CONCORD, NH – Mobile food pantries and food box distribution for New Hampshire SNAP recipients begins this week across the state, with Manchester’s weekly mobile food pantry set for Nov. 13, and five-day-a week food box pickup starting Wednesday.
The state Department of Health and Human Services Monday released its list of the food distribution times and locations for SNAP participants. Distribution includes mobile pantries in six regions of the state, and food box pickup in Manchester, the North Country, and the Upper Valley region.
Area Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients can pick up food boxes Monday through Friday, beginning Wednesday, at Families in Transition Food Pantry, 176 Lake Ave., from 1-4 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
The Manchester SNAP mobile food pantry will be Thursday, Nov. 13, 1-6 p.m. at Comcast, 676 Island Pond Road
Only those who can provide proof of SNAP participation are eligible for the special mobile pantries and food boxes. They must show a SNAP EBT card or a notice from DHHS confirming SNAP participation.
The SNAP distribution is in addition to the New Hampshire Food Bank’s regular mobile pantry and other local food distribution programs.
In all locations, DHHS and New Hampshire Food Bank are partnering with local nonprofits.
If SNAP benefits become available, the contract allowing the New Hampshire SNAP contingency food distribution is terminated and the extra mobile food pantries and box pickups won’t take place.
SNAP mobile food pantries are scheduled in some regions throughout November, others have one or two dates during the month. Visit DHHS’s webpage for more information. The SNAP recipient food distribution regions and general schedules:
- Merrimack Valley, which includes mobile food pantries in Manchester and Concord and food box pickup Monday through Friday in Manchester, Tuesdays in Nashua and Saturdays in Concord. Partners are NHFB, Families in Transition (Manchester), Nashua Soup Kitchen and Christ the King Church (Concord).
- Lakes Region, with mobile food pantries in Laconia Nov. 6 and Plymouth Nov. 26, distributed by NHFB.
- Monadnock, with weekly mobile food pantries on Saturday in Keene through November. Partners are NHFB and Keene Community Kitchen.
- North Country, with mobile food pantries in Conway Nov. 19 and Woodsville Nov. 12, and food box pickup on selected weekdays in Berlin, Colebrook and North Conway. Partners are Vaughn Community Services and North Country Missions.
- Seacoast, with mobile food pantries on many dates throughout November in Dover, Hampton, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rochester, Seabrook and Somersworth. Partners are NHFB and Gather.
- Upper Valley, with a mobile food pantry in Claremont Nov. 5, and Monday through Friday food box pickup in Claremont and Lebanon. Partners are NHFB, Claremont Food Pantry and LISTEN.
DHHS and the New Hampshire Food Bank collaborated on the plan for the food distribution after it became clear that about 75,000 New Hampshire residents would not get their monthly SNAP benefit because of the government shutdown. The Executive Council and Legislative Joint Fiscal Committee agreed last week to allow up to $2 million from the Medicaid Tax Enhancement revenue fund to cover the distribution.
It is the first time in the 61-year history of the program, which began as Food Stamps, that it has been interrupted. The USDA oversees the program, and states administer it. While the numbers change monthly, New Hampshire gets about $12.6 million a month to cover benefits for about 75,000 residents. The average monthly benefit in the state per individual is $169.52.Two federal judges Friday ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must pay for November SNAP benefits, but the government hasn’t yet acted on those rulings. If SNAP benefits become available, the contract allowing the New Hampshire SNAP contingency food distribution is terminated.