Greetings from The CareGivers! Thank you for taking a moment to visit our website and get a glimpse of what we’re all about. I often think The CareGivers is like a piece of fabric. Over the past 25 years, so many threads have been woven into a strong, functional, diverse and beautiful tapestry.
Ever responsive to the changing needs of the vulnerable people we serve, The CareGivers is there, free of charge; expanding the material, tending to frayed edges, continually reinforcing it. Everyone brings their unique and formative thread to the mission. The beauty of it all is how the threads all come together to strengthen our communities. I invite you to be part of The CareGivers fabric!
- James Wilkie, Executive Director
The CareGivers mission is to assist the frail, elderly, and disabled in order that they may maintain their independence and dignity through the spirit of volunteerism. The agency provides non-medical support to members of the Greater Manchester and Nashua areas. The CareGivers provides a personal presence for individuals who have little or no personal contact with others. We provide service to individuals who may not receive aid through the human service system and do not qualify for government-assisted programs or sliding fees. We also provide service to those individuals who may be receiving assistance from other agencies, but have additional needs that have gone unmet.
The CareGivers was founded in 1984 as a national model program to serve the growing needs of the elderly and disabled populations. As such, we were one of 25 programs across the country that was piloted by a three-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Since then, hundreds of programs have spread across the country. Upon the start the Statement of Purpose read, "A volunteer coalition whose purpose is to work with and enable persons who are frail, elderly and/or disabled to maintain their independence and dignity." The goal was to match community volunteers to assist our neighbors to remain in their homes for as long as possible with their dignity intact.
In April 1998, we merged with CareGivers of Greater Nashua, an organization that has been around since 1993.
Over the years, our services have increased dramatically. We have expanded services beyond our core programs to include supplemental programs aimed at enhancing the lives of the frail, elderly and disabled. Our innovative programs have allowed tens of thousands to remain independent and lead more fulfilled lives. The one thing that has not changed over the years is that caring volunteers have always been at the heart of our programs. In addition to transportation, friendly visits and reassurance calls, the agency currently sponsors many one day service projects and provides free food packages for low income seniors and disabled individuals.
In 2018, The CareGivers became a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire.
Grounded in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, Catholic Charities New Hampshire responds to those in need with programs that heal, comfort and empower.