Manchester, April 17 --- Once again this year St. Mary’s Bank teamed up with the Manchester Monarchs Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Manchester Monarchs, to support The New Hampshire Food Bank. St. Mary’s donated $100 for every goal that the Monarchs scored on their home ice during the 2007-2008 season. The Monarchs scored 120 goals this season, resulting in a total contribution to the New Hampshire Food Bank from St. Mary’s Bank of $12,000.
On Saturday, April 12th, during the second intermission of the Monarchs game against the Providence Bruins, Ron Rioux and Tom Champagne from St. Mary’s presented a check for $12,000 to Melanie Gosselin, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Food Bank. Fans at the game were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the game as part of the Monarchs “Put Hunger On Ice” promotion, and over 1,000 pounds of food was raised from Saturday’s drive.
A program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities, the New Hampshire Food Bank serves as the only food bank in the state. Each year the Food Bank distributes over 4 million pounds of donated food to nearly 350 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care centers, senior citizen homes and substance abuse treatment centers throughout New Hampshire.
Last year St. Mary’s Bank donated $11,800 to the Food Bank through the “Put Hunger On Ice” program. Tom Champagne, Vice President and Director of Community Outreach for St. Mary’s, says that St. Mary’s appreciates the vital role that New Hampshire Food Bank plays. “Over 95,000 people in New Hampshire are at risk of hunger, and many are fed every year in pantries, shelters and soup kitchens,” he notes. “A vast majority of that food comes from the New Hampshire Food Bank.”
“We’re very grateful to St. Mary’s Bank and the Manchester Monarchs for their hard work all season,” said Melanie Gosselin, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Food Bank. “Thanks to the generosity of St. Mary’s Bank, the Food Bank will be able to provide over 48,000 meals statewide to help Put Hunger On Ice.”
“We are proud to partner with St. Mary’s Bank and the New Hampshire Food Bank for this annual event,” Monarchs Senior Vice President Cheryl Abbott said. “The New Hampshire Food Bank will now be able to assist many families in our community through the generous donations from the residents of Monarchs Country and our partner, St. Mary’s Bank.”
About New Hampshire Food Bank:
A program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities, the New Hampshire Food Bank serves as the only food bank in the state. The New Hampshire Food Bank continues to work and advocate for those who suffer from childhood hunger, especially those children who are underserved during the summer months where they have no access to school lunch programs. Our current approach to ending hunger includes developing programs to help educate our member agencies, rolling out a Mobile Food Pantry, and expanding our Operation Frontline program. Each year the Food Bank distributes over 4 million pounds of donated, surplus food to over 350 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care centers, senior citizen homes and substance abuse treatment centers. These member agencies in turn provide the food to the nearly 90,000 hungry men, women and children throughout New Hampshire.
About Monarchs Care Foundation:
The Manchester Monarchs take pride in serving communities throughout New Hampshire through financial support, recreational and educational programs, publicity and the involvement of our players, coaches, staff and mascot. It is our goal to be a catalyst for the community spirit and pride through our organization's myriad of community activities and our charitable fund, the Monarchs Care Foundation. Since its inception in 2001, the Monarchs Care Foundation has donated more than $1.2 million dollars in monetary and in-kind contributions to charitable organizations and is proud to make a difference in the lives of countless children and their families.