Funding is continuation of Hannaford’s “Fuel Kids at School” initiative, which seeks to increase access to healthy, fresh food for students
Concord, N.H. (April 6, 2023) – Hannaford Supermarkets donated $50,000 to The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges to expand and support food pantries for students at the Community College System of New Hampshire. The funding will enable community colleges to renovate campus food pantries with new refrigeration and freezer equipment as well as additional food storage space to stock pantries with nutritious food. The upgrades will benefit thousands of students throughout the state who experience food insecurity.
The donations are one component of Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School initiative, a more than $1 million commitment to directly address food insecurity and improve access to fresh and healthy food by establishing food pantries for students in New England and New York.
According to U.S. News and World Report, 38 percent of students at two-year colleges and 29 percent of students at four-year colleges experience food insecurity, which is consistently higher than that of the overall population.
“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 Hannaford Supermarkets Vice President of Retail Operations Todd Bullen. “Our Fuel Kids at School program seeks to eliminate this barrier by supporting students on their pathway to success. We thank The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges for the work they do each day to increase food access for students in their communities.”
The Foundation will utilize $30,000 of the overall $50,000 donation to support its seven college campuses with individual needs related to their food pantries, including improvements to existing pantries and providing equipment such as freezers, refrigeration units and storage.
The remaining $20,000 will support the purchase of Hannaford gift cards for distribution to food-insecure students at the 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 of The Foundation. “We are grateful to Hannaford for their critical support and commitment to addressing food insecurity for our community college students. This partnership will make an immediate impact by providing the community colleges with financial support for ensuring they can better meet these needs at the local level.”
Since its introduction in 2019, Hannaford’s Fuel Kids at School program has provided funding for the establishment of more than 150 food pantries at schools throughout New England and New York. Hannaford continues to support the pantries through regular food and product donations in partnership with its food bank partners.
For more information about the Hannaford Fuel Kids at School program, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.
The Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges provides greater access to educational opportunities through financial assistance for student scholarships, program development and enhancements to facilities across New Hampshire’s seven community colleges. The Foundation actively seeks contributions from public and private sources to create scholarships and program partnerships that prepare students for in-demand, skilled jobs to meet the needs in the workforce.
Hannaford Supermarkets operates 185 stores in the Northeast, most with full-service pharmacies. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. All are committed to offering great fresh food, convenient experiences and everyday low prices. Hannaford also is an active and committed community partner—focusing on fighting hunger, supporting youth development, and helping people live healthier lives. Hannaford is an industry leader in sustainability with a strong commitment to reducing waste and protecting the environment. Hannaford diverts or donates all food at risk of going to waste—sending no food to landfills. In 2022, Hannaford donated 25 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations and prevented 65 million pounds of food waste from reaching landfills. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates and is based in Scarborough, Maine. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
