Hannaford Supermarkets donates $100,000 to expand on-campus food pantries at community colleges in New Hampshire and Massachusetts

For Immediate Release                                                                                
February 23, 2023

 

 Hannaford Supermarkets donates $100,000 to expand on-campus food pantries at community colleges in New Hampshire and Massachusetts

 

Funding is continuation of Hannaford’s “Fuel Kids at School” initiative, which seeks to increase access to healthy, fresh food for students

 

SCARBOROUGH, Maine – Hannaford Supermarkets today announced $100,000 in donations 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 upgrades will benefit thousands of students throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts 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 through the establishment of 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 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 utilize $30,000 of the overall $50,000 donation to support its seven college campuses with individual needs related to their food pantries, including making 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 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 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 to support the estimated more than 40 percent of Massachusetts community college students experiencing food insecurity, according to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.

 

Amongst the Massachusetts 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. Along with stocking its pantry and on-campus refrigerated food storage lockers with nutritious food, the funding from Hannaford will enable Quinsigamond to maintain its refrigerated van that distributes food across campus to students in need. The donation from Hannaford will also support the maintenance of the college’s online ordering software, through which students can select and order food online.

 

“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 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.”

 

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.

 

In 2020, the program donated $35,000 to theFoundation for Maine Community Colleges, which used the funding to establish and expand food pantries for students across the state’s seven community colleges.

 

For more information about the Hannaford Fuel Kids at School program, visit Hannaford.com/HannafordHelps.

 

About Hannaford Supermarkets
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.

 

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Media Contact:
Caitlin Cortelyou
External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets
207.885.3132
caitlin.cortelyou@hannaford.com