PELHAM, NH – New Hampshire based nonprofit Nourish New England reports its first annual New Hampshire World Christmas Market (NHWCM) was a success, raising money to help fight food insecurity across the state.
The New Hampshire World Christmas Market was held on the grounds of the Anheuser Busch Merrimack Biergarten this past December 13 and 14. The all-volunteer event hosted by Nourish New England featured over 80 food and beverage vendors including a variety of food trucks selling wares from around the globe. Proceeds from the event, as well as items from a food and necessities drive at the market, supported charitable efforts across the region.
“We’re incredibly grateful for such overwhelming support from the community,” said Nourish New England’s CEO Phil Meyer. “We were able to immediately donate over $13,000 to local organizations and families, as well as approximately $2,500 worth of food and necessities collected from the drive.”
Because of funds raised from NHWCM, Meyer said Nourish New England was able to donate $5,000 to Feed the Kids in Nashua, $2,500 to The Merrimack Community Food Pantry at St. James United Methodist Church in Merrimack, $2,500 to St. John Neumann’s Catholic Church Food Pantry in Merrimack, $500 to Baby Steps Family Assistance of Claremont for their free Christmas dinner, $1,000 to food-relevant portions of the nonprofit Blood Cancer United, and $2,000 in grocery store gift cards to New Hampshire families in need.
“From feedback through these organizations, we learned over 50 families and 21 veterans received immediate help within the week we provided the food, clothing, necessities, and money to support what proved to be a colder than normal winter in New England,” said Meyer.
Inspired by the historic Christmas markets of Europe, and specifically the German Weihnachtsmärkte, the New Hampshire World Christmas Market featured a 1,000-foot festive walkway lined with curated food and craft vendors, many of which sold out during the two-day market.
In addition to delicious food and holiday shopping, NHWCM featured free festive entertainment including live music, a Kid’s Zone, and plenty of holiday photo opportunities, including photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Krampus.
For Meyer and the rest of the Nourish New England Board of Directors, the New Hampshire World Christmas Market exceeded their expectations as the first large fundraising event for the new nonprofit.
“We just celebrated our first anniversary on January 18,” said Meyer. “As a new nonprofit, we’re incredibly proud that we’ve been able to help fight food insecurity across parts of New Hampshire with just one event.”
As part of their 2025 fundraising efforts, Nourish New England also helped support five local events in New England–Sandown Oktoberfest, Granite State Comicon in Manchester, and Poutinefest events in Merrimack; Burlington, VT; and Portland, ME.
“We’re a group of foodies at heart who want to see the food and beverage scene in New England thrive,” said Meyer. “For the events we supported, we helped gather food vendors, marketed the events, and we provided hands-on volunteer help during the events. In turn, we raised funds for Nourish New England by selling water, food and merchandise, and collecting donations. Supporting food-related events allows us to do what we do best, which is help promote local food and beverage culture while raising funds for the food insecure and other non-profit organizations and charitable activities that align with our mission.”
The Nourish New England Board of Directors is actively planning new events, new partnerships, and next year’s New Hampshire World Christmas Market. More information about NHWCM, as well as volunteer and sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 market can be found at NHWorldChristmasMarket.com.
About Nourish New England
Nourish New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to unite regions, expand knowledge and awareness, and celebrate global traditions through the joy of food and beverage culture in New England. They aim to enhance public understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures, foster economic growth, promote learning, and create an inclusive environment where people from all backgrounds can come together and enjoy. Nourish New England’s fundraising efforts support other non-profit organizations and charitable activities such as, but not limited to, food banks, soup kitchens, and cultural and youth organizations. More information can be found at www.NourishNE.org