Summer 2024 Newsletter
The Chester-Andover Family Center welcomes a new board member, a new slate of officers, and bids farewell to three board members. Polly Montgomery, a resident of Chester and longtime Family Center volunteer joins our Board of Directors. Polly brings a wealth of nonprofit experience to our board, and we look forward to working with her to enhance and carry out the mission of the Chester-Andover Family Center.
Board officers for 2024-25 were elected at our June board meeting. The new slate of officers includes Anne Lamb - President, Nancy Dourney - Vice President, Ruth Walker - Secretary and Suellen Slater - Treasurer. We acknowledge and thank outgoing president, Kris Winnicki for her leadership before, during and after the pandemic. Kris guided the family center during a challenging time to maintain and even grow our services to the community.
We also acknowledge the contributions of outgoing board members; Steve Rubino, Ann DiBernardo, and Nena Nanfeldt. Steve provided legal and financial expertise as we pursued capital projects. During her three-year tenure as a board member, Ann was a regular Thrift Shop and Food Shelf volunteer and organized successful fundraising events. Her leadership supporting our annual Empty Bowl Dinner and Christmas Under the Tent was instrumental in their success. Nena Nanfeldt, a past president and nine-year board member is also coming off the board. Nena has volunteered at the CAFC for over ten years. As Director of Development, she has been active in strategic planning and pursuing grants.
The board encourages and welcomes members of the community to consider joining our board. Please visit our website, www.chester-andoverfamilycenter.org to learn about how we serve the community through our Thrift Shop, Food Shelf and Financial Assistance Program. Contact Anne Lamb, cafc302@gmail.com for more information regarding volunteering or pursuing a board position.
We have two exciting initiatives coming up. The CAFC is collaborating with Chester Townscape and Terrigenous to design and implement a landscape project at the Center on RT 103. Our goal is to present a beautiful, welcoming scene as locals and visitors enter Chester.
Our second initiative is a community wide survey designed to gather information from volunteers, shoppers, recipients, and citizens about our services. Survey responses will guide our decisions going forward about how to best serve the community. Our mission, “To make a difference in our community by providing resources for financial assistance, supplemental nutritious food, affordable clothing and household goods,” is important and we believe that community involvement is essential. We encourage all to participate in the survey this fall, as we look toward the future of our organization to sustain and grow our services.