Building on Hope Seeks Help to Renovate Amherst Facility

Building on Hope is looking for donations and skilled labor to complete a $300,000 community-funded renovation of Opportunity Networks in Amherst.

A press release on the efforts is below:

AMHERST – Building on Hope, a network of volunteers who collaborate with builders, architects, designers, and building suppliers to provide physical improvements to facilities associated with non-profit service groups is weeks away from beginning a $300,000 renovation of Opportunity Networks’ facility in Amherst, NH. Dozens of businesses and volunteers have committed to participate in an Extreme Home Makeover-type build that will take place May 9 – May 18. More than $100,000 in donations have been received thus far but the organization needs an additional $20,000 to complete the project and is also seeking flooring installers to help with the remodel. Volunteers and donors can visitwww.buildingonhope.org to support the project.

Opportunity Networks is a non-profit organization serving Souhegan Valley and Greater Nashua young adults and adults who live with acquired and developmental disabilities. With little more than basic updating and maintenance in the past 30 years, the 6,000 square foot, 11 Caldwell Drive location in Amherst is in desperate need of repair. Over the past several months, Building on Hope has organized volunteers and solicited donations from businesses to help with the renovation. As the May 9th renovation start date nears, the project is in need of a final boost of funding and commitments from flooring installers to complete the build.

“For an all-volunteer group with no funding, Building on Hope relies solely on the goodwill and generosity of Granite State businesses,” said Building on Hope co-chair Jonathan Halle. “This renovation of Opportunity Networks is our largest endeavor to-date. Despite the daunting task, each week when our team meets to discuss the building process, we are reminded of how good our community truly is. Our motto is ‘Many Hands Make Light Work.’ We only need a few more hands to complete this project and forever change the lives of some very special people.”

Potential donors and volunteers can tour the facility during an open house on April 30th from 5:30-7:30pm.

Opportunity Networks financed the first phase of construction, increasing the building’s usable space by 50%. Work included demolition of the interior, installation of new walls, a new roof, sprinkler system, rough electrical work and a new HVAC system.

With the support of Building on Hope, local businesses, donors, and volunteers will handle the finishing touches, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility that will improve the lives of people with all disabilities.

There are a total of 12 rooms that will be renovated. Rooms vary by purpose, from promoting healthy and independent living skills, employment and learning, to pursuit of interests, and general needs. Volunteers will have the chance to aid the creation of a movement room, a tech theater, creative center, administrative offices, function and conference rooms, kitchen, cafeteria, and more.

Renovation will allow for expanded hours to further support families, provide after school programming/high school transition services, multisensory learning, and communication technologies.

Opportunity Networks thrives by enriching communities through connecting local employers and individuals with the opportunities to prosper. Since 1979, the organization has been recognized as one of the industry leaders in the Greater Nashua area for providing highly trained staff capable of providing services necessary to assure the best outcome for the business and the employee. Opportunity Networks sets up its clients to work with local businesses at competitive wages and creates a reliable relationship between the two, providing behind the scenes and up front support to assure job expectancies are met.

Every two years, Building on Hope takes on a new challenge – organizing volunteers, collecting resources and focusing attention on a specific “extreme make over” to be completed over the course of a week with volunteer labor and donated goods. In the past four years, Building on Hope has successfully completed over $500,000 in community-funded renovations for Easter Seals New Hampshire and Girls Inc.

In 2010, Building on Hope led the remodeling, landscaping, redesign and refurnishing of the Krol House, an all-boys intensive residential treatment facility for Easter Seals New Hampshire. In 2012, the volunteer group successfully organized volunteers, raised in-kind and cash donations, and completely renovated the Girls Inc. building in Manchester.

Volunteers will mobilize and being work on May 9th and a reveal and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for May 18th.

Visit www.buildingonhope.org to learn more about Building on Hope, donate or sign up to volunteer.