Girls Inc. Earns $10,000 Grant For its Healthy Meals Programs

The Citizens Bank Foundation today announced it has awarded a $10,000 grant to Girls Incorporated of New Hampshire to support its Healthy Meals programs at Café Lauren in Manchester and Burke Street Café in Nashua. The program will provide more than 10,000 meals for girls and their families. The grant is part of Citizens Helping Citizens Fight Hunger, the bank’s program for helping eradicate hunger.

Established in 1974 in Nashua, Girls Inc. is a member-based organization dedicated to empowering girls ages 5 to 18 in the areas of personal safety, economic literacy, media messages and health issues. The organization serves more than 5,000 girls each year, offering enrichment and prevention programming through in-school and afterschool initiatives at its three regional Girls’ Centers in Nashua, Manchester, and Concord.

“Recognizing the growing issue of hunger in our communities, Girls Inc. stepped up with a practical solution by offering healthy meals and a safe place where girls and their families can eat together,” said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, New Hampshire. “Girls Inc. provides a haven where girls can grow and thrive. We are proud to support its efforts.”

According to Cathy Duffy Cullity, Girls Incorporated New Hampshire Executive Director, Nashua and Manchester are the two most populated cities in New Hampshire and face the greatest occurrence of hunger among girls and families in the state. Girls Inc. decided to start its dinner program at the Manchester Girls’ Center in 2004 after discovering some of the girls were taking extra snacks.

“When we asked them why, they said they didn’t have food at home for dinner,” said Cullity. “One girl would eat exactly half of her meal so she could take the other half to her 2-year-old brother, who was waiting at home alone.”

The program expanded to the Nashua Girls’ Center in 2010, as the need is also tremendous there.

“This generous donation from Citizens Bank will allow us to continue developing innovative hunger relief programs throughout Nashua and Manchester,” said Cullity. “Girls Inc. is committed to addressing the critical needs affecting girls in our communities. We are grateful for the continued support of community-focused organizations such as Citizens Bank.”

A team of Citizens Bank colleagues will volunteer regularly at the Nashua site. Girls Incorporated of New Hampshire and Citizens Bank have a long history of collaboration. In 2009 the organization was named a Citizens Bank Champion in Action, which included a $25,000 grant and extensive promotional and volunteer support.

To learn more about Girls Incorporated of New Hampshire, visit www.girlsincnewhampshire.org.
Citizens Helping Citizens Fight Hunger is part of the bank’s broader Citizens Helping Citizens program addressing five key areas: hunger, housing, economic development, financial education and volunteerism. Get more information about Citizens Bank’s community initiatives online.