currier.org/artcenter
Hancock Town Library	"Food for Overdues"--donate food in lieu of paying late fees--benefits Monadnock Area Food Bank	Hancock	ongoing	no	www.hancocktownlibrary.blogspot.com
Hampstead Public Library	Non-perishable food, toiletries and paper goods collection--benefits Greater Hampstead Food Bank	Hampstead	ongoing	no	(603) 329-6411 ask for Peggy Thrasher
Lebanon Public Libraries	Book discussion group at Harvest Hill, a local assisted living facility	Lebanon	ongoing; 2nd Wednesday of the month	no	www.leblibrary.com (603) 448-2459
Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association	"Heart Art"—providing art kits to Starting Point clients (children and adults)	Conway	ongoing	Yes, to assemble the kits	www.mwvarts.org mwvarts@myfairpoint.net (603) 356-2787
The Palace Theatre	reduced/free tickets to pro theatre performance for select children	Manchester	ongoing	No	www.palacetheatre.org (603) 668-5588
Seacoast Eat Local	Collecting for food banks at Winter Farmer's Markets	various locations; see website	Saturdays at various locations; see website	yes	www.seacoasteatlocal.org

Recent "Culture Cares" Successes

Organization	Project/Program	Location	For more information about this organization
Hampstead Public Library	Holiday card creation and signing event; cards sent to military personnel service overseas	Hampstead	www.hampstead.lib.nh.us (603) 329-6411
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center	Concert of Thanksgiving and food drive for Rotary Harvest for Hunger	Portsmouth	www.pmaconline.org (603) 431-4278
Red River Theatres	non-perishable food collection at FREEBIRD screenplay reading	Concord	www.redrivertheatres.org (603) 224-4697