At Members First Credit Union, we’re proud to highlight local organizations that are creating meaningful change in our community. This October, our Illuminating Change spotlight shines on Families in Transition (FIT).

In this post, we’re sharing FIT’s mission as well as how you can support their efforts in breaking the cycle of homelessness.

This Month’s Illuminating Change Partner: Families in Transition

Families in Transition is a community-centered nonprofit working to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness in New Hampshire. FIT empowers individuals and families by offering safe, dignified housing, emergency shelter, food support, and compassionate treatment for substance use—all delivered with respect and empathy. With offices in Manchester, Concord, and Wolfeboro, FIT works hand in hand with clients, volunteers, and donors to foster opportunity, hope, and lasting stability in the communities it serves. Last year alone, FIT served 15,767 individuals in our community.

Families in Transition also includes Outfitters Thrift Store and Willows Treatment Center, which offers substance use outpatient and inpatient treatment services by licensed counselors and therapists.

FIT’s Support for Families

Most of us start the day without thinking twice about where we’ll sleep that night or where our next meal will come from. But for hundreds of people across New Hampshire, those questions are very real. Families in Transition works every day to make sure our neighbors don’t have to face them alone through the services they provide.

Housing First

FIT’s foundation is the understanding that permanent housing must be the first step in addressing homelessness. Once individuals and families have a safe place to live, they can then address other concerns such as employment, health, and substance use issues. Families in Transition operates properties in both Manchester and Concord that enable them to offer affordable, permanent, recovery, and transitional housing options, based on the needs of the family.

Emergency Shelter

Sometimes people experiencing homelessness require emergency shelter as a bridge to permanent housing, particularly in the cold weather coming up soon. FIT runs two emergency shelters in Manchester. The Adult Emergency Shelter serves people with substance use disorder, while the Family Emergency Shelter has units where families with children can stay while permanent housing is being secured. In 2024, Families in Transition provided 803 people with emergency shelter.

Food Services

In addition to housing, Families in Transition operates a grocery store-style food pantry that people with food insecurity can visit once a month to receive meat, fresh produce, bakery items, and non-perishables. Stocked with donations from local grocery stores, the food pantry serves 8,000 households per year.

High Needs Drive at Members First

Throughout the month of October, you can help FIT by donating to our High Needs Drive at all Members First Credit Union branches. Our goal is to collect the items most needed by the families FIT supports, including these at the top of the list:

• Laundry detergent
• Baby wipes
• Baby food & formula
• Brooms and dust pans
• Twin comforters
• Travel-sized deodorant
• New sweatpants and sweatshirts (S-XXL)

You’ll find the rest of the high needs list here: https://www.fitnh.org/high-needs/

Building Brighter Futures Together

When we come together as a community, meaningful change happens. By supporting Families in Transition, you’re helping provide more than housing—you’re offering dignity, compassion, and the chance for a fresh start. Visit your nearest Members First branch this month to donate and be a part of the change.

Members First Branch Locations

Bedford Branch

136 Bedford Center Road, Bedford, NH

Manchester Branch (Salmon Street)

7 Salmon Street, Manchester, NH

Manchester Branch (Union Street)

200 Union Street, Manchester, NH