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
Randy Brown, Chair
Retired
Brian Crawford, Vice-Chair
Retired
James Murguia, Secretary
President, Solid State Scientific
Cheryl Ruane, Treasurer
Finance Manager, Raytheon
Rev. Dr. Andrew Armstrong
Pastor, First Church Nashua
Diane Bonfiglio
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.
