NH Food Bank Kicks off Hunger Action Month

The NH Food Bank stuffed a Manchester Police cruiser with 1,742 pounds of food to kick-off Hunger Action Month.

The New Hampshire Food Bank stuffed a Manchester Police cruiser with 1,742 pounds of food last week to kick-off Hunger Action Month, an awareness campaign urging residents and businesses to take action in the fight against hunger. The NH Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH, and the Manchester Police Department hosted a “Stuff-A-Cruiser” food drive at Market Basket in Manchester with donations supporting New Horizons, a homeless shelter, food pantry and soup kitchen in Manchester. The 1,742 pounds of food equates to more than 1,400 meals.

As part of Hunger Action Month, the NH Food Bank is coordinating a series of events and initiatives throughout September to raise awareness and resources for those most in need.

“Hunger Action Month is the perfect opportunity to get involved to help us eliminate hunger in New Hampshire, where one in nine residents are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal will come from,” says Eileen Liponis, executive director, NH Food Bank. “The New Hampshire Food Bank is coordinating more than a dozen events and initiatives throughout the month all aimed at raising awareness and resources for the hungry. You can be a part of the solution now.”

As orange is the official color of hunger and Hunger Action Month, the New Hampshire Food Bank is encouraging the public and businesses to “Go Orange” this month by turning Facebook and Twitter pages orange, wearing orange or decorating homes and businesses with orange. To support the NH Food Bank and Hunger Action Month, Mayor Joyce Craig has turned the Manchester City Hall clocktower orange.

“The city of Manchester is proud to support the New Hampshire Food Bank as it works tirelessly to deliver nutritious food to those in need across the state,” says Craig. “It’s a staggering reality that thousands of New Hampshire residents, including 11-percent of children, do not have enough to eat. We’re pleased to do our part here in the Queen City to help the New Hampshire Food Bank and its partner agencies change that reality in New Hampshire.”

While the New Hampshire Food Bank has made progress toward its goal of eradicating hunger, the need persists. The Food Bank, which receives no state or federal aid for food distribution, distributed 13.7 million pounds of food to its partners statewide last year and expects to distribute more than 14 million pounds of food this year to meet the need.

For more information on Hunger Action Month and for a complete list of activities, initiatives and events, please visit: www.nhfoodbank.org/ham.