Concord - The Children’s Alliance of NH has announced the launch of NH Hunger Solutions, a statewide initiative working to improve children's nutrition and end childhood hunger in New Hampshire. A diverse coalition of advocates, business and community leaders is developing a roadmap consisting of short and long term strategies to share with government and human services agencies, policymakers, and families struggling with hunger. NH Hunger Solutions will build support to implement the plan and achieve permanent solutions.

The Citizens Bank Foundation has provided leadership funding to support this statewide plan. “We are proud to be a part of this coordinated effort to end childhood hunger in New Hampshire,” said Joe Carelli, President of Citizens Bank, New Hampshire. The Citizens Bank Foundation’s mission focuses on meeting basic human needs, and there is no more pressing issue impacting the well-being of children than access to nourishing, affordable food.”

Other funders include the NH Charitable Foundation and FRAC (Food Research and Action Center).
 
The face of hunger is everywhere throughout the state, according to new data from the UNH’s Carsey Institute.  Census figures report that 1 in 10 NH children, or approximately 28,000, live in poverty and do not have consistent, reliable access to healthy food.  This number has doubled in the last decade.  Correspondingly according to FRAC, 20.6 percent of NH households with children (1 in 5) experienced food hardship in 2010, more than double the number of households in 2003. 
 
“We are grateful for the generous support of our funders, and the leadership role provided by the Citizens Bank Foundation,” states Ellen Fineberg, Executive Director of The Children’s Alliance of NH. “We know that hunger compromises childhood, impacting a child’s ability to play actively, grow properly, learn at school and fully participate in life. NH Hunger Solutions will provide concrete answers to these questions: How can we make a difference? What can we do better collectively? And how can we, as a State, coordinate our efforts to permanently end childhood hunger?
 
For more information, please visit www.ChildrenNH.org.