MANCHESTER, N.H. – The New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, is intensifying its fundraising efforts to address the anticipated statewide rise in food insecurity as the federal government shutdown persists. With the shutdown directly impacting funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program providing monthly benefits to households to help them purchase food, the New Hampshire Food Bank is amplifying both its fundraising and its programming to ensure families and individuals have access to the food and resources they need. The New Hampshire Food Bank has already increased food distribution by 26% year-over-year to meet the growing demand.
The New Hampshire Food Bank is partnering with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to distribute food to SNAP recipients at mobile pantries statewide and in designated partner agency sites beginning in November. DHHS has received approval from the New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee and the Executive Council to support SNAP recipients during the federal government shutdown. Additionally, the New Hampshire Food Bank has launched a SNAP webpage providing information and links to resources to ensure those in need stay informed and up to date. For more information, please visit https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/programs-services/food-meals-assistance/snap-and-wic-federal-shutdown-information.
“Despite these uncertain times, we remain steadfast in our goal to support New Hampshire residents and to fight food insecurity in all corners of our state. We recognize the crucial role the New Hampshire Food Bank and our strong network of more than 400 partner agencies play in reaching those in need across the Granite State, and our entire team is stepping up across our programming to ensure we’re prepared to meet the need,” said Elsy Cipriani, Executive Director, New Hampshire Food Bank. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with DHHS to help execute its SNAP contingency plan, which is critically important to the more than 77,000 New Hampshire residents currently receiving SNAP benefits.”
According to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, about 5.5% of New Hampshire’s population is enrolled in SNAP, the nation’s largest anti-hunger program, which equates to about 42,000 households or 77,000 individuals. In addition to the impact on SNAP recipients, the government shutdown has left many federal employees in New Hampshire without compensation, further intensifying the need for increased food distribution.
As the New Hampshire Food Bank responds to the current circumstances, its team is hosting regular video calls with partner agencies to provide updates and gather real-time data on the number of people they are serving and their specific needs. The New Hampshire Food Bank is also expanding the variety of food choices available to partner agencies through its ordering portal. Additionally, the New Hampshire Food Bank is maintaining its regular schedule of mobile food pantries, which remain open to all neighbors, not just SNAP recipients.
The New Hampshire Food Bank provides an array of services, including Culinary Job Training, Mobile Food Pantries, the Nutrition Pantry Program, and SNAP Outreach and Application Assistance, among many others. In 2024, the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed more than 17 million pounds of food to its more than 400 partner agencies statewide. In addition to distributing food to all corners of the state, the New Hampshire Food Bank provides an array of programing designed to address the root causes of hunger.
Individuals and businesses looking to support those in need can:
- Donate: for every $1 donated, 93 cents directly supports the New Hampshire Food Bank’s programming
- Volunteer: visit nhfoodbank.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities
- Host a Food Drive: host a food drive or consider donating some of the New Hampshire Food Bank’s “Most Needed Items”
- Participate in Local Events: participate in upcoming programming and events happening throughout the state
About the New Hampshire Food Bank
The New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, has been working to relieve hunger in the Granite State since 1984. In 2024, as the state’s only food bank, the New Hampshire Food Bank efficiently procured and distributed more than 17 million pounds of food to people experiencing hunger through more than 400 partner agencies. Agencies include food pantries, neighborhood centers, low-income housing sites, senior nutrition centers, family crisis centers, hospices, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after school programs and day care centers.
In addition to food distribution, the NH Food Bank leads innovative programming that helps fight the root causes of hunger by empowering people to learn new skills, enabling them to become more self-sufficient.
For more information about the New Hampshire Food Bank, please visit https://nhfoodbank.org/. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and X.