Tag: 241212

Food for everyone

Keeping Granite Staters fed at the New Hampshire Food Bank

Nancy Mellitt is the Director of Development at the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, and spoke to the Hippo about the organization and what they get done. Visit nhfoodbank.org for more information or call 669-9725.

What does the New Hampshire Food Bank do?

The New Hampshire Food Bank is the only food bank in New Hampshire and we do quite a bit. We provide food to more than 400 partner agencies throughout the state. That’s our primary purpose. We’re providing approximately 60 percent of the food that the food pantries, soup kitchens, etc., are distributing to individuals in the state. Then we have some programs that are designed to address the root causes of hunger and to assist people in not being food-insecure.

What is a mobile food pantry?

They are sponsored by a company and we are going to areas in the state that have low resources and high needs. We are bringing enough shelf-stable boxes and produce boxes for approximately 400 families…. We do a drive-thru mobile food pantry, so folks stay in their cars and they drive up and they are provided with a box of shelf-stable food and a box of fresh produce to take home.

What can people donate to the food bank?

Well, we are looking for shelf-stable foods for donation purposes. So low-sodium, canned vegetables, soups, stews this time of year, shelf-stable milk. We have a list on our website, nhfoodbank.org, that is our most-needed food items, so folks can go on and look at that. Protein like cans of tuna, cans of chicken … peanut butter.

Would you want to mention some of the programs that you all do?

We have a culinary training program right here at the Food Bank in Manchester. It’s a program for individuals who are unemployed or underemployed and the individuals come in, they apply, they get interviewed, they’re accepted, they immediately learn knife skills, recipe conversions because they’re preparing meals that are going out to Boys & Girls Clubs in Salem, Manchester, Allenstown, Concord, Laconia. We do the nutrition incentive program. So folks that are on SNAP can go to farmers markets and … they can double their purchasing power for fruits and vegetables. And there are also some grocery stores that participate in that program as well. We do SNAP outreach. We are trying to reach those folks who qualify for SNAP. SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, so trying to reach those folks who qualify to receive those benefits but are not accessing them, to help them get through that process. We have a production garden, so we have an acre of land here in Manchester that the state allows us to use. During the growing season we are growing our own produce. We have Cooking Matters, which is a program that teaches folks how to eat healthy on a budget. We do a lot. We have New Hampshire Feeding New Hampshire, which is a very cool program that we are providing funding to our partner agencies to purchase dairy and fruit through New Hampshire farmers.

How does someone know if they qualify for SNAP?

They can go to the State of New Hampshire website, New Hampshire Easy, or they can give us a call and we can walk them through the qualifications.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about the food bank?

People can also help the food bank by making monetary donations because we are able to purchase, our purchasing power is greater. So we can purchase by tractor-trailer load so it drives prices down. … It means we need money. We can provide two meals for approximately $1.28. —Zachary Lewis

Upcoming NH Food Bank mobile food pantries
Colebrook
NH Liquor & Wine Outlet (16 Metallak Place, Colebrook)
Thursday, Dec. 12, noon to 1:30 p.m. (while supplies last)

Concord
NHTI, lots A/B (31 College Drive, Concord)
Friday, Dec. 20, noon to 2 p.m. (while supplies last)

Visit nhfoodbank.org or call 669-9725.

Area food pantries

Here are some area food pantries. See websites for donation information, hours of operation and information on how to access food assistance.

• Bedford Community Food Pantry 4 Church Road, Bedford, 867-1445, bedfordnhfoodpantry.org

• Christ the King Food Pantry temporarily at 219 S. Main St. in Concord during construction on a new food pantry building, slated to be open in the summer of 2025. Call 224-2328 or see christthekingfoodpantry.org.

• Community Action Program 225-6880, capbm.org/CAP-Area-Resource-Centers operates food pantries at locations in Concord, Franklin, Laconia and Suncook.

• Corpus Christi Food Pantry 3 Crown St., Nashua, 882-6372, corpuschristifoodpantry.org

• Families in Transition Food Pantry 176 Lake Ave., Manchester, 641-9441, fitnh.org/ services/food-programs

• First Baptist Church 4 Crystal Ave, Derry, 421-1897, fbcfoodpantry.org

• First United Methodist Church Food Pantry 961 Valley St., Manchester, 622-8863, fumcmanchester.org. Food pantry operates Tuesdays, 8 to 11:30 a.m.

• Friends of Forgotten Children 224 Bog Road, Concord, 753-4801, fofc-nh.org/food-pantry

• Goffstown Network Food Pantry 7 N. Mast Road, Goffstown, 497-3433, goffstownnetwork.org

• Hooksett Community Food Pantry Hooksett Town Offices, operated by the Kiwanis Club of Hooksett, 35 Main St., Hooksett, 485-7222, hooksettkiwanis.org

• Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter 2 Quincy St., Nashua, 889-7770, nsks.org

• Sacred Heart Food Pantry 247 S. Main St., Manchester, 668-4004, sacredheartchurch-nh.com

• SHARE Outreach 1 Columbus Ave., Milford, 673-9898, sharenh.org

• Shepherd’s Pantry 1 Church St., Windham, 432-2150, shepherdspantry.net

• Southern NH Rescue Mission 40 Chestnut St., Nashua, 889-3421, hope4nashua.org. The Community Gift Center distributes clothes and food every other Tuesday, the website said.

• St. Thomas Aquinas 26 Crystal Ave., Derry, 432-5000, stthomasderry.org

• Tolles St. Mission Food Pantry 52 Whitney St., Nashua, 880-4984, thetollesstreetmission.org

• The Upper Room Food Pantry 36 Tsienneto Road, Derry, 437-8477, urteachers.org

• NH Food Bank distributes food to more than 400 partner agencies across the state. Visit nhfoodbank.org/find-food/food-map to find locations.

Featured image: Plaque at Fort Constitution.

News & Notes 24/12/12

Hospital partnership

According to a press release, the State of New Hampshire will enter a public-private partnership with Dartmouth Health to operate Hampstead Hospital and Residential Treatment Facility under a proposed agreement.

In a statement, Gov. Sununu said that “in 2022, the State of New Hampshire purchased Hampstead Hospital to ensure that critical mental health care services for children were not lost.This partnership with Dartmouth Health will ensure one of the country’s most prestigious health systems is taking care of New Hampshire’s kids. This is an amazing win-win opportunity that ensures world-class care while saving an estimated $20 Million annually in overhead costs to the state. Without this contract, the long-term stability of the state’s only mental health hospital for children is at significant risk.”

Hampstead Hospital and Residential Treatment Facility will provide inpatient psychiatric care, partial hospitalization services and psychiatric residential treatment center services, and Dartmouth Health will ensure that these services are available to children and young adults in alignment with New Hampshire Children’s Behavioral Health System of Care, according to the release.

Dartmouth Health currently provides behavioral health services at New Hampshire Hospital and the Youth Detention Center, according to the same release.

Home ski home

According to a press release, the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism (DTTD) is anticipating an estimated three million people will visit New Hampshire this winter, with spending by those visitors expected to reach a record $1.6 billion.

In a statement, Taylor Caswell, commissioner of the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs, said, “New Hampshire’s winter season is an integral part of our tourism industry, driving jobs, and supporting businesses in every corner of the state. Whether here for an experience on the slopes or off, every winter visitor is helping support the region’s economy and build on New Hampshire’s reputation as a premiere vacation destination.”

The news was announced as part of Ski New Hampshire’s Ski 603 Winter Kickoff at McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester, according to the press release.

In a statement, President of Ski NH Jessyca Keeler said that “our resorts are ready to welcome skiers and riders regardless of the forecast, after making capital improvement investments in snowmaking over the past year. Newer, more efficient equipment has made a dramatic difference, improving snow production and snow quality, while at the same time increasing sustainability and reducing energy impact. It enables ski areas to open earlier and stay open even when Mother Nature isn’t producing as much snow as we’d like.”

New Hampshire’s winter marketing campaign platform features outdoor adventures for all levels and abilities, indoor adventures, and the beauty of New Hampshire’s natural landscapes, according to the press release, and will fully launch in January in New England and eastern Canada.

No wait

According to a press release, The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and New Hampshire Hospital announced that on Friday, Dec. 6, there were no adults in hospital emergency departments (ED) waiting for inpatient psychiatric treatment and this marks the first time this has happened since DHHS began collecting data on the waitlist nearly four years ago.

In a statement, Gov. Sununu said, “Mission Zero set New Hampshire on a path to ensuring timely access to mental health care. Our work is not yet finished, but it is clear that our efforts have made great progress and are delivering results.”

In a statement, DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver said that “for the past 14 months, our Mission Zero partnership has worked across the mental health system to develop new solutions to the issue. While we still have much work to do to eliminate the wait list for good, reaching zero today demonstrates that Mission Zero is working for the people of New Hampshire.”

The press release said that between Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov 1, 2024, the average daily waitlist declined 35 percent.

In October of this year, patients waited less than two days, three fewer days than the year prior, according to the same release.

Information on the number of adults waiting involuntarily in the Emergency Department for an Acute Psychiatric Bed can be found under the Inpatient Care & Coordination tab of the Mission Zero Dashboard on the DHHS website. Visit dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/mental-health/mission-zero.

Holiday scams

According to a press release, the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office is alerting residents about potential scams this holiday shopping season, specifically with online shopping and gift card frauds. Shoppers are advised to verify websites and to be cautious of “too good to be true” deals, and use credit cards for added protection; never buy gift cards for someone you don’t know, and avoid sharing card details with anyone; and confirm charity registration with the New Hampshire Charitable Trusts Unit before donating, according to the website.

New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference and Trade Show takes place from Tuesday, Dec. 17, to Thursday, Dec. 19, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St.). Visit newenglandvfc.org.

The Ugly Sweater 4-Miler will take place Saturday, Dec. 14, at Backyard Brewery and Kitchen (1211 S. Mammoth Road, Manchester, 623-3545, backyardbrewerynh.com) at 9 a.m. All race proceeds will go to benefit three local animal rescue groups: the HumaneSociety of Greater Nashua, New Hampshire SPCA, and the Monadnock Humane Society. This 21+ event will include a post-race party. Registration is $40 ($50 on race day). Visitrunscore.runsignup.com.

The 10th Annual Hollis Luminaria Stroll & Town Band Concert on Saturday, Dec. 14, will include more than 2,000 luminaria lanterns, a Santa tractor parade,holiday craft shopping, a chili and cornbread dinner, music performances in Monument Square, a gingerbread house contest and bake sale. The stroll and tree lighting will be at 4 p.m. at Monument Square. The LitTractor Parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. Visithollisluminaria.org

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