​Every time I get behind the wheel, it reminds me of one of the proudest days of my life. Watching Brian cross that stage wasn't just about earning a diploma. It was about watching a young man who has overcome challenges most people will never see be recognized for everything he has accomplished. When he was presented with his school's Student Advocate Award, there wasn't a prouder mom on the planet.
Like every family, we celebrated. We hugged. We took pictures.
Then the balloons came down.

Brian is 18 years old and has a developmental disability. When school ended, many of the supports, routines, and friendships that had shaped his daily life ended too. While his classmates are planning college, starting jobs, or figuring out adulthood, Brian is waiting six to nine months while the adult service system determines what services he qualifies for.

Most people don't even know that gap exists.
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As Brian's mom, it's heartbreaking.

Watching Brian go through this transition inspired me to bring a new program to The River Center called Different Together, a monthly social group for neurodivergent young adults. I couldn't eliminate the wait for services, but together we could create a place where young adults could build friendships, confidence, and community while they waited. Because graduation shouldn't mean losing your community.
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This is why the Department of Justice's recent memorandum on Olmstead hit me so hard.

But here's what I hope people understand: Olmstead is still the law of the land. The Americans with Disabilities Act hasn't been repealed, and the Supreme Court's decision hasn't been overturned. What's changing is how the federal government says it intends to interpret and enforce those protections.

That's why we need to stay informed, speak up, and keep building communities where everyone belongs.​

In just a few weeks, we'll celebrate another anniversary: July 26, 1990—the day the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law.
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Two years ago, around this same time, I wrote about how the ADA changed our world and challenged us to recognize both visible and invisible disabilities. Reading those words today, I realize there's another kind of accessibility we don't talk about nearly enough.

Belonging.

​Because inclusion isn't just about getting through the front door of a building. It's about having somewhere to go after you get inside. It's about friendships, purpose, opportunities, and knowing your community still has a place for you after the school bus stops coming.

People like Judy Heumann spent decades fighting to make sure disability would never be a reason to be excluded from community life. Her generation opened doors that had been closed for far too long.
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Brian's generation deserves the chance to walk through them.

​So let's keep moving forward. Learn the facts. Listen to disabled voices. Support organizations like The River Center that are creating opportunities for belonging in our communities. Call your legislators. And when it's time to vote, remember that disability rights aren't someone else's issue. At some point in our lives, every one of us will either have a disability or love someone who does.

Someday I'll take Brian's graduation tassel down from my rearview mirror.

I hope by then he - and every young adult like him - won't be waiting for permission to belong.

Because that was always the promise of the ADA.
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And it's a promise worth keeping.

As the coordinator for our tax clinic, I heard many stories from people coming to us this year. What we saw this season is that a tax refund isn’t just extra money. It’s essential. People receiving refunds were planning to use the money to catch up on bills or rent.
 
It is heartbreaking to hear how hard people are working just to stay in the towns they love. One filer told me that they had to work multiple jobs and they still could not get ahead because they ended up owing taxes. In our region, the cost of living keeps climbing, leaving too many people to decide between paying rent on time or buying groceries.
 
In the Monadnock region, rents and housing costs have risen, but wages haven't kept up. Right now, more than half of local renters are spending over 30% of their income just to keep a roof over their heads. Making it even more difficult is the lack of available housing. In New Hampshire, the vacancy rate is as low as 1%.
 
When we help a family get their full refund, which was an average of $1,800 this year, their options change. That amount may not seem like much, but it is a lifeline to so many of our families. It means fixing the car they need to get to work or making sure they aren't evicted.
 
One senior told me they had to find a job again to add to their Social Security just so they can afford to pay their property tax bill. They’ve lived in homes they worked hard to buy and they deserve to stay there. The River Center helps by connecting them to resources that will lighten their loads, but it’s not an easy fix.
 
This isn’t just a housing issue. It’s a community problem. When our neighbors can't afford to live here, our local businesses struggle too because they can’t find workers. That affects our schools, our healthcare, and the services we all rely on. By helping individuals and families with their taxes, we’re doing more than just punching numbers into forms on the computer. We’re helping our neighbors find a bit of solid ground in a very unstable housing market. is why our work at The River Center matters in the shaky economic times that we are in.
 
How You Can Help
Our tax program is over for this year, but the need in our community is not. The individuals and families we saw this season are still figuring out how to make ends meet.
 
If you’ve ever wondered what you can do to be a part of solution, you can become a tax volunteer. No experience is required. You’ll get some training and be a part of a helpful team that supports each other every step of the way. If you’re more of a people person, you can volunteer as a tax greeter. Learn more about these roles on our website at www.rivercenternh.org.
 
You can also support The River Center by donating, attending a program, or volunteering in other ways. On May 23rd, we are holding our inaugural Ripples of Hope benefit at the Peterborough Town House. It will be an evening to celebrate the strength of our community and ensure that programs such as kinship navigation, family support, and tax preparation continue on for everyone who needs them.
 
Learn more at www.rivercenternh.org and www.ripplesofhopebenefit.org.
 

One of the most special things about the River Center is that many of the people who eventually help carry our mission forward first arrive as participants. This month, I’m excited to introduce two of our newest staff members, Martha and Katie. While both are brand new to the River Center team, each brings a deep, personal connection to children, families, and community care.

Martha joined the River Center staff this year, but her relationship with the Center began years ago as a parent. She attended Mini Explorers and Wild Wednesdays with her three girls during a season when simple, outdoor connection felt essential. Those programs became a lifeline for her family, a place for friendships to grow, for her children to learn through play, and for everyday days to feel a little more expansive and supported.
Outside the River Center, Martha has long been involved in supporting children and families in meaningful ways. She’s spent years volunteering with Girl Scouts as a troop founder and leader, worked closely with young children in the ConVal School District, and brings a thoughtful understanding of child development shaped by both education and experience. Now, as one of our newest team members, she carries that background, and her lived experience as a parent into her work here. While she’s still settling into her role, Martha is especially excited about building relationships with families and helping shape programs that meet them where they are, including ideas like open gym time and family night events.

Katie is also brand new to the River Center staff and brings a natural warmth that immediately puts families at ease. With a background in early childhood education and years of hands-on experience supporting children in home, classroom, and community settings, Katie has always been drawn to work that blends caregiving, learning, and service. She’s spent time supporting children with diverse needs, volunteering in inclusive athletic programs, and showing up wherever families needed an extra set of caring hands as a Nanny.
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Katie found the River Center just a few months ago after becoming a first-time mom. Attending Baby Time and Walk and Talk with her newborn son, she quickly felt she had found her community. Today, she brings that same sense of belonging into her work, often with her baby right by her side, modeling the kind of family-centered, welcoming environment that defines the River Center.

Though still new to both the River Center team and the area, Katie is full of ideas and excitement for what’s ahead. She’s eager to help expand programming in ways that support whole families, from movement and outdoor play to practical learning opportunities that bring people together.

Martha and Katie are wonderful new additions to The River Center team, and though they are just beginning this chapter with us, their stories reflect something timeless about our work: when families feel supported, they are often inspired to give back. Together, they now lead the majority of our parenting programs, with Katie also facilitating our New Ipswich Toddler Time independently, and we are so grateful for the energy, warmth, and leadership they bring. We hope you’ll come meet them at one of our free programs, including New Ipswich Toddler Time, Mini Explorers (outdoor play for ages 2–5), Baby Storytime, Walk & Talk (Thursdays, 1–2 PM, various locations), Generations Together at RiverMead (first Mondays), or Pop-Up Create & Play in Greenfield. To learn more or register, visit our calendar at www.rivercenternh.org/calendar.html

Among all our programs, Generations Together remains one of the dearest to me. This intergenerational gathering brings RiverMead residents and local children into the same room to share a story and an activity. The structure is simple, yet the impact is profound. Research shows that intergenerational programs strengthen children’s social and emotional development, reduce loneliness among older adults, and build empathy across ages. But the real proof is in the moments: a child’s laughter easing an elder’s posture, or a resident’s story holding the full attention of a four‑year‑old. These exchanges are small, but they carry real weight.

Each session is thoughtfully crafted. Our staff collaborates closely with RiverMead residents to choose meaningful activities and stories. Most days, the magic unfolds effortlessly, children discovering the warmth of older generations, and residents rediscovering the joy of being needed and remembered.

This winter, however, brought a different experience.

Between transitions at The River Center, the holiday rush, and the natural overwhelm families often feel this time of year, attendance dropped. For two months, parents and children weren’t able to join us. The RiverMead residents were gracious and understanding, yet I could still sense their disappointment. They had prepared. They had looked forward to the children’s arrival. And when the room stayed quiet, the absence was felt.
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Rather than letting that moment pass, we gathered to reflect and brainstorm ways to strengthen participation. One idea rose quickly to the surface: write this column. Share what this program truly offers. Remind families that Generations Together is here, open, and completely free.

So here is what I want you to know.

This program welcomes any parent or caregiver with young children across the ten towns we serve — Peterborough, Greenfield, Temple, Mason, Greenville, New Ipswich, Sharon, Jaffrey, Rindge, and Dublin. While we offer many programs throughout these communities, Generations Together is something special. It provides connection for families who may feel isolated, for those without relatives nearby, or for anyone who wants their children to experience the richness of older generations. It also offers RiverMead residents a meaningful way to stay engaged, share their stories, and feel part of the lives of young families.

When children walk into that room, they bring more than energy. They bring purpose, joy, and life. When seniors show up, they bring more than stories. They bring history, wisdom, and love.

Intergenerational programs like this one do more than create sweet moments. They:

• Reduce loneliness among older adults, improving emotional and even physical well‑being.
• Boost cognitive engagement, keeping seniors mentally active through storytelling, conversation, and play.
• Support children’s social and emotional growth, teaching empathy, patience, and respect for aging.
• Break down stereotypes, replacing assumptions with real relationships.
• Strengthen communities, helping people of all ages feel seen, valued, and connected.

This program is a bridge, one our community needs more than ever.

As I celebrate my first year at The River Center, my hope is simple: that more families discover the beauty of Generations Together. That more children and seniors share stories, crafts, and moments that matter. And that we continue building a community where no one feels alone, and everyone, no matter their age, has a place to belong.

And so, as we look ahead, I want to extend an open invitation.

If you are a parent, a homeschooler, a babysitter, or simply someone caring for a child who would benefit from this experience, whether that child is a newborn or somewhere closer to “age infinity”, Generations Together is waiting for you. We meet on the first Monday of every month at RiverMead from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., and every gathering is free of charge.

Registration is simple. Visit www.rivercenternh.org, head to Get Involved, and click on Attend a Program. You’ll find our most current calendar with all program listings. Just select Generations Together and fill out the short registration form.

This group is for families who want connection, for children who thrive on new experiences, and for seniors who light up when little feet and big imaginations enter the room. It’s for anyone who believes that community grows stronger when generations grow together.

​This season of giving, something truly special has arrived. We were approached by Sween Fleetz, a local transportation company owned by Edward Sweeney, who also runs the food-delivery service SweenEats. Ed came to us with a simple goal: to help people get where they need to go, no matter their circumstances.

Ed’s commitment comes from experience, and from his faith. In 2022, during the COVID lockdowns, his family was homebound for several days with very little food. That experience inspired him to start SweenEats and eventually expand into transportation services, recognizing that so many people in our community were stuck, literally and figuratively.​

When rising fuel costs forced Ed to raise his fares by just $5, he lost riders, not because they were angry, but because they simply couldn’t afford it. That moment sparked a question in his heart: How can I help those who truly need rides, regardless of their ability to pay?​

​From that moment, the P22 Initiative was born, named after Proverbs 22:2: “Rich and poor have a common bond: the Lord is the maker of them all.” Through this program, community members can donate via the SweenZapp app. Donations are converted into transportation vouchers, which The River Center distributes to residents for essential travel, medical appointments, funerals, and other critical needs.

​The River Center coordinates with Sween Fleetz to schedule rides, monitoring calls, and determining eligibility. While we cannot accommodate same-day or emergency rides due to staffing limits and same day ride availability, this program allows us to help people plan and access transportation for the moments necessary travel.

​While contributions to Sween Fleetz for the P22 Initiative are not tax-deductible, they have an immediate impact by helping community members access essential transportation. I just want to add a disclaimer that If what you are looking for is a tax deduction, especially this time of year, you can always donate directly to The River Center, these contributions remain critical for supporting the full range of programs and services that help families thrive.

During this season of giving, seeing programs like this take root reminds me why I do this work. It’s not just about rides or services, it’s about hope, connection, and the dignity of making sure no one must stay stuck.​

​What this means locally: families are receiving their full benefits for now, but the rules keep shifting—and that unpredictability is its own burden.

Sources:
1. Reuters: Trump administration cannot withhold full funding for food aid, US appeals court rules
2. AP News: Supreme Court Justice issues temporary stay on full SNAP benefits
3. USDA FNS: Revised SNAP benefits update, November 2025
4. The Guardian: USDA tells states to "undo" SNAP benefits
5. New York OTDA: SNAP benefits and shutdown update
6. NH DHHS: DHHS announces availability of full SNAP benefits
7. WMUR: SNAP/WIC benefits continue in NH amid federal uncertainty

At The River Center, we’re here for you when life feels heavy whether you need parenting support, help during a crisis, or even just someone to prepare your taxes. That’s what we do. And it’s because we’re committed to being here for you that we sometimes have to make hard decisions, the kind that ensure we can keep serving this community for many years to come.​

​Change is one of those words that can stir up a mix of emotions. In community work, it’s something we talk about often, but it’s rarely easy when it arrives at our own doorstep. Recently at The River Center, we’ve been in one of those reflective seasons, looking carefully at our programs, our budget, and our long-term sustainability. It’s the kind of process that asks you to think not just with your head, but with your heart.

​Last week, I sat in our staff meeting surrounded by people who care deeply about this mission. The air was a little heavier than usual as we talked about a recent change in our staffing, what it means for our work and, most importantly, for the people behind that work. These are not just “positions” on a chart. They’re people who have greeted families at the door, listened with empathy, and quietly held others up during hard times.

​We are also feeling the broader pressures around us. With budget cuts happening in many sectors and even the recent federal government shutdown, it’s impossible not to notice the ripple effects. Staff understandably feel anxious, wondering what it will mean for our state funding and how we can continue to support our families in the face of such uncertainty.

The human side of change is about gratitude for those who have been part of our story, and for the community that continues to believe in it. It’s about remembering that change doesn’t erase what came before; it builds upon it. It’s about trust—trusting that by making careful, sometimes painful choices, we’re protecting the heart of our mission so it can continue to thrive.
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As I watch the leaves begin to turn outside my office window, I can’t help but see the reflection of our own season. The trees let go, not because they’ve failed, but because it’s part of how they renew. Change, in that way, is an act of stewardship—of caring for what matters most so it can grow strong again.
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Yes, change can be hard. But in the end, it’s deeply human. And when it’s guided by compassion and courage, it leads us exactly where we need to be.

No matter which program you choose, the goal is the same: creating space for kids to thrive and parents to feel supported. Nicole says she knows the programs are working when she sees children looking forward to reconnecting with friends week after week, or when she watches parents rally around one another with advice, encouragement, or simply a listening ear.