The Backpack Program at Friends of Forgotten Children recently received a $5,000 grant from the Globe Community Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to support its mission of feeding local school children. This school year TBP has provided a backpack of weekend food to 67 children in all five elementary schools and at the middle and high schools in the Merrimack Valley School District, until the present.
Since the recent closing of schools, 42 children are involved. The participating children all qualify for free and/or reduced meals and have had a permission form signed by a parent or guardian. Each backpack contains the equivalent of three suppers, two breakfasts, two lunches and two snacks including a fruit and a vegetable and care to include calcium and protein and to keep sugars low.
“Since the program began in March of 2017, it has succeeded due to local contributions and approved grants, such as this one, for its financial support,” says Program Coordinator Fran Philippe. “The latest community appeal was heartwarmingly successful.”
Major contributions of $600 to $1,000 were received from Concord Rotary Foundation, Cedar Mill Group, Duncraft, 30 Pines Storage, Oakhurst Dairy, the Concord UU Church and friends of Gail Henry. Donors of $100 to $500 were Capitol City Sunrise Rotary, Gail Henry, Wendy Follansbee, Flood Shaheen and Tobin, Edda Poggio, Stan Sokol, Penacook Family Dentistry, Village St. Garage and Larry Bernier. Other local support came from Sean and Stephenie Wheeler, Andrew and Pamela Roy, John and Jo Shields and Ana McKenna.
“Every dollar received helps to make a difference in the lives of these children,” says Philippe, “for which TBP is grateful.”
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is New Hampshire’s statewide community foundation, founded in 1962 by and for the people of New Hampshire. The foundation manages a growing collection of nearly 2,000 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards nearly $40 million in grants and more than $6 million in scholarships every year. The Foundation works with generous and visionary citizens to maximize the power of their giving, supports great work happening in our communities and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit nhcf.org or call 225-6641