Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth: Supporting Individuals and Families When There’s Nowhere to Turn

Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth, founded in 2005, provides short-term financial assistance to individuals and families in need across our Greater Seacoast Region. When all other community resources are exhausted and people don’t know where to turn, Womenaid is there to ensure basic needs of community members are met.

The first Womenaid was established in 1995 with a group of friends that would meet regularly at local restaurants. After a while, they decided to meet at each other’s homes, save the money they would spend eating out, and invest that money through giving back to their communities. To this day, Womenaid is 100 percent volunteer run. Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth is comprised of 7 volunteer board of directors.

Over the past 19 years, Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth has funded over $1 million dollars in requests for assistance. These funds aim to reduce homelessness, increase job security, care for those who are ill, and support countless others with small donations to prevent a spiral into further debt and uncertainty. These one time, up to $800, donations often go towards car repairs, late rental payments, healthcare costs, and more.

“What we have realized in this work is that it can be a very small amount of money that can put anyone in a tight spot,” says Meg Munsey, a board member. “It can be a scenario where a single mom needs to buy prescription glasses for their child, or an elderly person that lives alone for the first time in their life and needs a Life Alert to feel safe.”

As an Equity Partner of Granite United Way, Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth has increased their funding towards occupational and vocational requests. Some of these requests have included assistance towards textbooks, drivers’ education classes, car repairs and registration payments, and tuition for a Certified Recovery Support Worker.

“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Granite United Way. We have been able to increase our equity work, while also being a part of a cohort of agencies that are doing important work in our community,” said Munsey.

The work of Womenaid is truly a community effort. They work closely with, and rely heavily upon, their community “validators.” Validators are experts in their field and may be town welfare agents, school nurses, clergy, social workers, and social service agencies. When someone needs urgent financial help and has exhausted all of their resources, a validator submits a request to Womenaid on behalf of that individual. These requests include details of the individual or family’s situation, and an explanation as to why Womenaid is the best (or only remaining) option for assistance.

“Our relationships with these validators, and the organizations they represent, has been a bedrock of our organization’s success," said Munsey. "Our collaborations have continually demonstrated how a very small amount of money can have a large impact and oftentimes serve as the catalyst for making a significant difference in the lives of our neighbors in need.” 

In 2023, Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth collaborated with 32 community partners on multiple occasions. Some of these community partners include Haven, Cross Roads House, Families First Seacoast, Rockingham Community Action, York Community Service Association, and Granite State Independent Living.

Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth is a critical resource for individuals and families when they have nowhere else to turn. We are proud to be a partner and support their work in improving the quality of life for members of the Greater Seacoast region.

Click here to learn more about Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth!