The Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC)
Women Infants Children (WIC) offers income eligible families nutrition education and information in addition to vouchers that can be redeemed for food staples like milk, eggs, cereal and infant formula. Parents of children under five, pregnant post-partum and breast-feeding women can all benefit from WIC. Beginning in late 2009, cash vouchers to purchase those all important fruits and vegetables will also be issued to participants! Approximately 6,000 WIC participants are served at SNHS monthly.
Income eligible adults over 60, children between 5 and 6, and post-partum women may participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). As the title of the program implies, these foods are designed to supplement ones nutritional needs. Dry beans, cheese, juices, evaporated milk, dry milk, cereals, rice or pasta, canned fruits vegetables and meats are stored in our warehouse for participants to select from. These food items are purchased by the USDA and made available to us to distribute.
Community Gardens
Possess a green thumb? We oversee county garden plots located in Goffstown. If you are income eligible, you can get a plot free of charge, for the rest of the community a plot can be provided for a nominal fee. Growing your own produce may have added health benefits and lower your grocery bill. Generally 40 plots are made available. To grow your summer-squash tomatoes or other favorite vegetable or to learn more, contact us. Happy gardening!
Summer Food Service Program
Food that’s in when school is out! This program is designed to ensure that low income youth from school attendance areas where 50% or more of children receive free or reduced lunches may continue to receive healthy meals during the summer. Our Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) typically serves one thousand meals a day—now that’s a lot of smiles. At over twenty-five sites, children can receive a USDA approved meal for free. Some sites offer structured physical activity like basketball hula-hoops and soccer.
Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs
Beginning around June at their regularly scheduled appointment, WIC and CSFP participants can receive coupons to take to their local farmers market. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) enables participants to purchase produce with no out of pocket expense. The items purchased are a nutritious addition to a participant’s meal or snack and the farmers in turn, cash in the coupons at face value, adding to their profit gains.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and non-profit charitable organizations throughout Hillsborough County stock their shelves and feed their clientele with The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). We regularly distribute thousands of pounds of food right from our warehouse docks. Items like spaghetti sauce, tuna, dried cherries, beef stew and carrots are shipped to New Hampshire by the USDA for us to happily distribute to those in need. www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal nutrition assistance program that provides nutrition education and meal reimbursement for nutritious meals and snacks served to participants in day care facilities, such as child care centers, family day care homes and adult day care centers. Providers receive reimbursement for meals & snacks based upon the participant’s eligibility or location of the day care.
