Your monthly look into what's happening at the NH Food Bank.

On Thursday, July 27th, the NH Food Bank had the pleasure of hosting 5 other New England food bank's Agency Relations teams, here at our building. Greater Boston Food Bank, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, Vermont Foodbank, and Connecticut Foodshare joined our team for a tour of the building and a great time of networking and connecting.

Creating a community of Food Bankers and being able to network and learn from each other allows us to expand our skills and find better ways to support and grow your programs. Our team enjoyed the chance to gather with such a great group, but also an opportunity to brag about our incredible programs and all the wonderful things that all of you are doing to end hunger in NH.

Granite State Market Match

If your clients receive SNAP (EBT) benefits, they are eligible to double their SNAP dollars on fruits and vegetables at participating New Hampshire farmers' markets, farm stands, CSAs, and independent grocers.

Granite State Market Match is the NH SNAP nutrition incentive program that doubles SNAP/EBT benefits for the purchase of fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets, farm stands, and CSAs. Granite State Market Match vouchers can be used to purchase locally grown and fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, and seedlings. To use Granite State Market Match, visit a participating farmers' market, stop by the SNAP/EBT booth, swipe your EBT card, receive Granite State Market Match vouchers equal to the amount of your tokens, and then enjoy shopping for local produce!

Double Up Food Bucks is the NH SNAP nutrition incentive program that offers SNAP/EBT recipients 50% off fruits and vegetables at participating independent grocers. Double Up Food Bucks can be used to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, seeds, and seedlings. To use Double Up Food Bucks, visit a participating independent grocer, swipe your EBT card, and receive 50% off fruits and vegetables!

Here is a list of participating markets near you. To learn more programs about either program, visit GraniteStateMarketMatch.org.

Thanksgiving

Summer has just only started, but the subject of Thanksgiving is already on our minds here at the NH Food Bank. During the most recent NHFB & Partner Agency Network Call, the topic of Thanksgiving was presented. We wanted to be upfront with our partner agencies early on and be sure everyone was made aware that some changes will be made for this holiday season. In years past, the NHFB has distributed thousands of turkeys, vouchers and gift cards annually.

For 2024, the number of turkeys that will be available will be significantly less than what was available last year. We will still have turkeys and gift cards available to request, but we want everyone to know now that we will not be able to provide you with the same amount you may have received in past years. Please use the next few months to adjust your plans, fundraise or gather other donations from your community to supplement your Thanksgiving needs.

As was the case in 2023, we will not be offering any side items on Agency Express unless they are donated, and those items will only be available when ordering online while inventory allows. Additional produce should be ordered on Agency Express, as well.

We appreciate your cooperation and accommodation as we make these changes. If you have any additional questions, please contact your NHFB Coordinator.

Agency Spotlight: Webster House

Manchester, NH - The majority of NHFB partner programs provide food assistance to the community in the form of a food pantry or a meal program. A smaller group of partner programs are private residential facilities that focus on housing a particular group of people with a common need. Webster House is a 20-bed residential facility that has been providing housing to children in need since 1884. The residents of the house range from 8-21 years old and can live at the house for a few months or even a few years. Each child has a specific need and receives consistent clinical and social work care, with a goal of meeting their physical and mental health needs as they build skills to become a productive part of their community.

Webster House works closely with NH Food Bank as a food source, and receives Fresh Rescue donations from Hannaford Stores. In addition, for years they have utilized the NH Feeding NH program to purchase a variety of farm fresh produce. On the property is a large garden that was donated, and is currently maintained by a caring neighbor. These many partnerships and sources allow the staff and counselors to be able to provide healthy food to the residents; some of which have specific food needs, allergies, nutritional concerns, or just may not have had exposure to a variety of foods before entering the house. Best of all, they have their own chef who cooks healthy, nutritious meals for their residents. 

Director of Operation, Alison Lesko says “We have a beautiful partnership with the community and being connected to Hannaford and the Food Bank is a part of that.”

The children living in the house are provided education in the form of learning life skills, nutrition, understanding a budget and purchasing, meal planning and cooking. While the children living in the house each have varied specific needs, while they are in the care of Webster House staff they are being cared for in a way that promotes full healing. The NH Food Bank has been partnered with Webster House for decades and is proud to be able to make a difference in the work being done in the lives of so many NH children.

NH Summer Meals

This summer the NH Food Bank is partnering with SUN Meals (through USDA) to help provide free meals to children in NH. These meals are free and available to all. No proof of residency or income is needed.

Visit these websites to view what free meal sites are available for children in your area.

NHFB Summer Meal sites & SUN Meals sites

We are aware that there are other summer meal feeding programs taking place around the state and not listed above. These lists are just the locations sponsored by these 2 organizations.

Mental Health First Aid Training

Our partners at UNH Cooperative Extension are offering an important training opportunity for our programs. Mental Health First Aid USA® is an 8-hour training to teach participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The evidence behind the program demonstrates that it helps participants identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The course can be delivered online, in-person, or a hybrid. Courses specific to rural communities, Fire, and EMS, military members, veterans and their families are also available. The program is also available in Spanish. All courses are free and available to participants who live or work in New Hampshire. For more information about these courses visit the UNH Cooperative Extension website or reach out to instructor Kendra Lewis.

We'll Miss You Natalie

This month we say goodbye to Natalie as she moves on to another organization. Natalie has been with the NHFB for 3 years as the Agency Relations Coordinator for Rockingham, Strafford and Belknap counties. Her sense of humor, outgoing personality, attention to detail, and sincere care for her agencies has been a huge asset to the Agency Relations team. We know that the partner programs that have grown to know her will surely miss her collaboration. We as a team wish all the love and luck as she progresses in her career and moves towards new goals. If you would like to say goodbye before she leaves, Natalie's last day with the NHFB will be July 10th.

All sessions are held online via Zoom.

To enroll in any upcoming session, please contact your Agency Relations Coordinator. A zoom link will be sent out prior to the class for those who signed up to attend.



New Shopper Orientation (2 hour online shopping training)

Wednesday, July 17th @10:00am

Thursday, August 8th @1:00pm

_______________________________________

Food Safety training

SAFE Food Handling For Food Pantries:

(There are no classes in July)

Wednesday, August 7th @3:30pm

SAFE Food Handling For Soup Kitchens & Prepared Meals:

(There are no classes in July)

Monday, August 5th @1:30pm

Thursday, September 26 @2:00pm



If you need to acquire food safety training before August, a similar training can be done online at workhub.com/features/training/food-safety or Alison.com/course/food-safety-and-hygiene. Both courses are free, but Alison.com charges to print a certificate. So instead just send us a screenshot of the certificate or a screenshot of your “Learner Record” with the date of completion found in your Account Settings. Please be sure to provide your NHFB Coordinator with proof of completion for either course.

All programs are required to have at least one person at their facility that is Safe Food Handling certified (or a similar certification) at all times. Programs that serve meals are required to have at least 1 person that has ServSafe certification. All certification is good for 3-5 years depending on the exam.

One Last Note From Agency Relations

*All questions or emails regarding NH Feeding NH should go to Kristie Deneault until the open Coordinator position is filled. She can be reached at kdeneault@nhfoodbank.org or at 603-669-9725 x1240.

*The NHFB's Cooking Matters™ program pauses operation each summer and will resume in the Fall. If you are interested in hosting a Cooking Matters class at your facility, you can be added to the waitlist for when sessions resume. Please contact your NHFB Coordinator to be added to the waitlist.

Kristie Deneault: kdeneault@nhfoodbank.org or 669-9725 ext. 1240

Agency Relations Manager & Interim NH Feeding NH Contact

Natalie Watt: nwatt@nhfoodbank.org 669-9725 ext. 4536

Agency Relations Coordinator for Belknap, Rockingham and Strafford counties.

Christy Langlois: clanglois@nhfoodbank.org or 669-9725 ext. 1113

Agency Relations Coordinator for Coos, Carroll, and northern Grafton counties.

Stacey Garron: sgarron@nhfoodbank.org or 669-9725 ext. 1119

Agency Relations Coordinator for Cheshire, Sullivan, Merrimack & southern/central Grafton county.

Alyssa McKinney: amckinney@nhfoodbank.org or 669-9725 ext. 1124

Agency Relations Coordinator for Hillsborough county.

Jocelyn Cheney: jcheney@nhfoodbank.org or 669-9725 ext. 1136

Agency Training & Resource Coordinator.