Gather, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing hunger, opens New England's first community food center in Portsmouth, NH
18,000 sf space includes an expanded pantry and warehouse, production and teaching kitchens, demonstration gardens, a community gathering space, and offices
PORTSMOUTH – Gather’s new Community Food Center located at 124 Heritage Ave. in
Portsmouth is now open and will enable the nonprofit organization to provide healthy food to many more people in the region who are experiencing hunger. Gather is the largest organization in New Hampshire distributing food directly to community members, serving families and individuals from over 100 cities and towns in New Hampshire and Maine. An estimated 65,000 people are currently food insecure in Rockingham and Strafford Counties in New Hampshire and York County, Maine, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank.
At the ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 10, Gather Executive Director Anne Hayes told a large group of supporters, elected officials, and residents, “Our first priority in this new space is to serve more people much more efficiently. This expansion is in direct response to a rapidly growing need. We’ve been serving thousands of households each month and we were bursting at the seams. With the recent and impending cuts to federal programs like SNAP and Medicaid, the new center is open to the public just in time to address an expected surge in need that some estimate at +55%.”
Hayes went on to say, “Gather's new Community Food Center will enable us to both serve the line, by feeding more people, and shorten the line, by bringing in wrap-around support and offering education and workforce training to build skills and confidence. The expansion is the next chapter in Gather’s mission to nourish, educate, and empower individuals and families across the Seacoast region.”
Hayes says the organization has raised over $5.4 million and will continue to fundraise to reach the goal of eight million dollars to ensure the organization’s future through program innovation and building maintenance funds.
The first of its kind in New England, Gather’s Community Food Center is a welcoming hub where participants can make connections with each other and with resources and supportive services that can help them thrive. Gather’s Development and Communications Director Patte Ardizzoni says, “This space goes beyond a traditional food pantry model to provide holistic, dignified, and community-driven solutions to food insecurity. The Community Food Center centralizes and expands Gather’s services, bringing them all under one roof. We are so grateful for all who have supported the project.”
In his remarks, Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan MacEachern said, “There are so many passionate volunteers who make this model work. Creating a community is what Portsmouth is all about. We have a lot of people trying to make a better world. On behalf of the 23,000 people who sleep here - we’re so incredibly proud of what is happening at Gather.”
N.H. Congressman Chris Pappas told the large crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony; “This is a downpayment on our future. It's a sign of hope at a time when we feel so challenged as a society. It’s restorative to know people are in the trenches helping those in New Hampshire who are struggling. It’s impressive and inspiring.”
“Gather’s new home will bring our neighbors together around food and community,” said Tania Marino, Gather’s director of programs and strategy. “With this space, we can welcome additional donated food, increase the quantity of nourishing meals provided for our members, engage more volunteers, and launch a Culinary Workforce Training Program — all while strengthening partnerships with community stakeholders who share our commitment to supporting those in need.”
JSA Design, a Portsmouth architectural firm, designed the new gathering space and pantry market, and Olympus Culinary, a food service consulting and design firm, created the production and teaching kitchens. Sullivan Construction handled construction management. Gather’s leaders say they are grateful for their hard work in bringing this project in on time and under budget.
About Gather
Founded in 1816, Gather is one of the oldest social service organizations in the country and the Seacoast’s leading food distribution organization. Over the last decade, Gather has transformed from a traditional food pantry into a hub of innovative programs, including mobile markets that bring fresh food directly into communities. Today, Gather provides healthy food and resources to individuals and families from 119 cities and towns in New Hampshire and Maine. For more information, visit www.gathernh.org/
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