St. Mary’s Bank, the nation’s first credit union, has provided a $2,400 Community Outreach grant to Manchester’s New Life Home for Women and Children.

New Life, located in the city’s North End, is a voluntary, non-denominational treatment facility that assists women struggling with alcohol/drug dependencies, abusive relationships, and destructive lifestyles. The goal is to rebuild and restore broken lives in an atmosphere of hope and trust.

The St. Mary’s Bank grant will cover the purchase of two Apple computers which will be used by clients for educational purposes as well as administrative work and grant writing, said Grace Rosado, New Life co-founder and Executive Director.

“Our home has been reaching out to the community for 35 years by providing a place of refuge for women and children,” said Rosado. “The most unique aspect about the program is that children may enter the home along with their mothers so that their lives, which are often overlooked, may be reclaimed as well.”

She continued: “The results are amazing – families are reunited and over 89% of the women who complete the program go on to lead dependency-free and self-supporting lives, as fit parents and productive citizens within their communities.”

“New Life Home has earned an excellent reputation and proven record of success in rebuilding lives and restoring families in our community,” said Thomas Champagne, St. Mary’s Bank Director of Community Outreach. “We are pleased to be able to help this organization continue to reach out to women and children in need.”

For more information, visit www.newlifehome.org.