NHTI is dedicated to supporting students along their education and career pathways; and, this often means addressing the challenges they face that go well beyond the classroom. And, their struggles include food insecurity. Understanding that students cannot possibly learn and feel confident in sustaining their work and education plans while also experiencing hunger, the idea of a Lynx Food Cupboard was born in 2019. A former supply closet became a place where students could grab a quick snack or even some personal hygiene supplies. All items were donated with much of the supply initially coming from faculty and staff. It quickly became apparent that the small cupboard was not adequate to meet the student needs. With the support from the N.H. Higher Education Loan Corporation, the Concord Junior Service League, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, the Concord Co-op, and NHTI’s Student Senate, NHTI was able to transform the Cupboard into a Lynx Food Pantry. The space houses a refrigerator, freezer and both perishable and non-perishable healthy food options. NHTI is extremely grateful to the community support that has helped move this project from a shelf-stable cupboard for snacks, to a fully-functioning pantry stocked with nutritious options. On Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. via Facebook Live, NHTI will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly expanded NHTI Lynx Pantry. Due to COVID-19, at this time, the NHTI Lynx Food Pantry offers drive-up access only in the Little Hall parking lot on Mondays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Fridays, 8 to 10 a.m. Community members, restaurants, businesses, and service groups who wish to help support our student food pantry through in-kind or cash donations may give online at givenhcc.org/where-to-give/nhti or contact Laura Scott, director of Alumni and Development at lascott@ccsnh.edu or 271-6484, ext. 4239.
Granite United Way has awarded $750,000 to help people affected by substance use disorder and experiencing great challenges caused by COVID-19. This funding was entrusted to Granite United Way through CARES Act assistance provided through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery. The Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery is dedicated to the timely, fair and transparent allocation and disbursement of CARES Act emergency relief funds to COVID-19 pandemic impacted communities, organizations and businesses. All United Way organizations across the state utilized proven review processes to identify and award over 20 organizations across the state. The funds from this program will provide desperately needed assistance in securing basic needs for people throughout New Hampshire affected by COVID-19. This program will fund expenses such as food, clothing, transportation, housing and other necessary resources. The funding will run through Dec. 30. Residents of New Hampshire in need of this assistance may call 211 to find an organization in their area to help.
The annual Wood for Warmth Volunteer Day will be held Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. at the Hopkinton Transfer Station. Hardwood donations, trucks to transport and volunteers to load and stack are needed. For more information, contact Sean Powers at 568-2783.
To help with Isaiah 61 Cafe’s mission of alleviating homelessness and assisting those who are enduring homelessness in Laconia, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Laconia’s Social Justice Committee members will hold a collection on Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Needed are both food and nonfood items. Items needed include pop-top canned goods, juices, fruits, vegetables, other canned food items and non-dairy creamers. Nonfood items needed are blankets, sleeping bags, and tents, new or clean, gently used. Come rain or come shine, we will welcome your donations at the Church located at 172 Pleasant St., Laconia.