Meals for Manchester

A way to help during the coronavirus pandemic

Southern New Hampshire University is committed to making a positive impact in our communities. Our home base is in Manchester, NH, where more than 4,000 employees live and work, and where many students live with their families.

In light of that commitment, SNHU partnered with the Manchester School District to distribute meals to k-12 students who rely on schools for food. This work was crucial for families around the city during school closures. More than half of students in the district qualify for free and reduced lunch, and officials estimate that many more could have additional needs as families face economic uncertainty caused by the spread of COVID-19. Meals for Manchester provided weekend meals, supplementing the Manchester School District's weekday breakfast and lunch delivery.

Our dining services team at Sodexo graciously stepped up to assist with meal production, and SNHU community members volunteered their time to distribute more than 7,000 meals each Saturday, from March 28 through June 20, 2020.

The University and its Board of Trustees committed $130,000 to support the effort; through the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations SNHU raised over $290,000 in total. A huge thank you to those who donated! Together, we were able to provide 96,000 nutritious meals to Manchester School District students in their time of need.

Thank you to our generous donors!

• Cogswell Benevolent Trust
• Norwin S. and Elizabeth N. Bean Foundation
• Aquilino Foundation Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
• Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
• Brady Sullivan Properties
• Cambridge Trust Company of New Hampshire
• Circular Blu
• Geneia
• Granite United Way
• Hooksett Area Rotary Club
• The Samuel P. Hunt Foundation
• The McIninch Foundation
• New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
• Sam's Club
• St. Mary's Bank
• Walmart
• And more than 175 individuals!