Speaker Kyle Fisher - Executive Director, LISTEN Community Services
Kyle Fisher
Listen Community Services
Kyle Fisher gave us a broad overview of all the services provided by Listen. He started his talk thanking us for all the support we have given Listen, for example the $5,000 gift we recently gave to the Ray Pecor Fund. This fund was established by Listen Dinner Chef Ray Pecor who established this fund as a crisis fund for those dealing with extreme poverty. The fund helps support individuals who present at dinners with a variety of issues, that need immediate funds to deal with a personal issue, such as food insecurity, housing, etc. Ray had a major motorcycle accident that led to him taking early retirement. It is hoped that this fund can be maintained, and that it will grow to continue to support those in need. [Aside- Many of us have worked on community dinner under Ray’s watchful eye.]
From Listen's Annual Report:
This past year has been like no other. For our clients across the region who were already at risk for financial hardship, the pandemic has pushed them to a new level of stress. For those who have found themselves unexpectedly without and facing crisis for the First time, LISTEN provided a caring space to problem solve with access to vital assistance.
The outpouring of generosity from across the Upper Valley has been a tremendous boost to LISTEN’s impact during this past year, as we partner together to keep our community safe during the COVID-19 crisis.
The level of need among underserved individuals and families across the Upper Valley has continued to rise steadily over the last several years. The good news is that LISTEN is here to help—because of the generosity of people like you
Fisher then went on to talk about all the services offered by Listen.
This is screen shot from the Listen Web Page, and show numbers from 2020.
Of note:
Community Dinners – It is now projected that Listen will provide 60,966 meals in 2021. Listen has expanded to provide lunch service (currently serving 25 lunches/day) in addition to dinners. Fisher hopes they can permit the 45 cook teams to return sometime this year. Prior to COVID, 225 people volunteered each month. In 2020, they provided 700 Christmas day dinners.
Holiday Basket Helpers – Listen helped 517 in 2020 compared to 489 in 2019. This year Listen could not accept donation. Instead requests when out for monetary donation. Gift cards were given to the CoOp and Hulberts.
Food Pantry – Listen provided food to 1778 individuals in 2020, and are projected to provide 3696 individuals with meals in 2021. Prior to COVID, our community provided 95% of the food needed, but now Listen is needing to augment donations with purchased food. Volunteers are needed to help in the Food Pantry. Go to the Listen web site to sign-up.
Housing Helpers – Listen is able to provide one time grants for $500 to help individuals with houses expense help. Often the grant helps cover security deposits. Last year they helped 207 households or 407 people.
Heating Assistance – Listen is projecting a rise in individuals needing help to heat their homes. Donations given for heat are being matched by a generous donor.
Camp Scholarships – Due to COVID-19 many kids could not go the camp this past summer, but they are hoping this will change in 2021. In the past they help 275 kids to have a camp experience. Check out their summer camp video at LISTEN Summer Camp Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uO9Ep8S6Lw
Read more in Listen’s Annual Report at http://www.listencs.org/annual-report
Info Re: Kyle Fisher
Kyle Fisher is the Executive Director of LISTEN Community Services in Lebanon, NH and has served with the agency for eight (8) years. Serving both Vermont and New Hampshire, LISTEN’s mission is to meet the essential needs of Upper Valley individuals and families.
Mr. Fisher previously worked in the buying office for Costco Wholesale and brings experience in both non-profit and corporate finance.
He holds a MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. Mr. Fisher is a Trustee at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital, a Board member at APD Lifecare (Woodlands and Harvest Hill), and also sits on Dartmouth’s Community Engagement Advisory Board at the Geisel School of Medicine. He moved to the Upper Valley in 2013, began his work immediately thereafter as a volunteer at LISTEN, and became Executive Director in 2016.
During Kyle’s four (4) years as LISTEN’s ED, he has orchestrated the purchase and renovation of the Bridgman’s furniture store, turning that historic store into LISTEN’s flagship thrift store. LISTEN has also doubled the number of clients it sees, tripled its annual fundraising, hired 38 additional Upper Valley residents to work in its stores, and nearly doubled its retail revenues.
Kyle lives in Grantham, NH with his wife Becky, a Sr. Financial Analyst at DHMC, and their sons Bennett (5) and Henry (3).
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The speaker book for Kyle Fisher is The Society of Distinguished Lemmings written and illustrated by Julie Colombet.
In a society of lemmings, can a bear ever belong?
The Society of Distinguished Lemmings aims to be distinguished in absolutely everything. It takes an awful lot of rules to be so distinguished, including: no rolling around, no climbing about, and certainly no splashing in the mud! But Bertie has had quite enough of the society and all its rules. After venturing outside, Bertie discovers a bear, who is very unlike a lemming. With the bear’s help, Bertie learns that prancing about in the wild is quite a lot of fun! But when the other lemmings find out about the bear, they decide everything about him will have to change if he's ever to fit in. Will the Society ever accept Bertie's new friend, or is the bear simply too big and clumsy of a creature to be distinguished?
This hilarious tale features valuable themes of finding new friends, challenging peers, and questioning the rules. Readers will return to the story again and again to discover the quirks of every distinguished lemming while also learning about the importance of staying true to yourself amidst pressure to conform.