Cross Roads House Benefit by the Sea - Portsmouth, NH
LeMay Family Goodworks recently supported Cross Roads House’s 21st Annual Benefit by the Sea as a Community Partner! We were thrilled to sponsor this incredible Portsmouth, NH, shelter once again.
Held on May 6th at the Wentworth by the Sea Hotel, the event welcomed 200 Seacoast community members to celebrate Cross Roads House’s 40th year.
And the gala was another huge success—between sponsors and attendees, the event raised $665,000! The LeMay Family Goodworks team was honored to be a sponsor alongside like-minded corporate and private sponsors including The 100 Club, Novocure, Gary and Karen DeStefano, Lex Scourby, BankProv, Seascape Capital Management, and many more. Event guests were equally generous, essentially doubling the sponsorship dollars with their pledges.
“As you can imagine, our work for those most vulnerable in our community never stops,” shared Lissa Gumprecht, Director of Development and Communications for Cross Roads. “We have spent 40 years evolving towards a proven strategy of safety and support for them, building a commitment toward advocacy and respect that the Seacoast community has stood behind from Day One. Tonight’s event celebrates that shared commitment.”
This fundraiser secures a significant portion of the nonprofit’s funding, allowing them to continue providing shelter and life-changing services for men, women, and children facing homelessness.
Learn more about Cross Roads House and their crucial work in the Seacoast Area.
Cross Roads House Mission
Cross Roads House has been providing emergency and transitional shelter to homeless individuals and families throughout the New Hampshire and Maine Seacoast since 1982. Cross Roads House aims to:
Prevent exposure and hunger for those facing homelessness in the Greater Seacoast
Provide shelter to those working to break the cycle of homelessness
Support these individuals and families with additional resources so they can move with dignity and purpose to stable and decent housing
The Portsmouth shelter houses about 100 people a night, offering emergency shelter 24/7. Additionally, Cross Roads House’s proven program includes:
Three meals a day for residents
Needs assessments and case management services
Access to a variety of onsite care (e.g., mental health counseling, primary medical and dental, AA & NA meetings, free public transportation)
Referrals to community services (e.g., public housing, rehab, counseling, parenting support, Community Action Programs)
Support and direction for returning to permanent housing
“Rent Ready” and “Ready to Work” seminar classes
Post-shelter case management to help maintain housing
Cross Roads House also collaborates with various agencies and businesses to coordinate donated services for residents throughout the year, such as VITA tax preparation services, chiropractic care, yoga and relaxation classes, and haircuts. The shelter goes above and beyond to help residents find relief and dignity during challenging times.
And their transitional program works—most who participate find permanent housing and walk away with tangible goals and the skills to achieve them!
If you are homeless and need immediate shelter:
First, call 2-1-1 from any NH phone (or 866-444-4211 from any phone) for assistance with shelter referrals and local resources.
Contact your local welfare office (see directory here).
You can also call Cross Roads House directly at 603-436-2218 for more information.
Both 2-1-1 and Cross Roads House are available 24/7 to assist you.
Do you need a meal or groceries? The above directory also lists local food pantries and soup kitchens!
Help Cross Roads House Fight Homelessness
Although this year’s Benefit by the Sea has passed, Cross Roads House accepts donations and support year-round to make a difference for as many lives as possible. If you’d like to help them in the fight against homelessness and hunger, consider:
Donating: From various financial contributions to items from their Wish List, there are many ways to become a donor.
Volunteering: Give hands-on help by helping with meal prep and service, childcare, donation pick-ups, and group days of service with a team!
Hosting a Fundraiser: Hold an event of your choosing and make Cross Roads House the beneficiary. Contact Cross Roads House to learn more.
To keep up with Cross Roads House’s latest efforts and how you can give back, follow them on Instagram @cross_roads_nh or on Facebook!