Local Food Pantries Receive First Wave of COVID-19 Relief Funding

Now more than ever we are hearing about addressing basic needs.

Our community partners let us know that people are concerned about feeding themselves and their families. With that knowledge and a strong and well-coordinated network of social services agencies Granite United Way chose to send the first wave of COVID-19 relief funding to local food pantries in late March. 

The following food pantries received funding:

Lincoln Woodstock Food Pantry

All Saints Food Pantry and Dinner Bell

Feeding Hope Food Pantry - Berlin

Helping Hands – Colebrook

Plymouth Area Community Closet

Kingswood Youth Center

Meredith Food Pantry

Amoskeag Health - Manchester

Easter Seals Child Development Center – Manchester

Upper Valley Haven

Listen Community Services

Community Action Program of Belknap and Merrimack County

Friendly Kitchen – Concord

Agencies have reported seeing many new clients during this time and are working diligently to meet the needs. 

Their efforts have been successful – here are a few examples of meeting the need…

Concord agencies reported that they were able to support elderly couples and single mothers who are seeing their food needs increase dramatically with an entire family being home for three meals a day.

Amoskeag Health has created a Drive Thru Grocery Pick up every Wednesday from 2-4.  In three weeks, they have distributed over 11,000 pounds of food!

Upper Valley Haven is serving 80-100 household daily and then supporting another 100 household’s weekly who are experiencing homelessness

Berlin Community Café has seen a 500% increase in demand for their weekly meal program.  Additionally, they are supporting the Berlin school system, giving away 733 lunch bags and hot meals throughout the week.

Lincoln Woodstock Food Pantry has been able to provide 50 families supports on a weekly basis.