Tri-City Subaru - Somersworth, NH "Promises"

This year, Tri-City Subaru has once again enveloped Lydia's House of Hope with support and encouragement. Lydia's House is a unique approach in helping homeless women and children in crisis. Residents at Lydia's House voluntarily enroll in a yearlong program that is individualized around each residents' strengths. It is not a shelter; it is a home where their children can come to live with their Mamas while they work to change the trajectory of their lives. Lydia's rotates dozens of courses that are taught each month, using a variety of modalities. The program is a structured and highly effective approach for those who are willing to do the work. Lydia's House offers case management, advocacy, and referrals specific to residents' individual needs, a learning center with computer stations, a commercial kitchen, a Planet Fitness equipped gym, and individual bedrooms.

Ever since Lydia's House of Hope landed in the thoughts of Tri-City Subaru, the organization and staff have continuously made it known to our residents, that they are cared for by our community and that there is still hope and light to be found. Tri-City Subaru is truly making an impact on the women and children.

While the women at Lydia's go through their daily programming, it is community support that scaffolds the work being done. It is important that our residents regain their self-worth and realize they have other avenues to take instead of returning to poverty, homelessness, domestic and/or substance abuse.

Lydia's House was again chosen as the recipient at Tri-City's Giving Tree. The staff and customers went above and beyond to shop, wrap, and then personally deliver individual gifts for each woman and every child. Some women expressed this being the best Christmas they've had. Some were in disbelief that others cared about them enough to do this. What made the women the happiest was being able to watch their little ones open their presents on Christmas morning, in a safe place where love is abundant!

Most recently, Tri-City Subaru offered to join as a programming partner. While we teach the women skills such as parenting, nutrition, writing, woodworking, home maintenance, and many other topics, we realized that we were missing something important…car maintenance! When they leave Lydia's, our goal is for them to be as self-sufficient as possible, this includes being first time car owners. Tri-City staff and Lydia's staff quickly came up with a basic car maintenance course that would support hands on learning in a safe environment. Tri-City took this job so seriously; they planned a field trip, prepared a bay, and even enlisted female mechanics to teach the course. They had prepared snacks and gift bags for our residents and carefully demonstrated a variety of basic car maintenance tasks in a way that felt supportive. They were also thankful that the technicians shared their stories and pathways into this field. Our residents were moved by their genuine and open dialog. They never thought about an auto technician or mechanic being an option for them, until after the class; several were intrigued and had something new to add to their list of possibilities!