Notice to Agencies: Mandatory QSR Training

Starting in February 2025, your agency relations team here at the food bank will be holding mandatory trainings on how to fill out the Quarterly Service Report(QSR). Looking back at past entries, we're noticing that there are many agencies that are not filling this form out as trained. Therefore, before the 1st Quarter QSR is due at the end of April, we will be requiring that the person who fills this form out for each agency attend one of the trainings. This training will be approximately 30-45 minutes via Zoom and will have ample time for questions. Please sign up by emailing your coordinator.

Upcoming dates:

Friday, February 14th at 11am

Wednesday, February 19th at 3pm

Thursday, February 27th at 9am

Recipe for Success Spotlight!

Last month, the NH Food bank's Recipe for Success Culinary Job Training Program received a generous donation of chicken from one of our NH Feeding NH farming partners, Lull Farm. With that chicken they created this delicious Arroz Con Pollo recipe!

Based in Manchester, the NH Food Bank’s Recipe for Success Culinary Job Training Program provides individuals seeking employment with the opportunity to gain new, or improve their existing, skills in the food service and hospitality industries at no cost to them. Trainees are instructed in a broad range of kitchen practices and fundamentals including: identification of food and ingredients, use of kitchen implements and equipment, measurements, nutrition, knife skills, preparation techniques, safe food handling, cleaning and sanitation and more.

This program provided approximately 153,150 meals in 2024 to our meal agencies across New Hampshire including Boys & Girls Clubs in Salem, Manchester, Allenstown, Concord and Laconia.

A Message from your Agency Relations Team

During Agency Monitoring Visits your Coordinator checks your food storage to ensure your food is stored properly. This is an important part of your visit because maintaining food safety standards is crucial in protecting the health of those you are serving. Below are ways to keep your food safe and your visits running smoothly.

• Keep refrigerators between 35⁰- 40⁰ F

• Keep freezers set to 0⁰ F

• Keep a thermometer in each refrigerator and freezer

• Keep a temperature log for each refrigerator and freezer

• Food should be stored from highest cooking temperature on the bottom to lowest on the top in the refrigerator/freezer.

• Leave space between full cases to allow air to flow around the product and maintain proper temperatures

Click For Refrigerated and Frozen Food Storage Chart

Simple Strategies to Prevent Burn Out

Setting boundaries is an important step in preventing burn out. Before you commit yourself be realistic and transparent about how your commitment take its toll physically, emotionally, and on your schedule.

Learn to recognize your bodies' cues for stress. This sometimes looks like a stomach ache, muscle tension, or headaches. If you are feeling overwhelmed, communicate what your needs are to a superior to try to prevent these physical symptoms.

That old saying, "don't bring your work home with you," is to help you with work life balance and prevent burnout. So please remember to leave your work at the door when your commitment is fulfilled.

Indoor Shopping Training Video

Indoor shopping is accessible to agencies after completing the required training video. After completion, you must fill out and sign the NHFB Indoor Shopping Agreement. Once that is returned to your Agency Relations Coordinator, you will have access to the shopping floor. Below you will find the required video and Indoor Shopping Agreement. If you have any questions, please contact your Agency Relations Coordinator.

Click For Indoor Shopping Agreement

Upcoming Classes

New Shopper Orientation

Please contact your NHFB Coordinator directly for options.

Food Safety Training

SAFE Food Handling For Food Pantries:

Wednesday, February 12th from 10am - 12pm

Thursday, April 17th from 2pm - 4pm

Tuesday, June 3rd from 4pm - 6pm

SAFE Food Handling For Soup Kitchens & Prepared Meals:

Monday, March 24th from 10am - 12pm

Wednesday, May 14th from 4pm - 6pm

All sessions are 2 hr. trainings via Zoom.

If you need to acquire food safety training (non-meal sites) but are unable to attend a live zoom session, a similar training can be done online at workhub.com/features/training/food-safety or Alison.com/course/food-safety-and-hygiene. Both courses are free. Alison.com charges to print a certificate, to avoid this cost send your Agency Coordinator a screenshot of the certificate or a screenshot of your “Learner Record” with the date of completion found in your Account Settings.

All agencies are required to have at least one person at their facility that holds a Food Safety certificate at all times. Agencies that serve meals are required to have at least one person that has SERV Safe Food Handlers certification.

As of June 1st 2025, this requirement changes to a ServSafe Manager Certificate.

All certifications are good for 3-5 years depending on the exam.