The Granite YMCA Receives $100,000 Grant for Summer Meals Program
Posted 07/21/2020
Manchester, NH – (July 21, 2020) The Granite YMCA is responding to the dramatic surge in requests for food assistance during the COVID-19 crisis and is honored that Nourishing Neighbor Shaw's Foundation is helping to make it happen. The Granite YMCA announced today that it received a $100,000 grant from the Help Feed Kids and Families During Summer Program to fight hunger during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. The campaign is part of Shaw's Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief Initiative.
Research shows that more than 22 million children in low-income communities receive free or reduced-cost meals during the school year, but only 3.8 million have access to meals while school is out. To help fill the summertime gap and ensure fewer children go hungry, the YMCA of Downtown Manchester, in partnership with the Manchester School District, will provide food and personal items to children and families in the community. Weekend meal bags may be picked up on Fridays from 4:30 – 5:30 pm at the Teen Center entrance at 42 Stark Street in Manchester. For additional Friday pick up locations, please follow the Manchester School District’s Facebook page.
“At the Y, we are focused on keeping kids mentally and physically active. Our goal is to ensure youth have access to healthy food so that they’re well-nourished while also helping to provide relief for parents so that they can focus on other needs within the household,” Jessica Riendeau, Community Outreach Director at The Granite YMCA. “We’re grateful that Shaw's Foundation stepped up to help us meet the need.”
Shaw's Nourishing Neighbors Community Relief Initiative was established to help local families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and beyond. All funds are used to address the emergency in the following ways:
- Keep food banks stocked so they can respond to increased demand
- Support emergency meal distribution programs at schools
- Support senior centers and other programs that provide meals and food to seniors
- Help families access federal food programs
The Y is committed to nurturing the physical, mental and social-emotional development of youth and is working to ensure that all kids have access to nutritious meals, so they can continue to be healthy and thrive when out of school. This initiative is in addition to the weekday grab and go meals at the YMCA of Downtown Manchester Teen Center and weekend meal distribution in collaboration with the Manchester School District and Southern New Hampshire University. Since March 2020, the Y has helped prepare and distribute over 6,000 nutritious meals to help keep children healthy and well-nourished during this difficult time for many families.
For more information, please visit our website at www.graniteymca.org or contact Jessica Riendeau, Community Outreach Director, at 603.232.8623 or jriendeau@graniteymca.org.
YMCA staff helping to distribute and prepare bagged meals for Manchester families.
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About The Granite YMCA
As one of the state’s longest standing and most enduring non-profits, The Granite YMCA focuses on youth development, healthy living, social responsibility, and family strengthening. Across the state, its six branches engage 30,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to improve their health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. In 2018, The Granite YMCA provided financial assistance and free services valued at over $1.8 million to 21,510 individuals. To learn more, please visit www.graniteymca.org.
About Albertsons Companies
Shaw’s is working to become the Favorite Local Supermarket™ in every state in which it operates. Shaw’s is one of the oldest continuously operated supermarkets in the United States with its roots dating to 1860. Throughout the five New England states, there are nearly 130 Shaw’s store locations employing approximately 16,000 employees. For more information about Shaw’s, please visit www.shaws.com or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Shaws.
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