Food, toys and donations needed: Ways to help in your community

Bethany Church is looking for people to say yes to service

GREENLAND — Did you know that according to the National Library of Medicine, “Participation in voluntary services in the form of other-oriented volunteering resulted in an 8.54% increase in mental health, 9.08% in physical health, 7.35% in life satisfaction, and 11.11% in social wellbeing, as well as 4.30% decrease in depression.”

As it turns out, Bethany Church is looking for people to Say Yes to volunteering in several capacities of the organization for the upcoming year. We are seeking people who would like to grow in their understanding of their faith, connect with like-minded individuals, make an impact on the local community, and come alongside and support others in times of grief, pain, or need.

The church has several ministries who are looking for people to serve at all three of their campuses in Greenland, Raymond, and Kittery Point, Maine from working with children and teenagers, to playing or singing on the worship team, to greeting, parking, and security teams, to assisting in the media and technology department, or in the café, there are lots of opportunities to serve and grow at the church.

If you are looking for a home church or lor opportunities to meet new people and connect, Bethany is passionate about helping people across the Seacoast region find their fit and plug in to a community that can help them learn, grow, and thrive. Go to www.bethanychurch.com/impact.

8 Portsmouth residents to participate in Jimmy Fund Walk

PORTSMOUTH — Eight residents from Portsmouth will participate in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk presented by Hyundai on Sunday, Oct. 2.

Sally Elshout, Holly Collins, Jake Logan, Patti Spindel, Donna Gladhill, Whitney Miller, Nicholas Zaricki, and Jen Spindel, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in the iconic annual event that raises funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund Walk has raised more than $155 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in its 33-year history.

Samantha Le Clair, age 7, and Jen Spindel will participate as a Walk Hero for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. Heroes are matched with Jimmy Fund Walk teams to give participants an opportunity to connect with patients. Samantha was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor and is matched with Team Hyundai. “Everyone at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund are absolutely amazing and help make all this so much more bearable,” Samantha says. “My hobbies are boxing and everything animal related.”

Spindel was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer.and walks on her Match Team, Young and Strong. “I am inspired by Dana-Farber's ongoing research into cancer treatments and work toward a cure,” Spindel writes. “The compassion and kindness of the entire care team has given me hope and helped me make it through treatment.”

Participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K Walk (3.1 miles from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), 10K Walk (6.2 miles from Newton), Half Marathon Walk (13.1 miles from Wellesley), or Marathon Walk (26.2 miles from Hopkinton). Participants can also choose to join the event virtually by “walking their way” from wherever they are most comfortable—in their neighborhood, on a favorite hiking trail, or on a treadmill at home. Virtual programming and supporting materials are available.

To register for the Jimmy Fund Walk (#JimmyFundWalk) or to support a walker, visit JimmyFundWalk.org or call (866) 531-9255. Registrants can enter the promo code NEWS for $5 off the registration fee. All registered walkers will receive a bib, medal, and a Jimmy Fund Walk T-shirt.

Families First and Goodwin Community Health in need of gift cards

PORTSMOUTH — Families First and Goodwin Community Health are requesting gift cards for our patients and clients. Our staff works directly with clients to discern their needs and provide assistance. Your gift card donation helps us to meet our clients’ personal needs and remove barriers to living a healthy life. The following is a list of gift cards needed:

$10 gas cards, to get to medical appointments

$10 pharmacy cards, for medications or prenatal vitamins

$20 Wal-Mart cards

$25 grocery cards, for food and formula

$25 Amazon cards, for necessities for people with limited transportation

To donate any of these items, please contact Lisa Zhe at lzhe@familiesfirstseacoast.org.

Portsmouth Community Scholarships now accepting donations

PORTSMOUTH —In December 2019, the Portsmouth City Council approved the recommendations of the Trustees of the Trust Funds to consolidate several underfunded accounts into five, newly-created Portsmouth Community Scholarship Funds that combined accounts with fund balances too small to generate enough investment interest to make annual awards.

The Trustees of the Trust Funds have established five community scholarship funds in support of the following areas of scholastic accomplishment and educational and vocational aspirations: Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Arts; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Athletics; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Higher Education, Generally; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Technology/Trades; Portsmouth Community Scholarship – Science, Technology, Engineering, Math.

These scholarships are open to all students who are Portsmouth residents, not just to students at Portsmouth High School. The Trustees of the Trusts Funds has established a secure portal on the City of Portsmouth website that allows individuals and businesses to donate conveniently to the community scholarship funds.

To make a donation to any of the Portsmouth Community Scholarship Funds through the secure donation portal on the City website, click on the “Make a Donation” button in the middle of the CityofPortsmouth.com homepage, or go directly to https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/city/trustees-trust-funds-scholarships and select the scholarship fund you wish to support. Donations may be made on the site by electronic check (no fee) or by credit card (the 2.9% fee goes to the service provider and is not retained by the City). Check donations may also be mailed to Portsmouth Community Scholarships c/o Trustees of the Trust Funds, City Hall, One Junkins Ave., Portsmouth NH 03801. Donors receive a letter confirming tax deductibility for the amount of their donations, to the extent of the law.

Dover400 is fundraising

DOVER — Dover400 is currently underway with two fundraising campaigns, “$400 for 400,” an effort to solicit 400 donors at $400 to celebrate Dover’s 400th Anniversary; and also “The 1623 Society” with membership available for a donation of $1623. All proceeds will support the activities planned throughout 2023. Donations may be sent to Dover400, 24 Chestnut St., Dover, NH 03820. For more information, please visit www.Dover400.org.

Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. is fundraising

PORTSMOUTH – Deep into planning mode, the Portsmouth NH 400th Management Team members are paving the way to a vibrant community celebration next year and have started identifying Signature Events including a 400th Anniversary parade, a community dinner and a fall air show, along with Legacy Projects meant to make a statement about Portsmouth’s past, present and future.

Donations and sponsorships can be made via the online portal on the City website (click on the PNH400 logo at the top of the homepage, CityofPortsmouth.com) and at the PNH400 website PortsmouthNH400.org. Portsmouth NH 400th Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization, so all donations are tax deductible to the extent the law allows. Check donations, made out to Portsmouth NH 400th, Inc. should be mailed to PNH400 at One Junkins Avenue, Box PNH400, Portsmouth NH 03801.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Food, toys and donations needed: Ways to help in your community