Photos & Video: Our 21st Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner!
On Tuesday, Harbor Care hosted over 200 vulnerable neighbors at the 21st Annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner, hosted at the Harbor Care Health & Wellness Center in downtown Nashua. This beloved holiday tradition featured a warm, traditional turkey dinner generously provided by The Common Man Family and served by Governor Chris Sununu, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, and other distinguished officials.
“Thank you to our supporters, staff, sponsors, public officials, and volunteers for making this event possible, and a special thanks to our guests,” said Henry Och, President & CEO of Harbor Care. “Our Thanksgiving Community Dinner is more than a meal—it’s a moment of connection, hope, and support for over 300 individuals and families. It celebrates gratitude and fellowship, bringing our community together during the holiday season.”
Among the dignitaries who joined to serve the feast were Governor Chris Sununu, Governor-Elect Kelly Ayotte, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, and Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess. Together with volunteers, they helped serve a traditional meal, including 400 pounds of turkey and 150 pounds of mashed potatoes, to the dinner’s attendees.
This annual event, open to anyone in need of a hot meal and holiday companionship, was made possible by generous sponsorship from CGI Business Solutions, The Common Man Family, as well as BAE Systems, McDonough Enterprises, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and NBT Bank. Supporters also included Easton & Berube Insurance Agency, Lowell Five, Southern NH Medical Center, St. Joseph Hospital, and Triangle Credit Union. View all of our generous sponsors here.
Governor-Elect Kelly Ayotte
“I was glad to have the opportunity to serve meals at this year’s Thanksgiving Community Dinner. As we kick off this holiday season, I invite Granite Staters to join me in giving back to those in need throughout our state. I thank The Common Man for providing today’s delicious food and Harbor Care for inviting me to join this wonderful event and for the vital work they do to provide housing, healthcare, and veterans services to communities that need assistance in New Hampshire.”
Senator Maggie Hasson
“I’m grateful for all that Harbor Care does for our community and I was honored to join them for their 21st Thanksgiving Dinner,” said Senator Hassan. “The dinner today truly demonstrates the New Hampshire spirit of giving back to our communities.”
U.S. Representative Annie Kuster
“Here in New Hampshire, the holidays are an opportunity to reflect on the past year and how each of us can give back to our communities and those in need,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “Harbor Care’s staff and the volunteers who go above and beyond to organize the Annual Thanksgiving Community Celebration embody these values that make our state such a wonderful place to call home. I also want to extend my gratitude to Alex Ray and the Common Man for generously providing the meals for this event year after year. I’m honored to be here today to help support their work and ensure all of our friends and neighbors have a safe and welcoming place to celebrate the holidays together.”
U.S. Representative Chris Pappas
“As we enter the holiday season, it is more important than ever for us to be there for our families, friends, and neighbors in need,” said Congressman Pappas. “I was honored to join Harbor Care to serve Thanksgiving dinner and to help support the work they do to assist Granite Staters in need, including our veterans, those experiencing homelessness, and individuals in need of mental health and substance misuse treatment. Harbor Care’s work to ensure individuals and families have access to supportive services is critically important to the well-being of our communities and our state.”
Dan Cronin, President, CGI Business Systems
“We are so happy to be part of such a wonderful event! It is such a great feeling at the Holidays to bring smiles to so many faces! We are already looking forward to next year!!”
HARBOR CARE
Harbor Care is an innovative non-profit organization, providing housing, health care, and veteran services, and helping more than 5,000 adults, children, and families of New Hampshire each year find solutions to many of life’s most challenging issues. The organization provides high quality housing and residential services; medical, dental and mental healthcare; substance use treatment; HIV/AIDS support services; and veteran services for individuals and families experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness. Learn more at www.harborcarenh.org.