NFI NORTH | NOVEMBER 2026
MISSION EDITION
UPCOMING EVENTS 10/19-11/9- NFI North Gives Food Drive 11/3- Voting Day 11/3- Strengthening Families Summit 11/11- Veterans Day 11/26- Thanksgiving 12/1- Giving Tuesday 12/5- NFI North Santa Shuffle What an awesome turnout at the NAMI NH Walk!
Questions about events or have an event you are attending? Email Halie Chavanelle.
NFI NORTH | NOVEMBER 2026 Celebrating Family, Gratitude & Thanksgiving As we enter the month of November and look forward to Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the people and moments that make life special. Thanksgiving reminds us of the importance of family, the value of togetherness, and the many blessings—both big and small—that we sometimes take for granted. Family is at the heart of everything. It’s the people who support us, encourage us, share in our celebrations, and stand beside us through life’s challenges. Family comes in many forms, whether it’s the loved ones we gather with around the Thanksgiving table, the friends who feel like family, or the connections we build within our community. Did you know that our NFI North logo was designed with "family" in mind? The logo, which was designed by one of Dr. Bakal's first clients has 3 circles which are representative of the individual, the family, and the community. It is a perfect representation of who we are as an organization and what our mission stands for. As I get older, I have a deeper appreciation for my family. My sister Jamie and I are closer now than we ever were as kids. She is 8 years older than I and left home when I was only 10, not to return until I was 19. We didn't have cell phones or computers back then, so we didn't keep in touch like people do now. We are the only siblings left in our family, so we are making up for lost time. We vacation together, read books together, and have raised our children together. This picture is of a recent trip to a Michigan Football game (Go Blue) which is a fun passion of ours, attending sporting events. My point here is that your family can change and transition depending on the year or in my case decade. Something beautiful can develop even when you think all was lost. Isn't that why we do this important work? As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, take time to enjoy the special moments, make memories with those you love, and reflect on what you are most thankful for. I'd love to hear from you! Every family has special traditions, favorite recipes, funny memories, and stories that make Thanksgiving unique. What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition or a special memory that makes the holiday meaningful to you? Email me at jillallen@nafi.com. Let's celebrate the traditions that bring us together and continue building a community filled with connection, gratitude, and a sense of belonging. From our family to yours, we wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, gratitude, and cherished memories! With gratitude, Jill
New Hires
HR NEWS AND INFORMATION November Anniversaries 3 Year Employees Shawn Carter Jim Fairbrother Joe Kearney Evelyn Madden Haley Marchewka Chee McGuigan
5 Year Employees Joey Avrick Ke Cawley Melissa Ciampa Bette Cleveland Deitrick Dumas Shannon Price
Welcome! Laura Anderson Terese Bastarache Mark Blais Jennifer Byrd Kiya Cashaw Shauna Clifford Gulsum Dogan-Giroux Jessica Durette
Tim Eaton Quashawn Graham Corey Hendee Kayla Kennedy Jackie Lucas Samantha Monteiro Sonam Sherpa
Verify Your Information! This is a friendly reminder to please review and update your personal information in UKG. As we prepare for year-end and W-2 form processing, keeping your details current is important for accurate records and ensures we can reach you with important communications.
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Please take a few minutes to log in and check the following: Contact information (phone number, address, emergency contact) Tax Withholdings Beneficiary information Any other relevant personal details
NFI NORTH | NOVEMBER 2026
2026 Santa Shuffle 5K Saturday, December 5th Bridge Crossing Academy
Presented by Our Lead Sponsor
Children's Fun Run: 9:45 am | 5K Run/Walk: 10:30 am Lace up, grab your crew, and join us for a holiday celebration run! Whether you’re racing with your team, gathering your friends and family, the Santa Shuffle is a perfect kick off to the holiday season!
🎅 Santa will be there! 🍪 Cookies & Cocoa to warm you up ❄️ Elsa & Holiday Elves bringing the magic 🏆 Prizes for Best-Dressed Team & Best-Dressed Individual 👕 FREE Santa Shuffle T-Shirt for the first 100 registrations! 👟 Kids FREE Fun Run 🎁 Prizes, surprises & MORE!
Queens Head Bridgton Pub
Round up your coworkers, friends, family and show off your holiday spirit! Don your favorite Christmas outfits, matching PJ’s, ugly sweaters, Santa suits, or whatever festive look makes you smile. Individuals are welcome, too! Come run, walk, or jog your way through a funfilled holiday event for all ages.
🎄 Register Today!
Sign up now and let’s make this the most festive race of the season in support of the children of Bridge Crossing! PAGE 3
Sign up here
Bridge Crossing Academy 7 Nulty St. Bridgton, Maine For Sponsorships, contact: HalieChavanelle@nafi.com nfinorth.org
NFI NORTH | NOVEMBER 2026
New Hampshire News Pathways enjoying the fall festivities THS Pathways has been participating in seasonal fall activities throughout the community. Participants and staff recently visited Mack’s Apples in Londonderry, NH, where they enjoyed apple picking and navigating a corn maze. The group sampled several apple varieties, including Macoun, Gala, Empire, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious, Cortland, and Macintosh. Participants look forward to using these apples to prepare apple crisp, apple bread, and applesauce for the program.
Jasmine Bernier Shift Supervisor CRP Newport-Elm Street
Spotlight
Jasmine is the Shift Supervisor at our CRP Newport – Elm Street location. She has been part of the NFI North team for approximately a year and brings her experience as an LNA, along with her caring and compassionate approach, to the work she does with our participants. Outside of work, Jasmine is busy pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse! She is currently attending River Valley Community College and takes her nursing studies very seriously. When she isn't working or spending time with her family, you can usually find her studying. Her hard work is certainly paying off! She recently took an exam and earned an impressive 98! Way to go, Jasmine! Before nursing school entered the picture, Jasmine enjoyed hiking and snowboarding. While she doesn't have quite as much time for those activities these days, she hopes to get back to them once nursing school is behind her. She also enjoys painting, giving her another creative outlet when time allows. Now, we all know the saying, "America runs on Dunkin'," but in Jasmine's case, that couldn't be more accurate! Between working full-time, raising a family, and attending nursing school, she needs her Dunkin' to keep going! Her favorite drink? An Iced Caramel Craze Signature Latte! Jokes aside, Jasmine's dedication shines through in the way she approaches her work and supports our participants. She is caring, kind, and committed to the people she works with. Balancing a full-time job, family life, and nursing school is no small accomplishment, and her determination speaks volumes about the person she is. NFI North is lucky to have Jasmine as part of our team! We appreciate all that she brings to our participants, her coworkers, and the program. We wish her continued success in nursing school and look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes in the future! PAGE 4
NFI NORTH | NOVEMBER 2026
Maine News Oliver Place Spreading Halloween Cheer, One Boo Basket at a Time! For the past seven years, Oliver Place has proudly continued its tradition of delivering Halloween Boo Baskets to fellow Maine programs, spreading smiles, surprises, and festive fun throughout our community! While this tradition began before the COVID-19 pandemic, it became especially meaningful during a time when opportunities to connect were limited. Staff fondly remember visiting other programs, playing Halloween music, dancing in the parking lots, and delivering festive treats to brighten everyone’s day. Today, this special tradition continues to bring people together, foster connections, and spread kindness throughout the season. Oliver Place is proud to keep this tradition alive and share a little extra Halloween magic with our fellow programs, one Boo Basket at a time!
Spotlight
Travon Wilcher Teacher’s Aid Bridge Crossing Academy
We’re excited to recognize Trey at Bridge Crossing Academy for his ongoing growth, dedication, and commitment to our program! Over his time here , Trey has shown impressive personal and professional development, stepping up to take on extra responsibilities and becoming a reliable part of our team. His readiness to cover open shifts, support his coworkers, and ensure consistency for the students we serve has truly stood out. It takes flexibility, teamwork, and a positive attitude to jump in when needed, and Trey has demonstrated just how important those qualities are. His continued growth and willingness to learn and to go the extra mile make a real difference in our program’s success. Thank you, Trey, for your hard work, dependability, and dedication to both our teams and students. We really appreciate you!
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NFI NORTH | NOVEMBER 2026
Clinical Connections Empowering Lives, Inspiring Hope November is National Family Caregivers Month, Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Month, and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month National Family Caregivers Month: Honors and supports family members managing the physical and emotional stress of caregiving
Business Office Works With Contoocook School on Cards For Soldiers In collaboration with the Contoocook School and the New Hampshire Department of Education, the Business Office has been busy spreading holiday cheer by signing cards for our active-duty military members serving overseas. As part of the annual Holiday Cards for Our Military Challenge, schools across New Hampshire are encouraged to create and send heartfelt holiday messages to service members who may be far from home during the holiday season. The Business Office team is excited to participate in this meaningful initiative, bringing everyone together to get creative and share messages of gratitude and encouragement with those who serve our country. This effort reflects our agency’s commitment to connection, kindness, and community, reminding us all of the importance of making others feel valued and supported.
Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Month: Focuses on emotional development, safe environments, predictable routines, and emotional expression for infants and preschoolers
Men's Mental Health Awareness Month / November: An unofficial yet widely recognized month— highlighted by the November movement and International Men's Day on November 19 —that tackles male depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicide prevention. Men account for nearly 80% of U.S. suicide deaths, often driven by stigma and cultural pressure to stay silent.
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A Place to Belong: