From Our Editor, Nancy Allenby

“October is the fallen leaf, but also it is the wider horizon more clearly seen." - Hal Borland

What a bounty we enjoy in New Hampshire's October! Abundant harvest, gorgeous landscapes, brisk mornings and evenings around the fire. As our beautiful leaves fall from the trees, we gain access to more open horizons and wider views -- all of which encourage us to see the entirety of our community. Join us this fall by becoming a mentor for a child, signing up for a shift at the upcoming WindowDressers Community Build, or helping plan the distribution of KNP holiday cards and cookies. THANK YOU for walking with us this fall as our volunteers, donors and community partners, and for offering your time, talents and finances to help our neighbors.

New KNP T-shirts Are Here!

BOTH SHORT AND LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS in two colors are now available for pre-order! Two color choices for garment-washed LONG-SLEEVED and SHORT-SLEEVED classic T'-shirts: denim blue and spruce green. A WOMEN'S CUT short sleeved V-neck is also available in denim blue.

Long-sleeved T-shirts, sizes XS-XL are $20, payable upon receipt of your shirt(s.) Short-sleeved T-shirts and women's V-necks are $15. There will be a slight addition to the price on sizes XXL-XXXXL.

Grab a couple of different colors and styles for your own enjoyment and treat a friend or family member as a holiday gift. Email us with your pre-order to tell us the exact shirts you would like, noting sleeve length, color and size, and regular T-shirt or women's cut. Please place your order by Oct. 15, so we can get these printed and into your hands ASAP. Be on the lookout for an email with ordering options as well. KNP hats are, of course, available any time - see below.

Windsor County Mentors

A CARING ADULT CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO A CHILD

Mentorship is a powerful way to make a lasting impact on a young person's life. KNP partners with Windsor County Mentors, a long-established mentoring organization. YOU can make a difference in a child's life by meeting with them for one hour each week at a Kearsarge area school. WCM will train you and match you with a child. For more information, email or call 802-674-5101.

Stay Warm +Save Energy

WINDOW DRESSERS IS COMING! The 4th annual Window Dressers Community Build of heat-saving custom interior storm windows is approaching quickly from Nov. 12-16 at St. Andrews Church in New London. You can help build sturdy energy-saving custom interior storm windows, which save energy and make winter heating much more affordable for anyone in the Kearsarge Neighborhood.

Please consider volunteering here for a 4-hour shift or two, to make food, or serve at the welcome table! You can email to sign up manually, or with any questions. Click here if you are interested in window inserts or re-wraps of inserts from previous years.

More than half of the storm window recipients pay full price, but through our collaboration with WindowDressers of Maine, we can offer many of the inserts (up to ten per household annually) to SPECIAL RATE customers for FREE! The WindowDresser building process is totally simplified, and we will train you on the job, so sign up for a shift now!

Volunteers Help Inform the Region About KNP

MANY THANKS TO OUR GREAT TABLERS! We hope you got a chance to enjoy two family-friendly events in September: a festival focused on food security, farms and community at the Sweet Beet Market Community Fair, as well as WilmotPalooza!

KNP's Annual Report

HAVE YOU TAKEN A PEEK? KNP's 2025 annual report offers a great snapshot of our impact in our 10-town region last year. Email us if you see something you might like to get involved in this year!

Pumpkin People!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CREATE A COUPLE OF KNP PUMPKIN PEOPLE? KNP makes such a difference in our 10-town Kearsarge region. Let's "make a scene" and show the community that we exist! Interested in getting creative? Please email our volunteer coordinator and let her know.

KNP Holiday Cards and Cookies

WE NEED SOME ELVES! KNP volunteers design and send holiday cards to our neighbors actively receiving KNP services, as well as our donors and community partners. We also bake and package holiday cookies and hand-deliver them to our neighbors actively receiving services. Both cards and 'Kookies for Kearsarge' are fun and social. If you' would enjoy being part of the holiday team, please email our volunteer coordinator to let her know!

VOLUNTEER FEATURE:

FEED KEARSARGE

FEED Kearsarge is a local coalition working to strengthen Food Expansion, Education, and Distribution in our community. They bring together food pantries, volunteers, community health workers, farmers and food producers, educators, organizers, churches, and concerned residents to support one another and address food insecurity around the region. Meeting monthly, the FEED Kearsarge Coalition is actively forming work groups to share information and take action in the areas of:

• Food Recovery and Gleaning
• Community FREEdge Network
• Refrigerated Food Delivery
• Public Education
• SNAP Support for Community Members

A generous "Genius Grant" from the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation will allow FEED Kearsarge to study the many issues of food security in the Kearsarge region and to make a plan to address them long-term. The grant will fund two positions at the Kearsarge Food Hub to increase local food access, enhance farmer support and distribute food that might otherwise go to waste.

You can inform yourself about food insecurity in our community by joining the NH Hunger Solutions mailing list. The FEED Kearsarge Coalition Advisory Team is planning an in-person meeting for all coalition members and interested community members.

• When: Thursday, October 15th, 5:30-7:00pm
• Where: In the Community Room at Sweet Beet Market and Cafe, 11 W Main St, Bradford NH 
• What: Reviewing accomplishments from 2026; discussion on how to support neighbors through the holidays; looking ahead
• Who: ALL FEED Kearsarge Coalition members and ALL interested Community Members wanting to learn more.

This event is free; limited to 50 individuals. Register NOW: RSVP

If you’d like to be involved in the FEED Kearsarge Coalition, email to join our mailing list.

A Gift Has Been Made In Your Honor Cards

PLAN AHEAD! KNP OFFERS BEAUTIFUL WINTER CARDS featuring the original artwork of local artist Carrie Bouton, for you to give to a friend or loved one to tell them you have made a donation to KNP in their honor. The 5x7" cards come with an envelope and can be sent separately or you can tuck them into your own cards or gifts for those who would appreciate knowing you have supported KNP in their name. We suggest a minimum donation of $10 per card. After making your donation, please email us and we will make arrangements to get these beautiful cards to you.

Have You Been Volunteering?

PLEASE REMEMBER TO LOG YOUR HOURS on Better Impact after participating in ANY KNP activity, either by computer or phone app. Simply click the "HOURS" tab and enter hours and/or minutes. Thanks!

**If you are not yet a KNP volunteer but would like to see opportunities to help, please call volunteer coordinator Beth at 603-317-5900 or email and she will cheerfully and patiently guide you through the process of joining us.

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