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Upcoming Changes
First, we had the pleasure of having booths at the Canterbury Fair, Loudon Old Home Day, and Epsom Old Home Day. There was great weather during all three of these events and we enjoyed attending and hope to do it again next year.
Next, our BBQ Birthday Bash was a success. Everyone that came had plenty to eat and some fun to boot. Definitely a do again for next year!
Now, for the changes. Currently, we are open to service those in need on a walk-in basis Wednesdays & Thursdays from 10 AM – 6 PM. Sometimes 5 – 10 people will show up at a time and the wait time to get food will often increase to about an hour as a result. Our pantry serves five towns out of three rooms. Our space is limited and our parking is limited.
To eliminate two of these issues (waiting time and parking) the following changes will be taking place starting August 30, 2010:
- Food will given out by appointment only from Mondays to Thursdays.
- Donations will be accepted Mondays through Thursdays from 10 AM until 5 PM.
- Volunteers can come in Monday through Thursday from 10 AM until 3 PM
- We will be closed on Fridays.
If you need an appointment, or have any questions please call (603) 724-9731.
Starting in September we will be selling wristbands that say “Hunger Sucks, Food Rocks”. They will be available in blue and green and sell for $1.00 each in small, medium, and large sizes. So drop in and purchase a wristband.
All proceeds will benefit Loudon Food Pantry.
Moving right along! This is our “slow” season. Funds are low and the need is becoming higher. We are currently adding at least two new patrons per week. Funds are used to pay for food that is not donated and to pay for operating expenses.
Check out “As a Food Pantry, What Do We Do, Exactly!” and “Where does Our Food Come From” to learn more about our pantry. We also have a list of items we currently need as well.
Please donate today! Hunger is a year around problem |
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Food / Items We Currently Need
Like most food pantries, this is the hardest time of the year to keep our shelves stocked. We’re not just talking food. We are also talking about necessities (toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) that people cannot buy using food stamps.
When donating, please keep in mind that…
- Larger items are not always better. For example. A large can of baked beans will be able to feed one large household. But, two average sized cans of baked beans, can feed two households.
- No candy, soda, or energy drinks. We have people with dietary issues and children with hyperactivity issues that should not have these types of products. (Exception: flu season. We allow ginger ale to be donated.)
- No outdated food. We check all food when it comes in and discard any outdated food. When manufacturers determine what date to put on food, they assume that it is stored in poor conditions. When we receive donated, it is often impossible to determine how the food was stored. It is for this reason that we must defer to what the manufacturer recommends, or risk making people sick.
- No open containers or used food. These items are unsafe and will be immediately discarded. Donors do not receive any credit for outdated, opened, or used food. If an entire donation consists of these items, no donation letter will be issued.
We are in serious need of the following items.
- Low Sodium Food
- Shelf-Stable Milk
- Peanut Butter
- Cereal
- Fruit (canned or fresh)
- Baked Beans
- Beans (kidney, chick peas, etc.)
- Beverages (juice, water, etc.)
- Snacks (crackers, cookies, etc.)
- Misc. Items (mayonnaise, salad dressing, etc.)
- Toilet Paper
- Paper Towels
- Personal Care Products
- Baby Diapers
- Pet Food
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We Need a Larger Vehicle
Can You Help?
At the pantry we use a Honda Fit to pickup food from the NH Food Bank and the USDA. We can only go to the NH Food Bank once a week to pick up free food (food that does not require a maintenance fee to be paid), but we can go more often for food on which we pay a maintenance fee.
Our growing problem is that we can not fit enough food in the car each trip. In order to make fewer trips and handle the weight better we need a larger vehicle.
Time is also another issue. Our only available days we can go to the NH Food Bank is Monday or Tuesday depending on the amount of volunteers in to assist in logging food, clothing and household goods and to help prepare for handing out food on Wednesday and Thursdays. Also, the NH Food Bank only picks up meat on certain days of the week and we need to be there to obtain meat on the weeks that it is handed out to our patrons.
We are asking for a donation of a used 3/4 Ton pickup truck (full bed) or a cargo or an Econoline van. Fewer trips means more time to log and inventory the food, clothing and household items, get them on the shelves, work in the garden which supplies our patrons with fresh vegetables, etc.
The vehicle must be roadworthy and able to pass inspection at a mechanic of our choosing. Please Help Today!
If you can help, please contact us at (603) 724-9731. We are a 501(c)3 organization (IRS tax exempt letter available upon request) so your donation would be tax deductible to extent allowable by law. |
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