Posted by Carole Huxel on December 15, 2009 at 09:35 AM in Goffstown

The following was posted on several media outlets following our Holiday Prgrams for 2009:

 
Goffstown Net work Says Thank You

     It has been a very busy year for us at the Goffstown Network food pantry.  We recently concluded our Holiday Food Program with the Christmas giveaway on December 18^th and 19^th, handing out more food baskets than ever before in our history.  To be able to accomplish such an ambitious feat so successfully, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to a number of people, businesses and organizations in our community.  While there are simply too many to mention in one letter, I wanted to take the time to say “thank you” to as many as I could. 

     To our regular volunteers, who devote much time, talent and energy to seeing these programs through: Holiday Program Coordinator Kristen Shaw; Treasurer Barb Herman; Volunteer Coordinator Dallas Lavigne and her husband Ron; Vice President Dick Wood and his wife Pauline; and Purchasers Roger Fortier and Jeff and Joan Stevens.  Without their tireless efforts, none of this would happen. 

     To the many folks who also made significant contributions, whether in time, building space, vehicle assistance, food donations or other:  Guy and Maureen Camire and Family; Joe and Sandy Piccione; Steve and Julie Grandgeorge; Paul Nault; Barbara Carbonneau; Fr. Gerry Bertin and the St. Lawrence Catholic Church Community; Frank Tibbetts and The Masons; Larry Brown and Karen Henderson of Goffstown True Value  Hardware; Rick Simons; Ron Deslisle; Doug Doster; John Denoncourt and Sully’s Super Market; Devriendt Farms; Jason Aguirry at Anheiser Busch. 

     The area schools have a tradition of conducting food drives in the days before Thanksgiving.  We are used to being wowed by what they were able to collect, and this year was no different.  Thank you to the administration, faculty, staff, the students and their families of the following schools: Mountain View Middle School; Maple Ave and Bartlet Elementary Schools; Glen Lake School; The Villa; New Morning School; Goffstown High School.  The Goffstown High School conducts their drive prior to Christmas.  As usual, they were able to collect and donate a tremendous amount of food and money in what has become one of the largest food drives anywhere in our state.  Special thanks to GHS faculty members (and student Council advisors) Sandee Nichols and Corinne Dionne and to the Student Council, for their hard work on our behalf.

     The number of families coming to our food pantry is at an all time high.  As I have come to expect during my tenure as Network President, our community has stepped up hugely to enable us to cope with the demand.  I can’t tell you how proud I am to be a part of this community.  Their generosity has been absolutely tremendous.  Many thanks to: Shaw’s Super Market; Frank Oliver and Viksters Pizza and Sub’s; Corey Paris and Apotheca Flower Shoppe; Luna Salon; The Goffstown Lions Club (for an incredibly generous donation); the Social Committee of Medville Farms; the employees of the Town of Goffstown; The Goffstown Screamin’ Eagles Youth Football Organization; the Vietnam Veterans Association; and many, many more individuals and families who made food or money donations during the Holidays.

     And last, but not least, to the all the folks, young and old, who came out to help us sort, pack and distribute the food, both in November and December.  Thank you one and all for your kind efforts!

     Please don’t forget; after the holidays are gone, we will still be here.  We expect high demand at the pantry for the foreseeable future. You can always donate food to our pantry at the drop boxes located at Shaw’s and Hannaford’s Super Markets or at our location in the Parish House of St. Matthew’s Church.  Monetary donations are also welcome, and may be sent to Goffstown Network, P.O. Box 603, Goffstown, NH, 03045.

David Greiner

President, Goffstown Network