Direct, immediate help to lift displaced individuals and families into a position where they can help each other, their families and their communities, across the Upper Valley. The fund currently supports Afghan evacuees in Hanover, NH and White River Junction, VT.

Can you help?

Read a letter of request from the team, with more information about the financial need.
With the exciting addition of new driver’s licenses and donated vehicles, car insurance and maintenance is a significant expense.

There are several ways to contribute

1. Pay with credit, debit, or PayPal

by clicking the “Donate” button. Note that CommunityCare of Lyme administers the Welcome Fund. 

2. Mail a check to:

Welcome Fund
P.O. Box 127
Lyme, NH 03768

3. For planned gifts, stock transfers, or other preferred ways to share your support:

Please email UVNSTWelcome@gmail.com.

Your donation will have an immediate impact, helping a new neighbor to thrive in the Upper Valley. 

We belong together.

There are lots of ways to be involved with our new community members as they settle into their lives among us. Here are just a few:

For the men: English language support. Technology assistance, as they become more independent in communicating and accessing resources.

For the family: Child care shifts and play dates (Hanover area). Occasional meals.

For other arriving newcomers: Car donations. Host families and affordable housing options. Be part of a support team embracing an individual or family.

For all new neighbors: Social outings! Let’s transition from being “in service” to being friends. Help them explore and enjoy our quite special community. Think about inviting them to a meal at home or at a local restaurant, a favorite walk or hike, a concert, outdoor games, sporting events … something you like to do and share.

If you’d like to join in and share some special time with these special people, or just learn more about the evolving adventure, please contact Martha Tecca, who’s helping with coordination. Email the Upper Valley Neighborhood Support Team or call 603-443-0283. To support the effort financially, you may contribute to the Welcome Fund. See donation details on this page.

Upper Valley Neighborhood Support Team

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The Upper Valley Neighborhood Support Team (UVNST) formed in October 2021, to share our local abundance with Afghan evacuees. This collaboration, in partnership with Ascentria Care Alliance in New Hampshire, began in Lyme and quickly, organically grew to involve individuals, organizations, and businesses across the Upper Valley. As a partner in this regional effort, CommunityCare of Lyme launched the Welcome Fund to accept donations and provide financial support for displaced individuals settling across the Upper Valley.

It’s been a full and life changing several months – for our new neighbors and many, many community members! Together, we have directly supported the resettlement of 18 Afghans, connected a Cuban family with local housing, and helped to welcome Ukrainian refugees with local sponsors. In addition to responsive support as requests for assistance are received, we are now accompanying a small family and three individual men on their journeys to self-sufficiency and community involvement:

An advocate for women and children and her growing family

Behishta is a 28-year-old new Dartmouth masters student with a 6-year-old daughter in Kindergarten and twins born in February of 2022. Her husband is in Turkey, unable to work in the US at this time. Dozens of volunteers provided rides, food, babysitting, clothing and other material needs, dental care, immigration guidance, driving lessons, and help to access community and state benefits. A car has been donated. A full scholarship for 9 weeks of summer camp was gifted to the family in 2022. Still, ongoing, substantial financial support is necessary to cover rent, 2023 summer programming, formal child care, so many diapers, and other life necessities. Read her story.

Former soldiers, with families still in Afghanistan

The men are Afghan soldiers who were embedded with the U.S. Army at the Pakistan border. They spoke no English on arrival. In beautiful collaboration with the leadership and teams at Hotel Coolidge and Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, the men are working more than full time to pay their rent, food, and health insurance, while they send money home to their families struggling in Afghanistan. They speak with their wives, children and other family members every day. With substantial volunteer and organizational support, they are now driving, learning English, continuing to work through immigration cases, participating in the local Muslim community, and making real friends. Read their story.

These are real people, making real lives – and they need our help. Join us!