More than 135,200 New Hampshire residents are struggling with food insecurity according to a new study, prompting the New Hampshire Food Bank to launch a new program offering crucial assistance to families in need across the state.

According to a study by Feeding America, nearly one in ten New Hampshire residents, that is 9.7%, are experiencing food insecurity, with children being particularly vulnerable, facing a rate of 13.4% in 2022, a significant jump from the previous year’s 8.5%.

Eileen Liponis, the executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, emphasized the pressing need to address this growing crisis.

“With food insecurity rising in a significant way throughout New Hampshire due to a number of factors, such as inflation and demographic disparities, we must meet the needs of our residents in every corner of the state,” Liponis said in a press release.

Food insecurity is not having reliable and consistent access to a sufficient quantity of affordable and nutritious food.

In New Hampshire, Coos County stands out with the highest food insecurity rates, reaching 13.3% overall and 21.1% among children.To better serve the North Country, the Food Bank will soon open a new warehouse space in Berlin with the capacity to hold up to 20,000 pounds of shelf-stable food, equipped with freezers and refrigerators that will cater to the storage of fresh produce, meats and dairy products.

On the other end of the spectrum, Rockingham County has the lowest food insecurity rates, standing at 8.1% for the general population and 10.7% among children. In Merrimack County, food insecurity affects 9.8% of the general population and 13.8% of children.

As summer approaches, the challenge intensifies, especially for children who rely on free and reduced-price school meals.

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To bridge this gap, the Food Bank is rallying residents and businesses to join its 2024 Summer Meals Challenge to provide support to New Hampshire families.

Beyond food distribution, the New Hampshire Food Bank is committed to addressing the underlying causes of hunger through its Recipe for Success Programs. These include Cooking Matters NH, free Culinary Job Training, the Fresh Rescue Program, a Nutrition Pantry Program, a Production Garden and NH Feeding NH.

Moreover, the Food Bank hosts weekly mobile food pantries across the state, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those in need right within their communities.

 The Food Bank is accepting donations, and those who wish to donate consider contributing some of its “Most-Needed Items.”