From Our Editor, Nancy Allenby 

“MAY, MORE THAN ANY OTHER MONTH, WANTS US TO FEEL MOST ALIVE." ~ Fellel Hudson 

KNP feels very much alive! And we have SO much to be thankful for in May, starting with our fantastic volunteers, community partners, and donors who keep us connecting neighbors day in and day out. The April 18 Food Security Summit was a rousing success, and the 7th Annual Tray it Forward free vegetable seedling program comes to fruition in a few short weeks. Both are perfect examples of pulling together this region's resources and synergy for the common goal of helping our neighbors access food. We hope you will continue to join us throughout the month of May as we stretch our wings to glide into summer with energy and purpose.

7th Annual Tray it Forward Project

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GROW HEALTHY FOOD AT HOME, even if you don’t have a lot of extra time, money, or space! The TRAY IT FORWARD community project offers free vegetable seedlings to Kearsarge region neighbors who self-identify as having financial or time barriers to starting a garden at home. We also give trays of seedlings to folks running community garden sites that increase access to growing food. If you know someone who could benefit from seedlings, please forward them this link.

If you're looking for ways to get involved with planting, transplanting, bagging compost, or our May 29 Tray it Forward plant delivery day, please check your Better Impact opportunity list, sign up as a KNP volunteer, or email info@KNPnh.org.

Meanwhile, Kearsarge community members have a unique opportunity to help those whose finances hold them back from starting a home garden by SPONSORING A TRAY OF VEGGIE PLANTS so that a neighbor can receive them for free. Spring Ledge Farm very generously matches every tray a community member sponsors, so seedling trays can be distributed free of charge to those who sign up to receive them. Recipients will not only get seedlings started by the expert hands at Spring Ledge Farm, but they’ll also receive a gardening guide and a weekly gardening newsletter to walk them from seedling to harvest. Click here to sponsor a tray (or trays!) to allow a neighbor to start a home garden at no cost to themself.

Read KNP's Annual Report

WE INVITE YOU TO SPEND A MOMENT browsing through the photos and details of KNP's 2025 annual report. It will give you a peek at our impact in the region over the past year, as well as pique your interest in something you might like to get involved in this year! Please peruse the report's data, stories and quotes for a snapshot of our programs and events.

We Love KNP Meet-and-Greets

APRIL 25: MEET US AT SUNAPEE'S ABBOTT LIBRARY from 10-11:30 am on Saturday, April 25. We will treat you to coffee and pastries and you'll have a chance to meet some new faces and catch up with friends from KNP. Just want to check us out and see what KNP is all about? Great -- we'll see you there!

Save the Date!

JUNE 12 KNP SUMMER GATHERING Mark your calendar! We want to treat our volunteers, donors and community partners to a very special evening at the New London Historical Society Phillips Barn from 5:30-7:00 pm. More details coming soon!

Food Security Summit April 18

THE FEED KEARSARGE FOOD COALITION hosted 120 individuals and representatives from 35+ regional organizations at Kearsarge Region High School to learn about, discuss and plan for the future in food security. Organized by the Kearsarge Food Hub and KNP, the question of the day-long summit was: HOW DO WE MOVE FROM FEEDING PEOPLE TO ENDING HUNGER TO BUILDING RESILIENT LOCAL AND REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEMS THAT NOURISH ALL OF US?

The day included informative panel discussions with local leaders, and breakout sessions for interest groups such as food pantries, farms and gleaning, policy, education and health care, all brilliantly facilitated by KFH's Hanna Flanders. Mel Hamel, KNP's Partnership Coordinator, gathered an impressive exhibitor fair with an entire gym-full of helpful local resources. Summit participants learned the latest food security data and began work to shift the needle from emergency response to systemic change for long-term community wellbeing. A wide variety of stakeholders interested in food security relished the opportunity to come together, build relationships and share information, and left with action items and plans to work together on the future of food security.

All of this, along with delicious refreshments and lunch, was made possible by our generous sponsors so that EVERYONE could participate regardless of financial barriers. A huge thank you to Sunset Hill Educational Institute, Mascoma Bank, Hungry Hearts Gym and Kitchen, St. Andrew's Church, Lake Sunapee VNA and Hospice, Dartmouth Health, Forfeng Designs, and Appleseed Restaurant for making this encouraging and much-needed event possible.

KNP's Seedling Fund Grants

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA TO HELP PEOPLE IN OUR REGION? KNP's Seedling Fund team received a $150,000 3-year grant to help "plant" IDEAS FOR PROMOTING COMMUNITY. We invite anyone who resides or works in the Kearsarge Region to realize their dream by applying for funding. Have some thoughts for building connection in the Kearsarge Region? We are excited to share with you this generous grant toward initiatives encouraging neighbor-to-neighbor interaction! Check it out!

VOLUNTEER FEATURE:

KNP'S COPMMUNICATIONS TEAM works year-round to ensure that neighbors and organizations in our area know that our volunteers can help with their needs. We want to help wherever and however we can! If you know of someone who could use KNP's help, please refer them to this link or have them call 603-317-5900. Ext. 1.

In addition, we want those willing to volunteer to know we have LOTS of ways to connect in the community. Opportunities to help can be accessed at any time through our volunteer management system, Better Impact. If you would like information about becoming a KNP volunteer, click here.

The Communications Team produces the ANNUAL REPORT, circulates this KNP KONNECTIONS newsletter at the end of each month, and sends a monthly KNP KORNER column to the Intertown Record and the Bradford Bridge to make the greater community aware of our efforts. If you would like to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox you can sign up here.

Communications Team members also host KNP INFORMATION TABLES throughout the year at various sites and events to get the word out 1) that KNP exists, 2) that help is available, and 3) that volunteer opportunities abound. KNP volunteers sign up to staff an information table for a couple of hours, explaining KNP's services throughout the region at community fairs and markets, Chamber of Commerce events, and local non-profit get-togethers.

Volunteers put up KNP POSTERS in all ten towns we serve, and they distribute KNP brochures, pens and magnets to post offices, town welfare offices, and all of the fire and police departments. If you know of a public space where neighbors needing help might see a poster or brochure, please email us!

Lastly, the Communications Team reaches out through ads in the Kearsarge Shopper, Intertown Record, and in local playbills and event brochures. We host KNP Meet-and-Greets in a variety of venues throughout our 10-town region, as well as a Summer Gathering for volunteers, donors and community partners. The team organizes holiday cards to go to our community partners and donors, and holiday and Valentine cards to go to the neighbors KNP is actively serving.

We thank the team members for all they do to promote KNP! If joining the Communications Team in any of their efforts sounds like fun to you, please email us and let us know what interests. you!

Community Resources on KNP Website

DID YOU KNOW that the KNP website has a robust list of community resources for people seeking help? We have consolidated a wealth of useful links. You can check it out here. Please, pass the link on to someone who might need this helpful information. Here are just a few of the listings:

• Jobs Assistance
• Legal Assistance
• Meals Delivered
• Medical Equipment (Temporary walkers etc.)
• Mental Health Resources
• Mortgage Assistance
• Pet Issues / Veterinarians
• Rent Assistance
• Senior Resources
• Social Security Challenges
• Substance Abuse Resources

Spring Cleaning Your Closets and Drawers?

WE HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH REPEAT BOUTIQUE in Andover, NH. Any spring and summer clothing you bring into the Repeat Boutique, located upstairs of the mini mart at the Circle K by Belletetes, can be donated to the KNP account. When the clothing sells, we accrue a balance that allows us to offer free shopping to our neighbors who need clothing. You get a clean closet, and our neighbors in need of apparel can shop free of charge when they most need it.

Have You Been Volunteering?

LOGGING YOUR HOURS on Better Impact after participating in ANY KNP activity, either by computer or phone app, allows us to track KNP's impact across the region. Simply click the "HOURS" tab and enter hours and/or minutes and a brief description of the activity.

**If you are not yet a KNP volunteer but would like to see opportunities to help, please call volunteer coordinator Beth at 603-317-5900 or email and she will cheerfully and patiently guide you through the process of joining us.

Follow us on KNP's Instagram Account: KNPNH2024