St. Mary's donates $11,200 to the New Hampshire Food Bank

Manchester--- Once again this year St. Mary's Bank teamed up with the Monarchs Care Foundation, the charitable arm of the Manchester Monarchs, to support the New Hampshire Food Bank. St. Mary's Bank donated $100 for every goal that the Monarchs scored on their home ice during the 2008-2009 season. The Monarchs scored 112 goals this season, resulting in a total contribution to the New Hampshire Food Bank from St. Mary's Bank of $11,200.

On Saturday, April 11, during the second intermission of the Monarchs game against the Portland Pirates, Ron Covey, President & CEO and Tom Champagne, Director of Community Outreach from St. Mary's Bank presented a check for $11,200 to Dominique Rust, COO of New Hampshire Catholic Charities. Fans at the Monarchs game on Saturday, April 4 against the Worcester Sharks were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the game as part of the Monarchs "Put Hunger On Ice" promotion, and 1,184 pounds of food were collected from this season's drive.

A program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities, the New Hampshire Food Bank serves as the only food bank in the state. Last calendar year, the Food Bank distributed over 5 million pounds of donated food to 384 of their registered agencies consisting of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care centers, and senior citizen homes throughout New Hampshire.

Last year, St. Mary's Bank donated $12,000 to the Food Bank through the "Put Hunger On Ice" program. Champagne 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.

"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."



  L-R: Ron Covey, President & CEO of St. Mary's Bank, Dominique Rust, COO of New Hampshire Catholic Charities, Tom Champagne, Director of Community Outreach of St. Mary's Bank, Matt Welch, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for The Manchester Monarchs.

About New Hampshire Food Bank:
A program of New Hampshire Catholic Charities, the New Hampshire Food Bank is the largest non-profit food distribution operation in the state. Committed to providing nutritious food for anyone in need, everyday the New Hampshire Food Bank solicits, obtains and distributes, donated and purchased foods to registered agencies that in turn provide this food to hungry people in New Hampshire. 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. Their current approach to ending hunger includes developing programs to help educate their member agencies, rolling out a Mobile Food Pantry, and expanding their Operation Frontline program and a Culinary Training Program.

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 their players, coaches, staff and mascot. It is their goal to be a catalyst for the community spirit and pride through the organization's myriad of community activities and their charitable fund, the Monarchs Care Foundation. Since its inception in 2001, the Monarchs Care Foundation has donated more than $1.4 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.