Where does the Pantry get its food?  

The Peterborough Food Pantry receives food from various sources.

• The Pantry buys food from the NH Food Bank at reduced prices.  We supplement the food we buy from the NH Food Bank by making purchase from local grocery stores such as: Shaw’s, Market Basket and Hannaford’s.

• Once a month the Pantry will pick up food from the USDA. There is no charge to the Pantry for food from the USDA.

• The Pantry from time-to-time will buy shares in local agriculture such as the Cornucopia Project.

• Pantry volunteers also hold food drives at Shaw’s in Peterborough, NH a couple of times a year.

• The Pantry also receives food from the community, both individuals who donate food items and from local organizations who hold food drives and donate to the Pantry.

 

How does the PFP differ from other food pantries? 

The Peterborough Food Pantry is proud to be a pantry of choice.  Customers are free to choose what groceries they will receive and complete a grocery shopping list that is individualized to their needs.  The Pantry also offers fresh/frozen meat and fresh produce, and we have a limited choice of gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions.

 

What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry? 

A food bank is a nonprofit organization that safely stores millions of pounds of food that will then be made available to local food programs and community partners, like a food pantry. Think of a food bank as a hub and all the local pantries are the spokes. Food banks make it easy for community partners to obtain nutritious food to then distribute to their local customers.

A food pantry is an individual site that distributes food directly to those in need who reside in a specified area. A food pantry is a member agency of a food bank. A community pantry’s mission is to directly serve food to neighbors within a specified area. Both food banks and food pantries share the same commitment: to provide food to those in need.

 

Are there other food pantries in the area? 

There are several food pantries in the area. Some local towns with pantries are Peterborough, Antrim, Jaffrey, Temple, Greenfield and Greenville.  Those in need are encouraged to contact their Town Welfare Officer to find the nearest food pantry.

 

Does the PFP supply food to community supper programs? 

The Peterborough Food Pantry works in partnership with other organizations who provide meal assistance in the area, including weekly community suppers provided by the All Saints Church and the Unitarian Universalist Church in Peterborough.

 

Food Questions

 

How do I qualify to receive food from the PFP? 

Every customer at the Peterborough Food Pantry completes a registration form.  The form requires that the customer live in one of the 13 towns in our service area and provide proof of residence.  The towns in the service area are: Antrim, Bennington, Dublin, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Jaffrey, New Ipswich, Peterborough, Rindge, Sharon and Temple.

In addition, the customer is asked to verify that they are at, or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If they participate in any of the following programs they automatically qualify, such as: WIC, Food Stamps, School Meal Assistance, Social Security Disability, Medicaid or Healthy Kids Insurance, subsidized housing, fuel assistance are qualified. Military veterans with a DD214 automatically qualify. If a potential customer does not participate in any of the above services/programs, they will testify that their income falls within certain income guidelines. 

 

What do I need to bring to my first visit to the Peterborough Food Pantry? 

All that is needed to qualify to become a Pantry customer is to complete a PFP application and proof of residence in one of the 13 towns we serve (see the previous question for a list of the towns we serve).

 

What kind of food do you offer? 

The PFP offers food from all the food groups including meat & proteins; fresh produce; dairy; and bread, pasta & grains. The Pantry also offers a limited choice of gluten-free options for those with dietary restrictions.

The amount of food you will receive depends of the size of your household. Our goal is the provide you with 3-4 days of supplemental food to each household for a week.

A customer may visit the Pantry once per week.

 

Volunteer Questions

 

How do I become a PFP volunteer? 

Applicants must complete a volunteer application, which can be found on our website, under the “Give Help” tab.

https://www.pfoodpantry.org/pages/ways-to-help#volunteer

 

Can I volunteer at the PFP and be a customer receiving food? 

No, a customer receiving food from the Pantry is not allowed to be a volunteer.

 

Donation Questions

How do I make a monetary donation? 

A monetary donation can be made via our website using the “Donate” button in the upper right corner of the home page.  www.PFoodPantry.org.

Or a check or money order can be sent to:

Peterborough Area Community Aid

PO Box 116

Peterborough, NH 03458

Also, donations can be hand-delivered to the Food Pantry during our normal business hours at:

Peterborough Food Pantry

25 Elm Street

Peterborough, NH 03458

 

Is my donation tax deductible?  

Yes. PACA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law.  To claim your donation as a tax deduction, keep your email donation receipt and/or thank you letter as your official record.  We will send them to you on successful completion of your donation.

 

Can I donate through my donor advised fund (DAF)? 

Yes.  A donor advised fund is a centralized charitable account.  It allows charitably-inclined individuals, families and businesses to make tax-deductible charitable donations of cash, publicly-traded stock and in some cases, certain illiquid assets, to a public charity that sponsors a DAF program.

If you would like to donate through your DAF, or need the Pantry's EIN number, please let us know by calling the Peterborough Food Pantry at 603.924.3008 or email us at info@pfoodpantry.org for help in executing this donation.

Can I donate stock or mutual funds?

Absolutely.  In fact, donating stock or mutual fund shares is one of the most tax efficient methods of donating.  Making a gift of securities is simple.  Please call the Peterborough Food Pantry at 603.924.3008 or email us at info@pfoodpantry.org for help in executing a stock or mutual fund donation.

 

Will my employer match my donation?

Possibly, as many employers offer this support.  Please call the Peterborough Food Pantry at 603.924.3008 or email us at info@pfoodpantry.org for help in contacting your employer to see if they will participate. 

 

Can I donate food to the PFP?  

Yes! We accept all dry and canned goods that are unexpired and unopened. We just ask that you date check your items before bringing them to the Pantry. And that the food is in their original packaging and are completely sealed. Opened item will not be accepted.

Please call ahead or email us if you have a large load of donations from a food drive so we can make proper arrangements to receive your donation. 

 

Is my personal information kept confidential?

The Peterborough Food Pantry respects the confidentiality of their donors.  We do not share our list of our donors. Protecting the privacy of our donors is paramount to the Pantry. If a donor wishes to remain anonymous, we will adhere to that request.

 

What is Peterborough Area Community Aid, Inc? 

Peterborough Area Community Aid, Inc. (”PACA”) is the umbrella organization that operates the Peterborough Food Pantry, Emergency Aid and Hungry Students programs.  Peterborough Area Community Aid was previously known as The Peterborough Human Resource Fund but we changed the name in 2024.

 

I have additional questions about  the Peterborough Food Pantry. Who should I contact?  

By all means let us know how we can help.  Please call the Peterborough Food Pantry at 603.924.3008 or email us at info@pfoodpantry.org if you have any questions. 

 

To donate by credit card: