Hassan: Do Something for 'Nothing'

Gov. Maggie Hassan said too often residents face impossible choices: Food or rent? Food or medicine?

"Too often," she said, "New Hampshire residents go to sleep hungry with nothing to eat."

That "nothing" is the problem, said Hassan, appearing at a supermarket Tuesday to launch the NH Food Bank's "Nothing" campaign. The campaign slogan: Nothing is the problem. Nothing is the solution. Nothing is the campaign.

The governor urged Granite Staters to participate to help those less-fortunate neighbors.

Hassan was joined at Harvest Market in Bedford – where the program was formally announced – by Citizen's Bank President Joe Carelli; Mel Gosselin, Executive Director of the NH Food Bank; John Dumais, President and CEO of NH Grocers Association; Tom Blonski, President and CEO of NH Catholic charities; as well as several representatives from other participating partners such as Harvest Market, Hannaford, Jiffy Mart, Market Basket, Shaw's, Stop & Shop, Sully's, Vista Foods, and NH Liquor & Wine Outlets.

The New Hampshire Food Bank designed the “Nothing” campaign to heighten awareness around the state about the more than 140,000 residents who are food insecure. Cans of “Nothing” will be sold at retailers across the state for $5, and can then be filled and returned with donations. The cans of “Nothing” are sold empty to represent the reality that thousands of the state’s residents experience daily.

Of the estimated "food insecure," more than 40,000 are believed to be 18 years old or younger, according to Hassan.

See the NH Food Bank's website for more information on how to contribute or volunteer.