Backpack Program receives grant

The Backpack Program at Penacook Elementary School has received a $2,000 grant from the Globe Community Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, which will help provide backpacks of weekend food for children in need throughout the school year.

“The generosity of this grant fills our hearts with gratitude knowing that we will be able to continue this vital program for these children, now and into the future,” said Fran Philippe, Friends of Forgotten Children retiree, Senior Volunteer Program volunteer and Backpack Program coordinator.

Just one year ago, Friends of Forgotten Children, The Friend’s RSVP Program and the Merrimack Valley School District worked together to begin the Backpack Program at Penacook Elementary School with the encouragement of Chris Foley, principal at the time. Based on similar programs locally and nationwide, children identified by the school are able to take home a backpack each Friday filled with healthy nourishment for the weekend. Items are acquired from the N.H. Food Bank, the MVSD food service suppliers and local grocers, keeping in mind that children need calcium, protein, fruits and vegetables (fresh when available) and minimal sugar. Feedback from parents, children and the school have been very positive.

One parent shared, “Makes me have peace of mind knowing that he will have that bag every Friday when we are running low on food.” And Diane Walsh Green, the school social worker, said, “You and your team truly do make a difference!”

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 more than 1,800 funds created by generous individuals, families and businesses, and awards nearly $40 million in grants and scholarships every year. The foundation works with generous and visionary citizens and leads and collaborates on high-impact initiatives. For more information, please visit nhcf.org or call 225-6641.

The board of directors and officers also wish to thank others in the community who have made donations to the Backpack Program at Penacook Elementary School, including: the UU Church of Concord for their very generous donations of more than $1,000; Tedeschi’s in Boscawen for weekly donations of food items; the N.H. Food Bank for their grant of $600 worth of supplies; Capital City Sunrise Rotary, Thirty Pines Car Wash and Storage, Citizen’s Bank and Karalynn Warden for their generous donations between $500 and $1,000; Robert and Beth Gabrielli, Fran Philippe, Linda Skaggs, Capital Alarms, Stephen and Angelique Mosher, Stan and Lucille Sokol, Ace Hardware, DBA Penacook Family Dentistry, Wendy Follansbee, Elizabeth Hodgdon, Baker Family 2011, Mark and Karen Broth, Leslie and Suzanne Cooley, Laura Scott, The Newell Post, Horace Chase Lodge 72, Penacook PTG and Village Street Garage for their generous contributions between $100 and $499; and to Lisa Cowen, Edwina Czajkowski, Diane Walsh-Green, Dorean Kimball, Edda Poggio, Ronald and Sharon St. Onge, Ana Cutting, Dewitt and Marylin Davis, Thomas and Peggy Herbert, Susan and Michael Wheeler, Jennifer Sperounis, Norma Angwin, Lyn Marshall, the Harhigh Peabody Trust, Charlotte Keenan, the Hannaford Bag Program and several anonymous donors for their valued support up to $100. You have all helped to make the first year of this important outreach possible.

With the continued investment in the program by the greater Concord community, it is our hope to continue to provide weekend food for qualifying children and expand the program in the future. Donations can be made online at fofc.org or by mailing a check payable to “FOFC” with “Backpack Program” on the memo line to The Backpack Program, 224 Bog Road, Concord, N.H., 03301.

Fran Philippe,

Backpack Program coordinator,

RSVP volunteer