About Us

 

Staff

Board of Trustees

Congregations

History

Kindness Crosses All Barriers

Our Mission Statement: Our mission is to end homelessness, one family at a time, because every child deserves a home.  Through safe housing and education, Family Promise guides families as they break the cycle, and rise from homelessness to sustainable independence.  

Our staff, board members, congregations, and volunteers all provide valuable services that impact the lives of the families we serve. These donations of time, talent, and treasure mean the world to us and we are incredibly grateful for their support.

Our Staff

Pamela Wellman, Executive Director

Pam has been Executive Director for Family Promise since 2014. Pam has a 28 year history in non-profit management and strategic development, and succesfully leads our mission along with her dedicated staff, volunteers, and congregations.

Matthew Hodgkiss, Director of Operations and Volunteer Engagement

Matt began volunteering with Family Promise as a teenager. He continued his volunteer service while pursuing a degree concentrating in sociology and psychology. Because of his long-time commitment to Family Promise’s mission, Matt joined the staff putting his own volunteer experience to work engaging with our volunteer community and coordinating household operations.

Melissa Johnstone, Director of Family Services

Melissa has several years of experience in human services. She become Assistant Family Services Director in 2015;  then rose to Family Services Director in 2016. She leads case management, and coordinates the financial literacy and family education programs. Melissa’s resources and guidance ensure our families’ success and their future self-sufficient independence.

Sara Cannell, Director of Development & Marketing

Sara joined Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire in November 2020 as the Director of Development and Marketing.  She brings with her more than 10 years of marketing, fundraising, events management, relationship building, and volunteer work, as well as an education in marketing, management, and fundraising.  Sara is committed both in her personal and professional life to positioning herself as a resource for families in need.  Joining Family Promise has invigorated her passion while giving her an amazing opportunity to work hard supporting families in transition. 

Karen Berniche, Director of Grant Development

Karen joined Family Promise in September 2019 after completing a curriculum in grant writing. She coordinates all aspects of grant procurement, from researching new grant opportunities, preparing grant proposals, and managing grant reporting.

Administrative Staff

Deb Federico, Database Manager
Michelle Guerrin, Bookkeeper
Minely Rosa, Family Services Assistant

Our Board of Trustees

Brian Crawford, Chair

Retired

Marc Siragusa, Vice-Chair

 The Siragusa Companies

James Murguia, Secretary

President, Solid State Scientific

Cheryl Ruane, Treasurer

Finance Manager, Raytheon

Rev. Dr. Andrew Armstrong

Pastor, First Church Nashua

Randy Brown

Retired

Bob Freed

President, Tech Transport

Bob Goldstein

Retired

 

Thaika Joseph

Associate, Southern NH Services

Kathleen Lambert

Broker/Realtor, Kathleen Lambert Realty

Bob Mack

Welfare Officer, City of Nashua

 

 

Chuck Nuskey

ServPro of Derry/Londonderry

Marleen Paquette

Senior Loan Officer, RMS Guild Mortgage

Kevin Rourke

Chief of Police, Nashua Police Department

 

 

Lisa Scheib, MD

Nashua West Adult Medicine

 

 

 

Our Congregations

Amherst Congregational Church

Christ the King Lutheran Church

Christ Presbyterian Church of Nashua

Crossway Christian Church

First Baptist Church of Nashua

First Church of Nashua, UCC

First Parish Congregational Church

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Londonderry United Methodist Church

Main Street United Methodist Church

Messiah Lutheran Church

Milford United Methodist Church

Nashua Presbyterian Church

New Life Christian Church

Our Lady of Mercy Parish

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church

St. David’s Episcopal Church

St. Kathryn’s Catholic Church

St. Mark’s Catholic Church

St. Patrick’s Church

Temple Beth Abraham

Triumphant Cross Lutheran Church

Unitarian Universalist Congregation Milford

Windham Presbyterian Church

Our History

In 2000, 7 local congregations came together to address the issue of family homelessness in the Greater Nashua community and created the Greater Nashua Interfaith Hospitality Network (GNIHN). In 2001, they began hosting families overnight at their facilities on a rotational basis while providing support and case management to help them achieve financial independence. In 2002, the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary approached the United Way of Greater Nashua seeking a dynamic, new ministry for their under-utilized noviate building. The United Way put them in touch with the GNIHN and in 2002, families began to stay at their Home for Now at Anne Marie House.

Over the next 10 years, dozens of local families achieved permanent stability and a path out of homelessness. In 2012, GNIHN joined as an affiliate of the national non-profit Family Promise, which leveraged national resources for the local community. The name of the program was formally changed to Family Promise of Greater Nashua (FPGN), but families continued to reside at Anne Marie House. In 2018, FPGN started to serve families in western Rockingham county after the Family Promise affiliate there ceased operations. In 2019, to reflect this expanded service area, the name was again changed to Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire (FPSNH).

In 2020, Family Promise of Southern New Hampshire entered into an agreement with St. John XIII parish to convert the former Infant Jesus School in Nashua into a new transitional housing facility for local families experiencing homelessness.

In February 2021 families were able to start moving in to the new building at 3 Crown Street, Nashua, NH.  The successful renovation of Infant Jesus School allows Family Promise to provide transitional housing for up to 24 families, doubling its former capacity.

To support this endeavor, Family Promise is in the final year of their largest fundraising campaign to date, the Building Home Building Hope Capital Campaign, with a goal of raising $4.5 million dollars. Click here to learn more about the campaign.

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