The Community Children’s Fund Gives $13,000 in Grants to Exeter Area Children in Need

At the heart of a school district are educators who strive to support students at every stage of their educational journey, both in and out of the classroom. With continued support from the Community Children’s Fund, which is under the auspices of the Exeter Area Charitable Foundation (EACF), schools across New Hampshire can give assistance to students in need. 

This year, the Community Children’s Fund allocated $13,000 in grants to six districts across 22 schools with funding to assist families in need. School leaders received checks on Oct. 14.

Recipients included the Exeter Regional School District (SAU 16), the Epping School District (SAU 14), the Sanborn Regional School District (SAU 17), the Raymond School District (SAU 33), the Fremont School District (SAU 83) and the Newmarket School District (SAU 31).

Schools within the districts received $500 to $1,000 to purchase winter mittens, hats, shoes, boots, snow pants and other necessities.

School administrators work with nurses and counselors to identify students who could benefit from the grants. The funds are used by the administration and staff to privately assist any student in need in their school.  

The purchases vary by age and need. Younger students most often request winter boots and snow pants. Older students may need clothing for work, interviews or school events.

“Funds are used for basic clothing like shoes and boots. Some students don’t have warm shoes to wear in the winter,” said Seacoast School of Technology Counselor Sharon Spooner. “Others need steel-toed boots for safety reasons at SST. Sometimes they need business casual clothes for job interviews, competitions or other events. It helps them feel so much more confident when they are dressed as well as the other students.”

At Ellis Elementary School in Fremont, Assistant Principal Caitlyn Perkins said the grants help families replace winter clothing that children outgrow between school years.

“Our social workers and nurses try to personalize the items that are purchased with the grants by asking the students to choose the items themselves, such as the color or style,” said Exeter High School Principal Tonja Neve. “It gives them a sense of agency.”

The fund has supported children since 1989, helping schools provide basic items that families may otherwise have difficulty obtaining. Over the years, more than 15,000 children have received assistance.

“This program means the world not just to our students in SAU16 but to our neighboring school communities,” said SAU16 Superintendent Chris Andriski. “Providing necessary supplies and clothing to our students so they have a sense of confidence when they walk through our doors each day is how we can help care for the whole student both in and out of the classroom. I would like to thank The Community Children’s Fund for their longstanding partnership and for awarding us this funding year after year, allowing us to make even more of an impact for our students.”

For more information about The Community Children’s Fund, click here. 

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