The Goffstown Edge

Dunbarton Church Holiday Wreath & Poinsettia Sale

The Dunbarton Congregational Church is taking orders for Christmas wreaths and poinsettias.   The wreaths are balsam with the wonderful scent that we all associate with Christmas.  The wreaths can be purchased undecorated or decorated 22 inch or 48 inch barn size.  The prices are $12.50, $21.00 and      $ 48.00 respectively.
The poinsettias are bright and beautiful in red, white, marble and pink.   They come in single, double, triple and four plant pots.   Pink is not available in the four size.    The prices are $12.00, $17.50, $23.25, $32.00 respectively.
If you are interested in purchasing wreaths or poinsettias please visit our new website at www.dccucc.org.  You may purchase and pay from the site.  No computer access, please call Dean Bacon at 774-4992.
The wreaths will be ready for pick up Sunday November 27th 12-2pm in the Dunbarton town parking lot.   Poinsettias will be ready for pick up on Saturday December 3rd 10-12pm in the Church vestry.  All orders are due by November 20th.
All proceeds benefit  the Dunbarton Congregational Church.   Thank You!

FBLA/Dream Catchers Yard & Vendor Sale

FBLA & Dream Catchers will be hosting a Yard Sale & Vendor Fair fundraiser at GHS in the café on October 8th from 8 am – 1 pm.

Future Business Leaders of America is a rapidly growing GHS club whose main goal is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.  Dream Catchers, a group founded in 1995 by two teenagers who struggled with disabilities, provides ongoing activities and the opportunity for kids who learn differently to meet others and develop friendships.  The fun will include:
Yard Sale - Bake Sale - Raffles - Prizes and more!
Vendor Fair featuring: 

The GHS Jewelry Club
Tastefully Simple
Avon
Discovery Toys
Thirty One
Silpada
Pampered Chef
Jafra
Scentsy
Grab Your Bag Travel
Miche Bag

Dream Catchers Host Vendor Fair

 Dream Catchers will host a vendor fair at the Goffstown Parks and Recreation Building at 155 Mast Road on Saturday, April 16, from 8 am ti 2 pm.  In addition to the vendors, there will be a bake sale and a raffle table.

The following vendors plan to participate:

• Thirty-One
• Discover Toys
• Jafra
• Tastefully SImple
• Pampered Chef
• Longaberger
• Dove Chocolates
• Tupperware
• Lia Sophia

For details, contact Nancy Kelleher, Dream Catchers event coordinator, at 497-4841 or pchefnancy@comcast.net

Odd Fellows Breakfast Hosts GHS Dream Catchers

Rick Fontaine, Paige Fontaine and Donna DiBello enjoy breakfast at the Odd Fellows Lodge on Sunday.  The GHS Dreamcatchers were helping to support the event, providing table service and serving at the buffet.  DiBello’s son, David, helped establish the program nearly 20 years ago when he and his friend, Erin Whipple, attended GHS and were unable to find appropriate activities for challenged youth.  The Odd Fellows host a breakfast on the first Sunday of every month from  8:00 to 10:30am at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 42 Mt. Road in Goffstown.  Adults  $ 6.00,  Seniors  $ 5.00 Children $  4.00

Odd Fellows Breakfast

The Odd Fellows breakfast for this Sunday is to benefit Dream-catchers, a social club at GHS where students with disabilities can form friendships, and their parents can support one another. Also on Sunday there will be a complementary breakfast for our military families with loved one serving overseas. Please join us Sunday April 3rd from 8:00 to 10:30am at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 42 Mt. Road in Goffstown.  Adults  $ 6.00,  Seniors  $ 5.00 Children $  4.00

Verizon Center Hosts GHS Dreamcatchers

 
Disney on Ice and the Verizon Center hosted nearly 90 members of Goffstown's Team Uncanoonuc at a skating party and reception for Disney Princess Dreams last week.  Dreamcatcher’s Coach Nancy Kelleher exclaimed, “You would not believe all the great things they did for us!”  The Special Olympics group met the performers in the Sam Adams suite, where they received treats and refreshments.  Athletes visited several Disney Princesses, had their pictures taken with Snow White and Cinderella, were given a tour of the fairy tale collection of costumes, and then invited to the performance.

 

Introducing Dreamcatchers at GHS

Dreamcatchers originated in 1995 when two special needs students at GHS were unable to find a club that met their unique interests so they decided to form their own.  The club is still going strong after 15 years, due in a large part to the dedication of the parents and club leaders Nancy Kelleher, Peggy Beckwith and Charlene Belanger.  As Belanger explains, “Dreamcatchers is a social club where students with disabilities can form friendships, and their parents can support one another.”  Dreamcatchers has evolved over the years and is now under the umbrella of Crispin’s House as an official non-profit.

This past fall the Goffstown School District awarded Dreamcatchers a $3,500 IDEA Grant, which will help cover the cost of activities and keep the program running for another year.  “An IDEA Grant must be used for special education students exclusively,” says Goffstown Superintendent Stacy Buckley.  “IDEA Grants are funded through the Federal Government and the State Department of Education.  We allocate the money for Dreamcatchers out of our Federal Entitlement Grants and have been funding that program for 7 or 8 years.”

Dreamcatchers has a history of working hard to fund itself, and has hosted car washes, dances and bake sales in the same way that other extra-curricular activities at the high school seek extra funds.  “Today we continue to coordinate fundraising efforts to supplement the grant from the school district,” says Belanger.  “We also support the Dream Catcher Spirit Award scholarship program, which is given to a deserving senior who has demonstrated good citizenship through involvement and support of ‘students who learn differently’ in our district.”

One goal of the program is for the youth to learn how to give back to their community in their own special way.  In 2009 Dreamcatcher participants raised money to build a Donations Wishing Well for the GHS Music Program in memory of a former member.  This year students are helping to collect donations for the Goffstown Network Food Pantry.

Charlene Belanger has served as President of Dreamcatchers since 2008.  “We want people to know that our Dream Catchers are people worth knowing and befriending. These students offer their friendship unconditionally without judgment and would like to receive the same in return. We want to show others that they do participate and will continue to be active participants, making a difference in the towns they live in.” 

Dream Catchers Awards

SPIRIT AWARD SCHOLARSHiP TO RACHEL BANACH

Dream Catchers is pleased to announce that Rachel Banach is the recipient of their first Spirit Award Scholarship. Rachel is a senior at Goffstown High School. During her study time at school, Rachel was a mentor for the students in the GHS Life Skills classroom and also mentored these students in their Unified Physical Education. Outside of school she volunteers as a Special Olympic Volunteer and with Dream Catchers. She is a patient and kind person and a loving older sister, to a sister who has disabilities. She has a gift with kids and with music and wants to combine her two loves into a career as a music therapist. Rachel is planning on attending college for Music Therapy for young people with disabilities. Dream Catchers wishes her the very best life can offer.

Dream Catchers, a group founded in 1995 by two teenagers who struggled with disabilities, provides ongoing activities and the opportunity for special needs kids to meet others and develop friendships. Group members range in age from fourth grade through high school from Goffstown, Dunbarton and New Boston. Dream Catchers is an affiliate of Crispin’s House and is partially funded by the Goffstown School District.

The Spirit Award Scholarship is funded through the fundraising efforts of the Dream Catchers. For more information on Dream Catchers call (603) 660-6227 or contact Charlene Belanger, Peg Beckwith or Nancy Kelleher

Dream Catchers