programs at the river center

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It may be cold outside, but things are cooking here at The River Center. We have things to do and places to go for families of all shapes and sizes. And, of course, I want to remind you about our free tax program!

If you are expecting or have a baby 0-24 months, the Baby and Me group would love to see you. They meet every Monday morning at a local yoga studio with plenty of room to space out and enjoy being with others. Or if you have little ones 24 months to 5 years, the Mini Explorers is the place to be Wednesday mornings. This group of parents and caregivers and children explore our beautiful outdoors year round, meeting in different parks, forests, fun spots each week. Another option is the Thursday morning Weekly Walk on a stroller friendly trail, ending with story time.

The third Wednesday of the month your family can join our staff for Winter Family Fun days from 12:00-2:00. This is outdoor fun organized by our creative staff. Depending on the weather, there might be sledding, painting on snow, snowman building or who knows? Having fun and enjoying the beautiful outdoors is the key to these special outings.

Your Pregnancy group meets every two weeks on Tuesday evening for expectant parents looking to prepare for the big day in a supportive atmosphere. See the Able, Not the Label connects parents of children with special needs with each other and access to supports, advice, and advocacy. This group meets via Zoom on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday evenings.

In addition to these specific groups, we continue to offer Early Home Support, an intensive one on one parenting support program. Our Kinship Navigator connects grandparents and caregivers with support and resources while they raise their non-biological children.

Connections to local resources are available to all community members by calling 603-924-6800 x 10 or accessing the Factbook at www.factbook.rivercenter.us . The Community Wood Bank provides supplemental and emergency wood for needs beyond fuel assistance.

It wouldn’t be January without mentioning the free tax preparation program. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, our volunteers prepare tax returns for household incomes less than $57,000. This year, there are many reasons to make sure you get your taxes done by these certified tax preparers. They want to make sure that every household takes advantage of the expanded earned income tax credits as well as the advanced child tax credits. Every year, millions of dollars are left unclaimed in earned income tax credits. Make sure that all the money that you qualify for comes to you. Contact The River Center to see how we can help you.

The rental and mortgage assistance programs have been expanded to help more households with housing expenses. You, or someone you know may be eligible for this assistance and we can help with applications.
Are you a parent or caring for children? We can support you and your family and connect you with others. Did you make less than $58,000 this year?  Our volunteers can prepare your taxes and connect you with additional resources you may be eligible to receive. Are you not sure where to go? Call The River Center. We will get you connected with the resources you need.

Like I said at the start, there’s lots going on here at The River Center. You may be asking, how can I help? You can help spread the word by telling that young mother about our programs, encouraging your neighbor to call about our tax program, or keeping our contact information handy in case you need to know about local resources. You can also give to The River Center through your financial donations and by volunteering your time and talents. The River Center is truly a community effort and we are grateful the many ways you support this work.
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For more information on any of these programs, please contact us at 924-6800 or www.rivercenternh.org.            
Margaret Nelson
Executive Director
mnelson@rivercenter.us  ​