On January 6th, John Boisvert, Susan Digman, Director of Assistance and Diana Lavash, President, Corpus Christi Food Pantry and Assistance, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding, the Corpus Christi Food Pantry and Assistance. The mission of the Corpus Christi Food Pantry and Assistance is to prevent hunger and homelessness. Located on Crown Street in Nashua in old convent of Infant Jesus Church.
- 2 directors Diana Lavash and Susan Digman- Susan provides spiritual leadership to clients to listen to emergency or trouble they are having. They have 2 paid employees and 75 volunteers who do shopping, sorting, greeting clients.
- Sponsored by 8 catholic churches with volunteers, food collections, financing.
- Local schools St Christopher’s, Bishop Guertin, Rivier University help with food to tackle Hunger and provide volunteers.
- Raise funds through grants, fund raising and donations.
- Process and supplying: Clients make an appointment. Fill out shopping list of available food and client circles what they and their family needs. Volunteer will shop for food on shopping list. Fresh food from Hannaford’s including deli, produce and baked goods. Provide 3 days-worth of food. Volunteers assist with translation. Many Hispanics. Also receive from NH Food Bank and from USDA. Special goods collections from Post Office and Boy Scouts provide large donations.
- Other special projects include special Easter food basket. Another parish provides Easter baskets to children. Also provide food for Thanksgiving meals.
- Handle 500 clients per month. 20 percent increase from a year ago.
- Susan then covered assistance program. Help each client compassionately. Rotary has provided grants to Corpus Christi.
- In winter provide socks and mittens in addition to food.
- Assistance with rent.
- Emergency dental. Work with Harbor Care dental program.
- Eye glass assistance and $25 gift cards for food and gasoline.
- Provide fans in summer
- 50% all assistance for rent. Work also with the Nashua welfare office.
- Have a group they meet with each month Nashua City welfare, soup kitchen, Front Door agency, Welfare Office, work with for financial assistance to clients. Sober living agencies.
Questions:
- Any restrictions on how many times client can provide services. On financial assistance it’s once a year but for food it’s every 21 days.
- What is Sober Living? For alcoholics and drug addicts who are not using. Provides temporary housing assistance.