Employment Support Group

Employment Support Group-Sponsored by Saint Anne's Parish Hampstead and New Hampshire Catholic Charities

In May of 2009, Deacon Bill Mullen of Saint Anne Parish's Hampstead and Judy Nelson of New Hampshire Catholic Charities started a support group for the unemployed. This was in response to a number of inquiries from parishioners that they had been laid off from their jobs and asking if the church could help in any way.

On May 11, 2009, a workshop was held discussing topics on "How to write a Resume and Interview Skills" Arlene Cody, a counselor from Catholic Charities spoke about the emotional issues of loss that one may encounter with the loss of a job. The initial meeting had 12 job seekers present. When the meeting ended, several attendees’s suggested the idea of forming a support group and the Employment Support Group was formed. Since the inception of the Support Group, over 275 people have attended meetings held every other week at Saint Anne's Parish. Of that number 80 have found employment and attendance has averaged 20 people. Each meeting opens and closes with a prayer led by Judy and breakout sessions are offered to job seekers with the following topics: Mock Interviews, Behavioral Interviewing, Resume Writing, Networking, Financial Issues, Dealing with Loss. A group of 6 volunteers from several area parishes attend and assist job seekers. We also have a networking group on Linkedin.com-this group is St-Anne’s network  

One of our group’s graduates: Paula Oxner, of Danville NH, who had been unemployed for 18 months stated: "Attending meetings at Saint Anne's has helped me very much, I found that the help provided by Deacon Bill and Judy Nelson and the other volunteers who volunteer is wonderful. I have been a part of other networking groups but found this group the most supportive by far. The way the breakout sessions are structured was extremely beneficial. I credit the help received here, especially the mock interview, for restoring my self-confidence, which I lost when lay off."

Scheduled Meetings: on Monday’s from 7:00PM until 8:30PM at Saint Anne’s Parish, 26 Emerson Avenue, Hampstead, NH- Please call 603-329-5886 for more information. The meetings are open to anyone who is unemployed and seeking employment. Please bring a resume if you have one.

2013 Scheduled Meetings  

June 10^th

June 24

July 29^th

August 12^th

August 26^th

September 16^th

September 30^th

October 14^th No Meeting-Columbus Day

October 21^st

November 11^th-No Meeting Veterans Day

November 18^th

December 9^th

2014 Scheduled Meetings

January 13^th

January 27^th

February 10^th

February 24^th

March 10^th

March 24^th

April 14^th No Meeting Holy Week

April 28^th

May 12th