New Hampshire fans!  Goodwill is excited to host the Second Annual Goodwill Night at the NH Fisher Cats.  The game is Thursday, August 26, at Merchantsauto.com Stadium in Manchester.

Bring a donation for Goodwill and receive a FREE ticket to an upcoming Fisher Cats game, as well as great prizes for Goodwill.  Be sure to also look for Goodwill employees serving up drinks and snacks in the concession stands!

The game starts at 7 pm, followed by an evening of fireworks.

You can buy tickets at the Fisher Cats website.

What: Goodwill Donation Drive

When: Thursday, August 5, 7 pm

Where: Centennial Field, Winooski Vermont

Why: Your donations are sold in our stores; the revenue helps to fund our job training programs and support services as we help people overcome barriers – thank you for your continued support!

Here are some pictures from last year’s game!

We have been busy at work getting ready for our first “Art for Everyone” fundraiser in New Hampshire! The show will feature drawings, oils, pastels, posters, prints, and watercolors donated to Goodwill stores.  And!  All artwork will be affordably priced.

Come see the incredible pieces of art community members donate on a regular basis and learn about Goodwill’s job training and support services in New Hampshire.

What: Goodwill’s Art for Everyone: A Collection of Donated Art

Where: Kimball Jenkins School of Art, 266 N. Main Street, Concord, NH

When: Friday, June 18, 4 to 8 pm

Why: A fundraiser for Goodwill!

Here is a sneak preview of some of the pieces for sale:

(See more pictures on our Facebook page)

Last week, I highlighted some new green businesses in Maine in honor of Earth Day.  Today I am looking at green businesses in NH that have been featured in the news in the last few months.   Do you know of green businesses in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont?  Should we highlight them here?  Leave us a comment and let us know!

Greenland Bioplastics

Greenland Bioplastics is based in Greenland, NH, and they are a great LOCAL source for environmentally-friendly biodegradable packaging.  They provide products such as bags, take-out containers, deli tubs, spoons, knives, and forks.  While using durable wear is best, consider contacting Greenland if you or your organization is hosting an event or fundraiser.  Do you own a restaurant that offers take-out?  Greenland has compostable take-out containers you can incorporate into your business.  Check out an article about Greenland Bioplastics in The Wire.

Simply Green Biofuels

They have been around less than two years, but they went from having a small group of customers to more than 1,000.  Owner Andrew Kellar hopes to increase that number to 3,000 in the next year.

Simply Green Biofuels offers home heating oil with a percentage of biofuel. He also opened a “congrenience” store in Dover, the first of its kind in the state.  The store features LED lighting and rooftop solar panels.  And the best feature of all?  All items sold in the store are produced within a 100 mile radius!  Read a recent article on Simply Green on Seacoast Online and visit their website here.

ReStore

In last week’s blog post about Maine, we featured a new ReStore that recently opened up in Holden.  The Southeast New Hampshire chapter of Habitat for Humanity also opened up a ReStore in Dover, off Central Avenue.  This is the first ReStore in the state and features everything you need for repair and renovation.  They have doors, windows, light fixtures, rugs, sinks, ceiling fans, just about everything.   As an article on Seacoast Online points out, the prices are pretty good, too.

If you live in Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont, be sure to tune in to your local public broadcasting television station tonight at 8 pm for the premiere of Making $ense: The Economy and Northern New England.

This is the first ever co-production between Maine Public Broadcasting, New Hampshire Public Television and Vermont Public Television.  The broadcast will feature four regional stories “that document resourceful, grassroots solutions to the looming economy.”

Specifically, they will feature stories about (from MPBN)

1. Mortgage Deferment

Maine’s Gorham Savings Bank has instituted a mortgage deferment program for its customers.  Under this new program, GSB customers finding themselves in financial hardship are afforded the opportunity to apply for a mortgage payment holiday.  To date, more than 100 customers have taken advantage of this program.

2. 10% Shift

The 10% Shift is a grassroots coalition of businesses, non-profit organizations, citizens, and goverment agencies.  Their goal is to encourage people through New England to shift 10% of their current annual spending from national chains to locally owned independet businesses ensuring a direct stimulus to the local and regional economies.

3. Time Banks

In communities throughout New England, time banks are becoming a popular way for individuals to barter for goods and services.  Vermont Public Television will visit with people making the most of time bank system, reaping great benefits while utilizing their own skills and labor.

4. Small Business

SCORE is a community-based, volunteer organization of active and retired small business ownders who counsel entrepreneurs and new small business ownders on strategies in starting and maintaining a successful business.

If you can’t watch it tonight, the program will be rebroadcast several times throughout the month of April.  Please check your local listings at MPBN, New Hampshire Public Television, and Vermont Public Television.

Goodwill is proud to be an underwriter for this exciting look at how northern New England is responding to the changing economic climate.