MANCHESTER, NH – People lined up Nov. 1 outside Beech Street School where each Saturday anyone can come to receive food Food for Children, a local ministry that provides weekly outreach to 250-350 families, according to their website. Although there was no official comment on the increase in demand, this particular Saturday lines were notably longer than usual.
Food that is not picked on Saturdays is then delivered by a small group of volunteers to other ministries in Manchester and another group of volunteers that brings food down to Nashua for distribution.
On Oct. 29 New Hampshire’ Executive Council approved a plan to provide up to $2 million to the New Hampshire Food Bank, a measure meant to help fill the gap as federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] benefits were set to end Nov. 1.
The Council vote Wednesday came after approval Tuesday by the Legislative Fiscal Committee to use up to $2 million from the state’s Medicaid Enhancement Tax revenues so the New Hampshire Food Bank can add to its mobile food pantry program, exclusively for people who get SNAP benefits.
SNAP benefits were not expected to be restored by Saturday because of the federal government shutdown, the first time in the program’s 61-year history that benefits have been interrupted.
The New Hampshire contingency plan will take about a week to put into place, officials said. New Hampshire Food Bank officials met later Wednesday to nail down details of how the plan will work.
Food for Children outreach serves hundreds of people with weekly food distribution in Manchester and Nashua. Photo/Jeffrey Hastings.
About Food for Children. This is a non-profit (501-c3), non-denominational ministry working as an inner-city mission united in God’s love; providing food, encouragement, the distribution of clothing, prayer, and other essential items of necessity, while living and acting out our faith to those in our community who struggle in meeting their everyday needs. We endeavor, in all ways, at all times, to ‘be there’ for everyone and above all, to exhibit ‘God’s love in action’ by establishing relationships with the people we serve through extending a listening ear, human love, affection, and emotional support.