During the recently ended government shutdown, the Henniker Food Pantry saw a slight increase in local community members needing food assistance.
Debbie Desjardins Moskey, the food pantry director, said an additional ten families came through the pantry during the shutdown. Typically, the pantry works with about 140 families. It is available to the Henniker community and NEC students and staff in need.
While they’ve seen an increase in need, the pantry has also received more donations. The staff said the charity was likely connected to the national news about SNAP benefit uncertainty during the shutdown and a new digital donation option.
“This year it’s been excellent. We added a QR code onto our postcard mailing and I get an email every time someone makes a donation and I’m getting emails every day. We’re getting a lot of donations from the credit card company which is very nice,” said Bill Sullivan, the Treasurer of the pantry.
The Henniker Food Pantry has been running for 30 years and was started by the Congregational and Catholic Churches in Henniker in 1996.
Desjardins Moskey said cash donations are the best way people can help because it gives the pantry staff the ability to use their discretion to buy things that are most needed.
The White Birch has offered the food pantry a new home at the Cornerstone building on Main Street. It will relocate in the spring, and the current location will close. White Birch will provide electricity, computer and telephone needs, and the additional space that the staff said will make the food pantry run smoothly.
