Kevin Slattery Memorial Food Drive
NASHUA – United Way of Greater Nashua’s annual “Kevin Slattery Memorial Food Drive” is coming up soon, and we encourage everyone to visit the participating stores to donate food. Fifteen food pantries in Nashua and surrounding towns will benefit from the generous influx of donations during the second week of June. The drive, held in memory of long-time United Way board member Kevin Slattery, will take place on June 8th and 9th from 10 AM to 1 PM at 10 local stores each day.
“Kevin was passionate about addressing food insecurity and homelessness,” said Mike Apfelberg, President of United Way of Greater Nashua. “This food drive is a testament to his legacy and our ongoing commitment to supporting the community.”
We aim to enlist 100 volunteers to ensure the drive’s success. Individual volunteers and groups from local faith communities, schools, and charitable organizations are encouraged to help achieve the target of 2,000 lbs. of food donations. Volunteers can register at https://tinyurl.com/KSFood-Drive-2024 or contact United Way directly at info@unitedwaynashua.org or (603) 882-4011.
“We’re counting on the community to come together and make a difference,” added Apfelberg. “Every can of soup or box of pasta donated will help feed a neighbor in need.”
Volunteers will engage with shoppers, encouraging them to purchase extra food items to donate. Each store will host up to 8 volunteers to collect food and hygiene products. Nonperishable items needed include canned soup, pasta, tomato sauce, crackers, shampoo, toothpaste, peanut butter, coffee, and rice.
Here are some facts about the pantries receiving donations and the impact they have on the community:
- Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter: Serves homeless and low-income individuals and families by providing meals, shelter, and support services. They serve hundreds of meals each week and provide a safe place for people to stay.
- End 68 Hours of Hunger Nashua: Focuses on ending childhood hunger by providing weekend food packages for schoolchildren who rely on school meals during the week. This ensures that children do not go hungry over the weekend.
- Corpus Christi Food Pantry: Supports low-income families and individuals by providing groceries and essential items. This helps alleviate food insecurity for many families struggling to make ends meet.
- St. Joseph Hospital Employee Pantry: Assists hospital employees experiencing food insecurity, ensuring they have access to nutritious food. This support helps staff maintain their health and well-being.
- Southern NH Rescue Mission: Provides meals, shelter, and support services to homeless and at-risk individuals. They offer a range of programs aimed at helping people transition out of homelessness.
- Greater Nashua Mental Health: Supports individuals with mental health issues by providing food and other essential resources, helping them maintain stability and improve their quality of life.
- St. John Neumann Food Pantry: Serves the local community with food distributions, helping to reduce food insecurity among families and individuals in need.
- St. James United Methodist Food Pantry: Offers food assistance to individuals and families, providing essential nutrition and helping to alleviate hunger in the community.
- SHARE Outreach: Provides food, clothing, and financial assistance to those in need in the Milford area. They support low-income families and individuals, helping them meet basic needs.
- Hudson Food Pantry: Helps residents of Hudson with food support, ensuring they have access to necessary nutrition and helping to reduce hunger in the community.
- Open Cupboard Food Pantry: Supports individuals and families with food distributions, working to combat hunger and improve food security in the community.
- Rivier University Student Pantry: Assists students facing food insecurity, ensuring they have access to food while pursuing their education, which supports their academic success and overall well-being.
- Nashua Community College Student Pantry: Provides food to students who may be struggling to afford meals, supporting their academic success and helping them focus on their studies.
- Salvation Army, Nashua: Offers a range of services including a food pantry to help those in need in the Nashua area, providing essential support and resources to low-income individuals and families.
- Trinity Baptist Church Food Pantry: Serves individuals and families in Nashua by providing food and other essential items. They are dedicated to helping those in need within the community.
Feeding America reports that 1 in 15 people in New Hampshire face hunger, translating to 93,940 food-insecure individuals, including 21,670 children. In the Greater Nashua area, food insecurity remains a significant issue, with many families relying on food pantries to meet their basic needs.
In addition to the food drive, United Way collaborates with Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter to provide fresh food to residents through daily “Pop-Up Pantries.” They also conduct smaller weekly food drives at various stores and offer free grocery delivery to homebound individuals from food pantries.
“With 93,940 food-insecure people in New Hampshire, including many children, our work is more crucial than ever,” noted Apfelberg. “We’re dedicated to fighting hunger and making sure no one in our community goes without.”
Join us in making this food drive a success by visiting one of the participating stores and donating food to help those in need. Together, we can make a significant impact on our community.
For more information on how to volunteer or donate, please visit https://tinyurl.com/KSFood-Drive-2024 or contact United Way of Greater Nashua.
Those interested in donating food to the drive may do so at the following stores on June 8th and 9th between 10am and 1pm:
Hannaford Nashua
Hannaford Hudson
Homestead Grocery (Amherst)
State Line Convenience Mart (Brookline)
House By the Side of the Road Convenience (Wilton)
Jeanotte’s Market (Nashua)
Shaw’s DW Highway Nashua
Shaw’s Main Street Nashua
Shaw’s Milford
Shaw’s North Merrimack
For more information about this project please contact United Way at info@unitedwaynashua.org or (603)882-4011.
United Way of Greater Nashua is an independent 510(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1929 to serve the residents of Greater Nashua. Its mission is to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. United Way of Greater Nashua has received GuideStar and Charity Navigator’s top ratings for accountability, transparency, and financial management. For more information or to get involved as a donor or volunteer, please email United Way of Greater Nashua at, info@unitedwaynashua.org or visit their website at www.unitedwaynashua.org.
