Andover Nonprofits and Charities

Andover (MA) Rotary Club serves the Merrimack Valley (surrounding area of Andover) in many areas: housing for homeless, meals for homeless, food insecurity (food drives, support of YMCA Food Truck), Addiction therapy and emergency housing for veterans, school talks on anti-bullying, Alzheimer's crisis hotline, Thanksgiving dinners for families, and international projects such as : Water and hygiene project in Ghana, medical supplies for hospitals in Ukraine (Kiev and Charkasy) and college scholarships.<br>Each year the club sponsors a fund raising event which celebrates volunteers and provides funds for projects. We are asking for sponsorships for the event rotaryandover.org.

JMason Foundation has assisted families through the birth & postpartum period to include providing families with FREE baby items.

I was a regular client at Shabach food pantry. I went to the pantry in February 2022 and was asked never to come back. I asked why buy they couldn’t offer any explanation. I felt discriminated against as an a foreigner with limited English speaking ability.! <br>I asked others I’m my community about their experience with Shabach and they all had negative experience. Most people said they felt uncomfortable going to Shabach for help. Shabach staff and volunteer are very diss respectful and reluctant to help. They only serve people they are familiar with. Someone needs to put Shabach in check and order <br>

I began volunteering with Project Home Again 10 years ago in 7th grade and PHA has helped me grow into the person I am. Through that time I have been amazed by PHA's commitment to serving ALL members of the Merrimack Valley Community. I have personally seen, volunteering during open hours, the hope and stability PHA provides to everyone who comes in. PHA has been a leader in the community, responding to the community's needs through storms and disasters, like the gas line explosions a few years ago, COVID-19, and everything in between. PHA has always been committed to helping the most vulnerable in the community including refugees. I am so proud to have been a part of this organization throughout this past decade.

Am proud to be on the Board of Andover Community Trust: a non-profit organization in Andover, Massachusetts dedicated to building permanently affordable homes in our town where the median house price hovers around $680,000. Our mission is to provide families who qualify for the affordable income guidelines a chance to live in our community and have their chldren attend our public schools. When we acquire a property on which to build an affordable home, the local vocational school students are invited to build the home for us. They get real life hands-on experience with construction trades and have pride in their handiwork overseen both by their instructors and the Town's Building Department. Our organization has been around for over 25 years having built 7 permanently affordable homes and is now in a collaborative project with Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity building 3 duplex permanently affordable homes on Lupine Rd. in Andover.

Great Dog Rescue NE is amazing. Their volunteers put a lot of time and effort to rescue dogs in need and find them their furever homes! The whole process was a little intense, but well worth it. They want to make sure the dogs end up in their furever home, and that the family is as happy with their dog as the dog is with them! All of the volunteers were awesome, from communication after filling out the application, the home visit, references, to the foster parents. We went through a few meet and greet before we found Brandy (fka) Havana. She was nursing her pups, so we had to wait a few weeks, but we are so glad we did.

My son who is on the Autism Spectrum, has been going to events at Creative Living for many years. He has spent the weekend, and had so much fun. During the Men's Weekend, the participants go to so many wonderful places, such as sports events, movies, dinner, festivals and many other interesting venues. The staff at Creative Living is so on top of things, and really do a great job of not only entertaining the participants but making sure that they are safe, fed, happy and sleeping when they're supposed to! In addition, they are so conscientious about the meds that the individuals need to take during the weekend and very on top of making sure it's done properly.<br>My son attends almost every Friday Night Out and looks forward to these special nights where he gets to feel like any other 22 year old going out with his friends. The FNO's include making dinner, dancing, special themes, barbeques, sports games and all kinds of fun activities.<br>I can highly recommend Creative Living! The staff is wonderful, understanding and empathetic. As well as trained to work with our kids. Sincerely, Lisa Staff<br>

My daughter's instructor was very poor. The lessons were all the same with no explanation of what needed improvement. When I asked her specific questions, she could not answer them. She often road outside in the rain even though they have an indoor ring. Some horses like the job and others clearly don't and students don't have a choice in which horse they ride which is supposed to make them better riders but all the kids know which horse will only disappoint. The lessons rapidly went from fun to not fun. It's also not well organized. The kids are just sort of expected to figure out what to do when they get there.

I have received an appeal for donations from this outfit since its inception. It has done a fine job of tracking me to various parts of the globe but has failed miserably in reading the messages I send them yearly. In short: the addressee each year is my mother, Mrs. Celestine Wyman. Unfortunately, she has been dead for 15 years! ...and each year I dutifully inform them of that fact. Got another one today--and I'm wicked pissed! The phone number I found for them online turns out to be for another company. Is there anybody there capable of reading!?

Nearly seven years ago. I was invited to a meeting at a nursing home in western Connecticut called the Lutheran Home of Southbury. Little did I know, at that time, that God was introducing me to a new ministry. The residents of that home and the staff who served them, under the auspices of LSSNE, the Lutheran Social Services of New England, would become the main focus of my daily life up to the present time. <br> <br>When I reflect on the countless blessings given me over forty-seven years of ordained ministry, I become more aware of the 48 services provided by LSS which have been a blessing to people of all ages, social classes, cultures and religious traditions. Jesus’ “Beatitudes” in the Sermon on the Mount, speak to those whom LSS serves as it reaches out to the bodies, minds and spirits of God’s “anawim” (“little one’s.) LSS has provided blessings, i.e., means of happiness, to the “poor in spirit,” to “those who mourn,” to “the meek,” to “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” “the merciful,” “the pure in heart,” “the peacemakers” and “those who are persecuted for righteousness.” <br> <br>Jesus completed his teaching, that day, with two statements that I believe, are prophetically addressed to the mission and missionaries of LSS: “you are the salt of the earth” and you are the light of the world.” <br>Reverend Leo E. McIlrath, Chaplain <br>The Lutheran Home of Southbury <br>990 Main Street North <br>06488

Andona is a wonderful organization comprised of dedicated and committed women who truly care about making a difference to the youth of Andover and the surrounding area. All of their programs and events are thoughtful and well planned. The big fundraiser, "Clown Town" is not just a fundraiser but a true can't miss beginning of summer event in the town. I don't know the exact percentage, but unlike many "non-profits" that raise money to fund their own operations, close to 100% of the funds raised are directly reinvested in programs that directly serve the students on Andover or in scholarships.

AVIS has been around since 1894, preserving land and making it available for the public to enjoy. Without AVIS much of the 1,100 acres protected by them would be developed for housing or commercial purposes. This land includes meadows,forests, and wetlands that protect the environment and the plants and animals that thrive there. Thank you AVIS!