Your monthly look into what's happening at the NH Food Bank.

Our first NHFB & Partner Agency Network Call was held in March. It was a great success with over 100 people in attendance. Those that attended provided great feedback stating that they found it helpful and informative.

Please join us for our next NHFB & Partner Agency Network call on Thursday, May 30th at 1pm. We will take this time to go over NHFB updates and provide new information about the new NHFB Agency Handbook that will be going out to you this summer. Please keep an eye out for the zoom link later this month. As always, this session will be recorded to view afterwards if you are unable to attend live.

June 1st Food Safety Requirements

For the past several months we have been reminding all programs that at least 1 active person at your organization needs to have up-to-date food safety certification. This should be someone that is actively involved with the day-to-day operations of the program and is present when food is distributed. A best practice would be that multiple people at each program have active food safety certification, but only 1 person is required per Feeding America guidelines.

The deadline is fast approaching and we still have dozens of programs that will not be compliant with this rule on June 1st. These affected programs will be placed on hold until corrective action is taken. If you are unsure of your status and certification expiration dates, please contact your NHFB Coordinator. All certification is good for 5 years from the date of the training unless a different expiration date is posted on the certificate.

For food pantries and non-meal sites: We continue to work with UNH Cooperative extension for free SAFE Food Handling classes. A list of upcoming classes is provided at the bottom of this bulletin, or contact your NHFB Coordinator.

If you are unable to attend a SAFE Food Handling session offered through the NHFB and UNH Cooperative Extension, there are other options for food safety certification that you can do on your own. Below are two options that are also approved (although there may be others online). If you complete a food safety training on your own, you will need to provide your NHFB Coordinator with a copy of the certification of completion.

Workhub Food Safety training course (free)

Alison.com Food Safety training course (free)

For meal site programs (soup kitchens, shelters, group homes, etc.): All programs that serve meals and/or prepare or serve food, even if the clients or residents do all of their own cooking, are required to have ServSafe (or equivalent) training. This is a Feeding America requirement. Basic food safety training (such as SAFE Food Handling) is not sufficient. Training needs to include coursework and an exam.

The NH Food Bank is currently offering ServSafe training classes with dates listed at the bottom of this bulletin. All classes are $15. If you prefer to do the coursework on your own, there is the option for NHFB staff to proctor the test, as needed, in our building for the same fee. If you prefer to take the test online, you can do that on the ServSafe website. When you click on the ServSafe link, there is a $15 ServSafe Food Handlers option. It is the first option that comes up when you type in "New Hampshire." Here is the direct link: ServSafe Food Handlers training

If you choose not to use ServSafe, you can use any other ANSI-Accredited program course and tested certification that you find on your own as long as you can provide your NHFB Coordinator with a current certificate of completion. 

Please note, the requirement for Meal Site Programs will be for ServSafe Manager Certification by June 1st, 2025.

NHFB Shopping Floor Reminders

Below are important reminders of a few rules that shoppers have agreed to in completing Indoor Shopping Training. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and consideration of these rules. Please also share this information with others from your organization that come to our building if they do not have access to this bulletin.



• As the warmer weather arrives (thankfully), please remember that closed toe shoes are required to enter the warehouse. Anyone who arrives wearing sandals will not be allowed access to the shopping floor. No exceptions will be made.
• No cell phones are allowed in the warehouse. If you need to make a call or send a text message, please step outside.
• A maximum of 2 shoppers per program are allowed to shop at a time. Due to space, any additional shoppers in your party will have to wait in the check-in area or outside.
• Only enter the warehouse through the blue agency door. Upon entering, only cross to the check-in area by following the blue footprints. Please do not cross the floor in any other direction as this is a high traffic area for our moving power equipment and helps to keep you in safe pathways.
• The speed limit in the NH Food Bank parking lot is 5mph. Please drive with caution and watch for pedestrians.
• Only authorized shoppers are allowed to access the shopping floor. If someone has not taken the required training they are asked to stay outside to pick up their order at the assigned bay doors. This required training is to ensure all who enter the building have proper awareness of the safety procedures and an understanding of the shopping process.

For information about upcoming training options, please contact your NHFB Coordinator. 

Reminder: Food Packaging

All food distributed by NH Food Bank programs must be in its original packaging and contain a label. Original packaging is defined as the manufacturer provided and sealed container that has not been tampered with or opened and resealed. This also means that NH Food Bank programs are not allowed to redistribute bulk items into smaller Ziploc bags or plastic containers (example: meat, uncooked rice or dried beans).

The only exception to this rule would be for whole uncut produce which does not require original packaging or labelling. Pet food can be repackaged into smaller bags. However, a label should be visible by the food or original packaging must be available upon request (pets have food allergies too!). Programs that are approved for distribution of prepared to-go meals must use clean, single-use, food safe containers and follow proper labelling rules to include ingredients and allergens.

Per the FDA's Fair Packaging and Labelling Act, all labels must contain:

• the common name of the product
• the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor
• the net quantity of the contents
• the common name of each ingredients listed in descending order of prominence.

If you receive an item that does not contain a label, you can create a label for distribution as long as the proper requirements are listed. Otherwise, if you are unsure of this information, you should safely dispose of the item.

Agency Spotlight:

Shepherd's Pantry, The Upper Room Food Pantry & Hudson Community Food Pantry

Every program that partners with the NH Food Bank is unique in providing services to their community. This month we will introduce three food pantries located in southern NH and highlight their individual food distributions.

Windham, NH- Shepherd’s Pantry serves more than one hundred families each week. Retaining their pandemic distribution model, one that is similar to a mobile food pantry, clients stay in their vehicles and form two lanes. Volunteers come to their windows and greet them with non-food items (soap, toilet paper, etc.) for them to take if they choose. Another volunteer passes by with a rolling cart full of canned goods and miscellaneous items for the clients to pick from before being directed to the next station where they will receive their pre-packed, family-size equivalent bags of shelf-stable items. Due to Shephard’s Pantry’s participation in the Fresh Rescue program, they are able to offer fresh produce, meat, and some bakery items to each family. All the packing and loading of vehicles is taken care of by the volunteers, and clients never even have to step out of the comfort of their own vehicle before heading home.

A visitor to this pantry said, “They are always here to help me, in all kinds of weather. Even when I am running late, they still have enough that I leave with several bags of food, and we have 6 people [in our house]. They always ask me what else I need.”

Derry, NH- The Upper Room Food Pantry allows families and neighbors to visit twice a month during their scheduled appointment time. Clients are greeted by many friendly faces at the welcome table which features flyers for local events, announcements about programs, and many other community resources. After checking in, clients navigate the room, visiting tables where shelf-stable food items and non-food items are available for them to take what they need. Some items have posted limits on them, but they may choose from a large variety of options. There are also other tables loaded with produce, bakery, dairy and proteins. Before exiting the building, clients receive a pre-packed bag of shelf-stable items. Many volunteers are present to assist, as needed, and to help make the clients feel comfortable.



Speaking with clients at this pantry, one person said, “My daughter is medically gluten free. So, this variety of food helps to not have to spend so much of my budget on those expensive items. I love being able to get fresh food that I can use to make a soup or a casserole.”

Hudson, NH- To service the high need in their area, Hudson Community Food Pantry is open twice a week, by appointment. In the parking lot, volunteers greet each client at their car and hand them a shopping list(which is updated for every distribution). After selecting the items they would like, the volunteer takes the list inside the building to a shopper who gathers all the items. After everything is bagged and ready, the order travels on the conveyor belt and heads back up to the initial volunteer who then loads the car. Again, the clients never have to leave their vehicle while receiving food before heading home.

One client showed her gratitude for this pantry by saying, “The meat I get here is the biggest help. I can’t afford to buy it. So, if I don’t get it here, I go without. Everyone is so helpful and really cares. They always ask how I am doing and are happy to see me.”

Although each pantry is unique, the great care and effort each pantry puts into their clients is the same. Each fulfills a need independently but comes together as a team to aid in the goal of ending hunger in our state.

If you would like your program to be considered for a future Agency Spotlight, please contact Jocelyn at jcheney@nhfoodbank.org.

Culinary Job Training

Along with providing food for over 400 partner agencies around the state, the NH Food Bank also offers many programs that are designed to fight the root causes of hunger by empowering people to learn new skills, enabling them to become more self-sufficient and improve their quality of life.

One of these services is the Recipe For Success (RFS) Culinary Job Training Program. This FREE 8-week course takes place Monday through Friday from 8AM–3PM in NH Food Bank’s commercial kitchen. Led by professional chefs and a production assistant, this program teaches culinary training skills to those that are currently unemployed or under-employed and looking to build experience in the food service industry.

Students receive hands on experience while preparing the daily meals that are then distributed to multiple partnering Food Bank agencies. The course also includes ServSafe training and a chance to take the manager’s level exam at no cost, nutrition classes, catering experience, basic financial skills, resume writing, and interview techniques. Students also receive stipend checks totaling $350 during the final weeks of training, and a portfolio including a new resume, a completion certificate, and a personal letter of recommendation from our head chef. 

Enrollment is always open and classes begin every Monday. All RFS students must be able to commit to attending full time, 5-days a week during the 8-week course. If you know of anyone that may benefit from this program, please contact Tiffany Sweatt at tsweatt@nhfoodbank.org or at ext. 1241 for more information. You can also view the Recipe For Success flyer here.

8th Annual Steel Chef Challenge

On Monday, April 8th, The NH Food Bank held its 8th Annual Steel Chef Challenge, presented by Service Credit Union and founding sponsor, Comcast. Each year, this event raises critical awareness and funds for our neighbors experiencing hunger throughout the Granite State.

This year, we were proud to welcome celebrity chef, Marcus Samuelsson, to the Granite State as our host for the evening. Nearly 700 guests joined us in the Armory Ballroom at the Doubletree by Hilton Manchester Downtown where they enjoyed dinner curated by Chef Sameulsson and watched live as four of NH's best chefs put their skills to the test.

Learn more about NH Food Bank's Steel Chef Challenge at: nhfoodbank.org/steelchef.

[Pictured above are this year's winner Chef Antonio Wormley of Pavilion Wolfeboro (center), Chef Marcus Samuelsson (2nd from left), 2023's Steel Chef winner Chef Justin O'Malley of Greenleaf Milford, and the 3 judges (Chef Bobby Marcotte of Tuckaway Tavern, WMUR's Erin Fehlau, and 2022's Steel Chef winner Chef John Bouley).]

Members of NH Food Bank’s Agency Relations team recently attended the Campus Compact for NH Awards, where New Hampshire Food Bank was nominated by NHTI for a Presidents’ Community Partner Award. This award honors a nonprofit organization that has partnered with a Campus Compact for NH member campus to enhance community life in meaningful and measurable ways. 

We’re grateful to NHTI for their nomination and honored to be one of the recipients of this award. We’re incredibly thankful for community partners like NHTI helping us reach our neighbors experiencing hunger in communities throughout the Granite State.  

[Pictured above are NHFB staff members Stacey Garron and Jocelyn Cheney with NHTI President Dr. Patrick Tomkins(center), and the other 2024 recipients nominated by NHTI.]

April Bulletin Contest

In last month's bulletin, we held a secret contest for those that read the full bulletin and mentioned it via email. The winners have each received a grocery gift card mailed to their program.

*Community Resource Room Food Pantry, Plainfield

*Trinity Community Food Pantry, Nashua

*Pittsfield Youth Workshop

Look for future contests being held in upcoming bulletins, we appreciate you reading our correspondence each month! Thank you for all that you do!

All sessions are held online via Zoom.

To enroll in any upcoming session, please contact your Agency Relations Coordinator. A zoom link will be sent out prior to the class for those who signed up to attend.



New Shopper Orientation (2 hour online shopping training)

Monday, May 6th @10:00am

Wednesday, May 29th @1:30pm

_______________________________________

Food Safety training

SAFE Food Handling For Food Pantries:

Monday, June 10th @9:30am

Wednesday, August 7th @3:30pm

SAFE Food Handling For Soup Kitchens & Prepared Meals:

Wednesday, May 29th @9:30am

Wednesday, June 12th @2:00pm

ServSafe Food Handlers certification:

Classes are held in-person at the NH Food Bank for $15 & include testing.

Wednesday, May 8th @3:00pm-6:00pm

Thursday, May 16th @5:00pm-8:00pm



All programs are required to have at least one person at their facility that is Safe Food Handling certified (or a similar certification). Certification is good for up to 5 years. Programs that serve meals will be required to have ServSafe Food Handler Certification or equivalent (ANSI Accredited Certification) by June 1st, 2024.

One Last Note From Agency Relations

*The NHFB's Cooking Matters™ program pauses operation each summer and will resume in the Fall. If you are interested in hosting a Cooking Matters class at your facility, you can be added to the waitlist for when sessions resume. Please contact your NHFB Coordinator to be added to the waitlist.

*Tiering letters have gone out and your new ordering tier will be noticeable on Agency Express this month. If you did not receive your letter or have additional questions about this new system, please contact your NHFB Coordinator directly.

*If you would like to receive SNAP handouts and flyers, information on Granite State Market Match, or information on Double Up Food Bucks for your eligible clients, please use this request form and someone from our SNAP team will be in contact with you soon.