WHAT IS THE GOFFSTOWN NETWORK?

The Goffstown Network is a community-based non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing the residents of Goffstown, New Boston and Dunbarton with food when a helping hand is needed. The Goffstown Network will continue to serve the residents of Goffstown, New Boston and Dunbarton as long as there is community support, financial resources, and there are neighbors in need.

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WHO IS THE GOFFSTOWN NETWORK?

The Goffstown Network is staffed entirely by volunteers who serve in many capacities. These dedicated volunteers allow the food pantry to open for 1.5 hours twice a week. In addition, the pantry volunteer organization provides holiday food programs during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, as well as a Weekend Food Program for Students.

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CURRENT OFFICERS

• MARK SULLIVAN, PRESIDENT

• ROGER FORTIER, VICE PRESIDENT AND PURCHASING COORDINATOR

• LIZ VEILLEUX, SECRETARY

• SHERI MOLONEY, TREASURER

• DAVE GREINER, PAST-PRESIDENT

 

BOARD MEMBERS

• DON DESCOTEAUX

• JOAN ALAYNE STEVENS

• JUSTIN SOUSA

• SUE BABINE

• PETER MOLONEY

• BARBARA MEIGHAN, PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS COORDINATOR

• BOBBY BLANCHARD

• CHRIS TOSTO

• MICHELLE BROWN​

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SPECIAL PROJECTS

• DIANNE MACON, WEEKEND FOOD PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN COORDINATOR

• SUE SACKETT, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

 

HISTORY

The Goffstown Network food pantry program originated within a local church, as an offshoot of the parish’s Community Outreach Program. In the mid 1970s, a modest food locker was set up and administered by parishioners of St. Matthew’s church. As the ministry grew, and as community needs and response increased, cooperative ventures developed between the St. Matthew’s Outreach, local schools, area churches, town officials and banks.

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Eventually, the St. Matthew’s Outreach Program expanded from offering just food assistance to the development and implementation of a Christmas Program, as well as supplying groceries for 1 – 2 weeks per month.

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The community response was overwhelming, as local and civic organizations joined the effort. As a result, an ad hoc committee was formed in order to investigate the formation of a separate new community-wide non-profit organization called the ‘Goffstown Network.’ The Goffstown Network was (and is) governed by representatives of the 25 member organizations. Out of these representatives, an Executive Board, consisting of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, was elected. In 1990, an incorporation application for the Goffstown Network was submitted to the state of New Hampshire.

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In 1991, a grant proposal was submitted to the United Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church, requesting expansion funds in order to hire a half-time administrator. Network made a major investment, hiring a coordinator from outside the Executive Board for one year, and now looked forward to having a formal office set up, procedures developed and implemented and the volunteer base coordinated. This resulted in the creation of the program that exists today. In 1993, the Holiday Basket Program was permanently placed under the Goffstown Network umbrella.

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Today, the Goffstown Network is a fully volunteer organization that has expanded its outreach to provide weekend food to children in Goffstown and New Boston. The pantry works closely with its communities by partnering with local businesses on food drives, giving youth groups service opportunities, and sharing our resources with other local pantries.