LISTEN’s mission is to provide services and support to meet the critical needs of Upper Valley individuals and families.

As a non-profit, LISTEN’s mission is powered by the generosity of donors like you in addition to purchases made in our three Thrift Stores by our Upper Valley neighbors. LISTEN is proud to serve 26 communities across the Upper Valley through low-barrier social service programs. Some of the ways we offer assistance to local individuals and families are:

Food Assistance – LISTEN operates a food pantry and provides nutritious meals in a community dining room for those facing food insecurity.

Housing Support – LISTEN provides programs and services to address homelessness and housing instability and rental assistance.

Fuel and Utility Assistance – LISTEN financially supports individuals with heat and electricity assistance to stay warm in the winter.

Thrift Stores – LISTEN operates three thrift stores and sells over 1 million items annually. 

Support and Advocacy – LISTEN offers case management, advocacy/guidance, and referral services to connect individuals with additional resources and support systems.

For over 50 years, LISTEN’s mission has been fueled by the unwavering dedication of the Upper Valley community to help create a better future for all our neighbors. Together, we are creating a kinder and more resilient Upper Valley. 

Thank you for continuing to choose LISTEN.

Each summer, LISTEN provides need-based scholarships for kids across the Upper Valley to attend summer camps. In 2023, donations from our community meant that 186 kids were able to meet new friends, stay active, try new things, and make memories at a summer camp of their choice.

One mom says, “Thanks to LISTEN, my daughter had her first camp experience and it was one she will never forget. She learned so many new skills like swimming, ceramics, and baking. Most importantly, she left feeling more confident and sure of herself. We are so incredibly grateful to our community for making this possible for her!”

Will you join us this year and make a gift to support our local kids with need-based summer camp scholarships? Thanks to a generous matching gift from the Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation, your gift will have DOUBLE the impact!

Meet our Service Coordinator,

Georgia Hanchett-Dean!

Since 2015, Georgia has been a vital member of our team of service coordinators, who work with families to help them find resources when they are in financial hardship. She’s famous for her big smile and her warm, hearty “Oh, hi!” to everyone who walks in our door.

Last month, Martha (age 70), called Georgia because she had been living in her car for several months, and had just found an apartment in Enfield, NH. Her new landlord said she needed to get the first month’s rent and security deposit to him in the next 24 hours or else she would lose the apartment. She didn’t have quite enough saved on her own. Thanks to the community’s support for LISTEN’s Housing Helpers program, Georgia was able to pay for the rest of it to make sure that Martha could secure the apartment and get a roof over her head.

Wave hello to your neighbor,

Charlie Chapman! 

Several years ago, Charlie was newly retired and looking for ways to give back to his community. Inspired by his mother’s lifelong dedication to helping her neighbors, he started transporting Fresh Rescue donations from local grocery stores to LISTEN’s Food Pantry. These donations include produce and bread, which Charlie helps to save from becoming food waste.

During the pandemic, LISTEN began partnering with RSVP Chore Corps - an AmeriCorps Seniors program of the Grafton County Senior Citizens’ Council - to deliver groceries from our Food Pantry to homebound community members. Charlie was one of the first volunteers to offer his support to the initiative. Over three years later, he continues to donate his time every week delivering Food Pantry orders. These groceries are a lifeline for folks who could not otherwise access the food they need. 

Charlie’s favorite part of volunteering? Connecting with the seniors he serves: “There’s one gentleman that’s entirely homebound. He tells me that I’m the only person he sees other than the mailman all week long. I always make sure to have some kind of dessert for him.” 

Thank you, Charlie, for making our neighbors’ weeks a little bit sweeter with your kindness!

Lunch is served! 

LISTEN dining hall, located at 42 Maple Street, now serves takeout lunches. Thank you to our dedicated staff and volunteers who serve 30-45 lunches daily. Interested in volunteering? Contact us at 603-448-4553, email Dining Hall Manager Larry Lowndes at larry@listencs.org, or visit our website – listencs.org for volunteer opportunities.

Did you know?

LISTEN operates three thrift stores and sells over 1 million items annually. 

• 387 Miracle Mile, Lebanon, NH 03766
• 236 Rte. 4, Canaan, NH 03741
• 42 Maple St., White River Junction, VT 05001

LISTEN annually recycles and upcycles over 240 tons of textiles, 100 tons of books, and over 50 tons of hard goods.  

LISTEN gives out over 2,100 vouchers/gift cards for people in need. In 2023, LISTEN gave away $176,000 in free clothing and housewares to over 1,200 families.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American annually throws away over 80 pounds of textiles.

Only about 15% of used clothes and textiles in the US gets reused or recycled. According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 85% of used clothes and textiles head straight to the landfill or incinerator. When you shop or donate to LISTEN, you help decrease the number of new garments created. 

A visit to LISTEN reduces waste, protects human, plant, and animal life, and creates funds to help our neighbors with basic needs such as food, housing, and heating assistance.

Ruth Emery

Ruth Emery has been an integral part of the LISTEN team for nearly the organization’s entire history, starting as a volunteer in 1974 during her teenage years. Over time, Emery transitioned to working in the sorting center at the Miracle Mile thrift store, a role she finds fulfilling and creative, especially in organizing the sale events cherished by LISTEN shoppers.

Emery appreciates the familial atmosphere fostered by LISTEN, noting, “It’s very family-oriented; we’re connected in a lot of ways,” she said. Emery takes the agency’s success to heart, “I care so very much for everything we do and the way we help the public,” she stated. “How it’s grown so much over the years. It’s amazing; I have grown with it.” Ruth Emery and team members like her make LISTEN a special place to work every day.

Come by our freshly renovated Canaan store! 

Improvements include expanded floor space, new flooring, heating/AC, painted walls/ceilings, and a foyer. 

236 Rte. 4, Canaan, NH 03741