By Chris Frost
Eagle Times News Editor
Claremont, NH — Hundreds of families got a helping hand Thursday, Sept. 14, as the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed food boxes to people in need.
The giveaway created a seeming parking jam in the Runnings parking lot as recipients lined up for supplies for their families.
New Hampshire Food Bank Agency Relations Coordinator Stacey Garron said the organization is approaching its 40th year and has more than 400 partner agencies, including soup kitchens, school pantries and their homeless mobile food pantries.
“Today, we’re giving out shelf stable boxes for about 400 families,” she said. “The cost of goods is driving the need for everything.”
She noted that many families must choose between heating their homes and eating.
“Last year, we gave out over 60 million pounds of food,” she said. “We’ll be in tune with that this year and probably give out more.”
She said some pantries follow United States Department of Agriculture guidelines but rarely find people who want food that don’t have a need.
“It takes a lot for someone to come to us,” she said. “We know they need it; otherwise, they wouldn’t do it. No one who doesn’t need this comes and waits in line for 1½ hours.”
Garron said the agency relies on fresh rescue programs to acquire food, as well as retailers like Hannaford, Shaws and Price Chopper, and rely on them heavily.
“They source for us,” she said. “Whatever they have that’s still within the date. They source through fresh rescue and we pick up and get it out for free and get good produce out to our agencies and soup kitchen.”
She said the Food Bank also relies on its donations.
“Our Fund Development Coordinator Nancy Melitt is out there fighting the good fight,” Garron said. “We’re out there trying to raise funds, purchase our food and give it to the agencies and soup kitchens for free.”
She said they have a streamlined system at their warehouse and hand food out quickly.
“If we get the food on Tuesday, it’s out on Wednesday,” she said. “There is no time for it to sit.”
Randy Woodward loaded the cars with food boxes and loves giving back to the community.
“This is fantastic to interact with all the people in the cars and chatting with them,” he said.
Garron said she was called to help people.
“Being a coordinator was heavily placed on my heart,” she said. “It was a concern that happened during Covid; everybody was on the same playing field. Nobody was working, and if they were, they were getting assistance. Everybody was in the same spot and came together for the greater good to help feed everybody. That’s what New Hampshire Food Bank is about. We don’t want anyone to go hungry.”
The Food Bank rotates between counties monthly and plans to return in December.
For more information, visit nhfoodbank.org.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.