The Republican-led federal government shutdown is now into its 33rd day, the second longest in American history. Public assistance programs such as Women, Infants & Children (WIC), Head Start, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are all feeling the brunt of this, especially those who can least afford to.
Focusing on the SNAP program, there are more than 72,000 New Hampshire men, women and children who receive food assistance, but saw their benefits come to a screeching halt the other day. (It should be noted, on that same day the current “president” held a Great Gatsby Halloween Gala at Mar-A-Lago in Florida.)
But, I digress . . .
Twenty-two states, three governors and the District of Columbia filled a lawsuit against the Trump regime over its decision to stop federal food assistance during the Republican-led shutdown. New Hampshire is shamefully nowhere to be found in that filing. The same state who, while voting on the budget this past April, the majority party voted on an amendment to not expand free and reduced price school lunch funding by aligning Medicaid enrollment with eligibility for school meals, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. They absolutely REFUSE to feed low-income children!
So, it is up to the people of NH stepping up in many ways to provide emergency food. There are mobile food pantries throughout the state during the months of Nov. and Dec. Your local food pantry doesn’t require SNAP participation to receive food assistance.
Alstead: Fall Mt. Food Shelf at 122 Route 12A
Bedford: Bedford Community Food Pantry at 4 Church Rd.
Berlin: Feeding Hope Food Pantry at 219 Willow St.
Canaan: Friends Feeding Friends at 9 On the Common (behind Canaan Hardware)
Charlestown: Charlestown Food Shelf at 29 Summer St.
Chesterfield: Joan's Food Pantry at 532 Route 63
Claremont: Claremont Soup Kitchen at 53 Central St.
Colebrook: Colebrook Food Pantry at 16 Hill Ave.
Concord: St. Paul's Church Food Pantry at 21 Centre St.
Enfield: Friends Feeding Friends at 19 Main St.
Franconia: Community Church of Christ at 92 Church St.
Franklin: Twin Rivers Food Pantry at 2 Central Sq.
Goffstown: Goffstown Food Pantry at 7 N. Mast St.
Henniker: Henniker Food Pantry at 21 Western Ave.
Hillsborough: Hillsboro Food Pantry at 7 Church St.
Keene: The Community Kitchen at 37 Mechanic St.
St. Vincent DePaul Society, 173 Main St. (St. Bernard Church)
Salvation Army at 15 Roxbury Place
Laconia: Christ Life Center Food Pantry at 175 Mechanic St.
Langdon: Fall Mt. Food shelf at 122 Route 12A
Lebanon: Listen Comm. Services at 60 Hanover St.
Littleton: Littleton Food Pantry at 70 Redington St.
Lincoln/Woodstock: Food Pantry at 194 Pollard Rd.
Loudon: Loudon Food Pantry at 30 Chichester, Rd. Unit D
Manchester: NH Food Bank at 700 E. Industrial Park Dr.
Shiloh Food Ministry at 461 Straw Rd.
Families in Transition at 176 Lake Ave.
Marlborough: Federated Church at 16 Pleasant St.
Meredith: Food Pantry at 147 Main St.
Moultonborough: Lakes Region Food Pantry, 977 Whittier Hwy.
Portsmouth: Gather at 124 Heritage Ave. Unit 3
Richmond: Town Hall at 105 Old Homestead Hwy.
Rindge: Rindge Food Pantry at 1102 Route 119
Troy: The Helping Hand Center at 1 Depot St.
Wakefield: Wakefield Food Pantry at 1500 Wakefield Rd.
Weare: Weare Food Pantry at 33 N. Stark Hwy.
West Swanzey: W. Swanzey Community Church, 7 Homestead Ave.
Whitefield: Friends-N-Neighbors Food Pantry, 4 Main St.
Winchester: United Church of Winchester at 99 Main St.
Wolfeboro: LIFE Ministries Food Pantry at 264 S. Main St.
Woodsville: Good Shepard Food Pantry at 65 S. Court St.
I’m sure I’ve missed many more in the state, but this is a good start of where to go as many of these places serve more than one town. Perhaps you know someone or a family who could use some assistance, share this list. If not, food and monetary donations would be gratefully accepted. You might even want to donate the gift of your time!
“We are humanity ambassadors.”
Seth Andrews