Hannaford Supermarkets has donated $100,000 to expand and support food pantries for students at community colleges in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
The funding will enable 13 community colleges served by the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges and Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges to expand and renovate campus food pantries with new refrigeration and freezer equipment, as well as additional food storage space to stock pantries with nutritious food.
The donations are one component of Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School initiative, a more than $1 million commitment to address food insecurity through the establishment of food pantries for students in New England and New York.
“There are many demands facing college students, but one often overlooked challenge is choosing between preparing themselves for the future and getting the nourishment their minds and bodies need,” said Todd Bullen, Hannaford Supermarkets VP of retail operations.
“Our Fuel Kids at School program seeks to eliminate this barrier by supporting students on their pathway to success. We thank our partners at the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges and Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges for the work they do each day to increase food access for students in their communities.”
The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges will use $30,000 of the $50,000 donation to support its seven college campuses. The remaining $20,000 will support the purchase of Hannaford gift cards for distribution to food insecure students at seven community colleges throughout the state.
“Food insecurity is a top challenge for many of our students today and can be a barrier to their studies and completing their education,” said Tim Allison, executive director, The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges.
“We are grateful to Hannaford for their critical support and commitment to addressing food insecurity among New Hampshire’s community college students. This partnership will make an immediate impact by providing colleges with financial support for ensuring they can better meet these needs at the local level.”
The Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges will distribute Hannaford’s $50,000 donation across six of its campuses to establish and expand food pantries, including additional storage space, commercial refrigerators and freezers.
Amongst the colleges receiving funding is Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, which will use the donation to expand access to food for the estimated 30 percent of its students who are experiencing food insecurity. The funding from Hannaford will enable Quinsigamond to maintain its refrigerated van that distributes food across campus and will support the maintenance of the college’s online ordering software.
“Our colleges are deeply invested in ensuring that our students’ basic needs are met and have done tremendous work to provide an array of wraparound supports, including establishing food pantries on all community college campuses in Massachusetts,” said Nate Mackinnon, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges.
“Through the generosity of Hannaford’s Fuel Kids program, our colleges will be able to support and expand the work on their campuses, and we’re grateful for their investment in our students.”
For more information about the Hannaford Fuel Kids at School program, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.
