Workplace Benefit Solutions Raises $40K for NH Food Bank

Workplace Benefit Solutions (WBS) of Manchester, a HUB International Company, recently raised $40,200 for the New Hampshire Food Bank during the Sixth Annual WBS Harvest Golf Classic to support the 144,290 people in New Hampshire who are food insecure.

As part of Hunger Action Month, the annual golf tournament, which took place at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford on Sept. 14, raises critical funding to bolster the NH Food Bank’s efforts to provide nutritious food to those in need through its network of 400 statewide partner agencies. During the past six years, WBS has netted more than $230,000 to support the NH Food Bank. Nearly 130 golfers took part in the WBS Harvest Golf Classic.

“With the need in New Hampshire still growing, we are extremely grateful for this support from WBS and from the many participants and sponsors in this year’s WBS Harvest Golf Classic,” said Mel Gosselin, Executive Director of the NH Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH. “This incredible contribution comes right in the middle of Hunger Action Month, as we urge people, organizations and businesses to take action to combat hunger in New Hampshire. We will use this generous funding to deliver food and resources to the thousands of people in New Hampshire who are food insecure. It is staggering to think of, but of the 144,290 people who are food insecure in New Hampshire, 42,170 are children.”

During 2014, the NH Food Bank distributed more than 11 million pounds of food, which equates to 9,166,666 meals. Compared to 2013, that marks a nearly 30% increase in food distribution. The NH Food Bank, which receives no state or federal aid for food distribution, projects to distribute more than 13 million pounds of food this year. In addition to food distribution, the NH Food Bank’s approach to ending hunger includes developing outreach programs, such as Mobile Food Pantries, Cooking Matters, a one-acre Production Garden, and a Culinary Job Training Program.

“WBS is proud to support the NH Food Bank, which does such incredibly meaningful work to provide food to the one in nine people in New Hampshire who do not know where their next meal is coming from,” said David Larrivee, Principal of Workplace Benefit Solutions. “On behalf of our employees, clients and carrier partners, we are thrilled to have raised more than $230,000 for the NH Food Bank in the past six years through the WBS Harvest Golf Classic, and we know this funding has made a major impact on hunger in New Hampshire.”

On September 1, the NH Food Bank launched Hunger Action Month, which features a series of events, initiatives and competitions, to urge people to take action to do something about hunger in New Hampshire and nationwide. The NH Food Bank is working with Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks that coordinates the national Hunger Action Month, to manage the month of activities and events.

For more information on Hunger Action Month and the various events that will be hosted by the NH Food Bank, please visit: nhfoodbank.org/Hunger-Action-Month.aspx. For more information on the NH Food Bank, please visit: nhfoodbank.org.

Caption: Workplace Benefit Solutions of Manchester raised $40,200 during the WBS Harvest Golf Classic on Monday, September 14, to support the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH. The money will help the NH Food Bank combat hunger throughout New Hampshire, where there are currently 144,290 people who do not know where their next meal is coming from. Pictured here, from left to right, Thomas Blonski, President & CEO of Catholic Charities NH, Mel Gosselin, Executive Director of the NH Food Bank, and David Larrivee, Principal of Workplace Benefit Solutions.