In the fifth year of Nothing Campaign, NH Food Bank and Citizens Bank aiming to exceed $500,000 raised and one million meals generated
BEDFORD, NH – With $500,000 and one million meals in sight, the New Hampshire Food Bank, Citizens Bank and Governor Chris Sununu, launched the 2017 Nothing Campaign today at the Hannaford Supermarket in Bedford. The statewide campaign features cans of “nothing” representing the reality that thousands of New Hampshire residents have nothing to eat. Over the past four years, the Nothing Campaign has generated $428,450 and 856,910 meals. In this year’s Nothing Campaign, the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities New Hampshire, and Citizens Bank are racing to provide more than one million meals for those in need. To learn more, visit nhfoodbank.org/nothing.
“Generating more than $100,000 in support each year, the Nothing Campaign has had a profound impact across New Hampshire. We are incredibly grateful for the generous support from Citizens Bank,” said Eileen Liponis, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank. “Together with key partners like Citizens Bank, Governor Sununu, and the people of New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Food Bank continues to make substantial strides in the fight to end hunger here in the Granite State. But with thousands of residents still going hungry, we have much more work to do, making the Nothing Campaign all the more critical.”
Citizens Bank and the New Hampshire Food Bank launched the Nothing Campaign in New Hampshire in 2013 to spread awareness and raise funds for those in need—and the need is growing. In New Hampshire, 139,730 residents, including 41,350 children, are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal is coming from. Throughout April and May, participating grocery stores are selling cans of nothing for $5 each.
“Food insecurity remains a pressing issue for far too many New Hampshire families, and the Nothing Campaign is working overtime to provide a safety net for families in need,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “The New Hampshire Food Bank lends a helping hand to Granite Stater’s at a critical time of need, and I am proud to stand here today with so many great partners as we work toward generating over one million meals for vulnerable New Hampshire residents. Everything helps, and any small contribution or hour of volunteering can go a long way to helping a neighbor in need.”
Cans are on sale now for $5 at 98 stores across the state, including all New Hampshire Hannaford, Harvest Market, Shaw’s, and Market Basket locations, as well as Sully’s Superette in Goffstown and Allenstown and Vista Foods in Laconia. Those who purchase cans are encouraged to fill them with donations and bring cans to the New Hampshire Food Bank. All proceeds go to the New Hampshire Food Bank to buy meals for the hungry. Last year, the Nothing Campaign raised more than $100,739 and provided more than 201,478 meals for those in need.
“With my income, it’s hard because half of it goes to the rent, and then you’ve got medical costs and utilities, and once that’s gone, you’re lucky if you’ve got $150 left over,” said Patricia Hicks, a New Hampshire Food Bank client from Manchester, NH. “If you can donate either money or canned goods, do it because you don’t know how many people out there are really struggling.”
Citizens Bank, the sole underwriter for the Nothing Campaign, has been an instrumental partner in making this monumental campaign a reality.
“It has been inspiring to watch the Nothing Campaign grow over the past four years and provide meals to thousands of New Hampshire residents in need,” said Joe Carelli, president, Citizens Bank, New Hampshire and Vermont. “No one person or organization can solve a problem like hunger. It takes a team effort and I look forward to working with this team to achieve the one million meals milestone.”
The New Hampshire Food Bank, which receives no state or federal funding for food distribution, continues to address the growing need in New Hampshire. In 2016, the New Hampshire Food Bank distributed nearly 13 million pounds of food to its more than 400 partners statewide, an increase of 55 percent over the past four years.
