John Nolan/Times Photo       

U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN Carol Shea-Porter, Mayor John Larochelle, New Generation founder Ruthie Ford (scissors) and U.S. Senator John Sununu's representative Kate Pyle were all in attendance for the official ribbon-cutting of the Second Generation Thrift Shoppe on Old Dover Road. On Pyle's forehead is the mark of Ash Wednesday.

Shea-Porter, mayor at thrift store opening

          by JOHN NOLAN

Thursday, February 27, 2007 (Rochester, NH)— In its 20th year, New Generation, Inc., which operates a shelter for homeless pregnant women in Greenland, held an official ribbon-cutting of its second thrift shoppe on February 21.

The shoppe on Old Dover Road, is intended to meet the needs of local shopper of secondhand clothes and household items as well as channel profits to the women's shelter, which receives 20 percent of its residents from Strafford County.

U.S. Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, who attended the official opening ceremony, told New Generation board members and staff that they were supporting women and children in their most vulnerable moments.

"This is the time to anchor them.  You give them a place to go.  It is a great asset." said Shea-Porter, who told the gathering that before entering politics, she had been a social worker.

Kate Pyle, representing U.S. Senator John Sununu, read a short message from the senator that was equally supportive of the organization and the fund-raising thrift shoppes.  "It is heartwarming to see the community working together," Sununu said in his letter.

Mayor John Larochelle,in his welcoming remarks, said, "Someone wrote, you can measure a city by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.  Rochester is right up there."

Ruthie Ford, who co-founded the shelter for homeless, pregnant women and those with young infants, two decades ago, said, "It is imperative to have the money to keep going."  She explained that the shelter was not a come and go place but one with structure. 

"We ask the women if they can abide by the rules.  Then they are invited to stay.  We teach them to cook and learn parenting skills," said Ford, adding that the final goal is for the young mothers to find their own housing.

Ford said the women tended to be very responsive to each other, and came back to visit after they had moved on from the shelter.

Throughout the formal remarks, a steady stream of thrift shoppe customers were cheerily waved through the gathering of officials, to browse the racks and make their purchases.

The thrift shoppe is located in the Sherwin Williams plaza and is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  For more information on New Generation, call 436-4989 or visit www.newgennh.com.

 

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