For many, September means returning to the classroom. This return has meant access to much needed breakfast and lunch for Granite State children. According to the U.S. Census data, 55% of New Hampshire children live in households that reported having insufficient food in September.

That is why the Capital Area Food Access Coalition (CAFA) has partnered with the Concord School District to raise student, staff, and parent awareness of childhood food insecurity. CAFA is a team of 25 community partners and has made it their mission to create a sustainable food environment for community access in the Capital Area.

Currently, Concord School District has five food pantries run by staff, students, and community volunteers that were started with the intent to serve families of students. These pantries, like the Jennings Drive Pantry, serve many more than just school families. The Jennings Drive pantry came to fruition following the creation of CMS Cares, a subcommittee of the Christa McAuliffe PTO. The CMS PTO realized the need to expand the general PTO’s mission to include equity. “The reality is that children’s learning is impacted when daily needs are not met such as reading glasses and weather appropriate clothes. However, the biggest impact comes from not having enough food in your belly” says Ashley Babladelis, CMS PTO President.

In order to access food for the pantry, CMS Cares sought the help of The Friendly Kitchen. The partnership between The Friendly Kitchen, NHHS, and Hannaford now stocks the Jennings Drive Pantry. This quick acting group, along with community, Friend’s Program, and United Way volunteers and staff members, have reinforced the continuation of the pantry.

Across town, Mill Brook Elementary School has been serving their school’s families for years through both in house and mobile food pantries. The mobile units are a unique and necessary contribution to the community as it is able to provide fresh produce, meats, and dairy products to families who would not otherwise be able to access foods that require refrigeration. Long-time Concord School District teacher and Mill Brook Pantry organizer, Matt Finney, acknowledges, “We are very appreciative to the New Hampshire Food Bank for the food that they supply us with and to Lincoln Financial Group for their generous donations that have supported our efforts over the past several years.” A growing partnership between the pantries at Mill Brook, Broken Ground, and Rundlett Middle School has afforded more families to be served by the mobile pantry.

CAFA seeks to connect people and organizations to improve food access. Concord School District Director of Nutrition Services, Donna Reynolds is a member of the CAFA. She and the district want to do more to address stigma. Through CAFA’s donation, Concord School District will supply every third grade teacher with copies of the book, ‘Lulu and the Hunger Monster’ by Erik Talkin. This book is meant for dual audiences, those who may be food insecure and need help addressing it, and those who are not food insecure but need help understanding and building empathy. Copies of the book along with a leader’s guide to discussion will be provided to teachers this fall. Third grade teachers will have the opportunity to read and utilize the discussion guide as they see fit during the course of their community curriculum.

“The hope is that a cycle of stigma can be broken” says Johane Telgener “the earlier that understanding and empathy is created, the sooner solutions are found.”

To collaborate with CAFA, contact Johane Telgener at jtelgener@nhhungersolutions.org

For more information about the hunger in the Granite State and ways to help, visit nhhungersolutions.org and nhfoodbank.org

Liz Boucher, MPH, Registered Dietitian, CAFA member and parent of Concord School District students; resident of Concord.]]>