Food insecurity in New Hampshire is rising…again. After the COVID-19 pandemic aid briefly lowered hunger rates, food insecurity has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with more than 42,000 Granite State households struggling to afford enough to eat. The effects are far-reaching, ranging from health challenges to educational setbacks for children. 

A new analysis from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute warns that the problem could worsen. Under recently passed federal changes in the new federal reconciliation law passed in July, 4,000 Granite Staters could lose SNAP food assistance due to new work requirements and red tape, and more program costs will be shifted onto the state. 

In the latest episode of New Hampshire Uncharted, host Gene Martin sits down with three leaders on the frontlines of fighting hunger: 

• Laura Milliken, Executive Director, NH Hunger Solutions 

• Elsy Cipriani, Executive Director, NH Food Bank 

• Kyle Repucci, Principal, Broken Ground School in Concord 

The State of Hunger in New Hampshire 

“Food insecurity is not having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food,” explained Laura Milliken. “We’re not necessarily talking about people who have nothing in their houses to eat all the time… One parent described to me ‘open-faced meals’ – eating sandwiches with one piece of bread to make it last. Another parent said she would wait until her children had eaten and then eat the leftovers from their plates.” 

Milliken pointed to the rising costs of housing, child care, health care, and food as factors that are “hitting people hard.” 

Food Bank Strain and Community Need 

At the New Hampshire Food Bank, demand is climbing while funding is shrinking. 

Elsy Cipriani shared: “Compared to last year, our agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters have seen an increase of over 12 percent. Our procurement manager is spending the entire food purchasing budget this year, which never used to happen.” 

She added that the loss of federal support for the New Hampshire Feeding New Hampshire program has made it harder to provide families with fresh, local food. “Even though we are raising funds, we are still filling the gap from the funding we lost.” 

School Meals and Student Success 

At Broken Ground School, hunger shows up in the classroom. 

“When students aren’t accessing their curriculum, it’s usually big feelings in little bodies… and the root cause a lot of times is that they’re hungry,” said Kyle Repucci. “They either didn’t have breakfast, or they were too bashful to go for breakfast at school.” 

Nearly one in four NH students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, yet barriers remain. Milliken noted that “Statewide, only 47 percent of eligible kids are eating school breakfast. That’s about 14,000 kids who could be eating but aren’t…Once kids feel the stigma, they’re not going to participate even if they’re hungry.” 

Repucci described how his school has introduced a “second-chance breakfast” to reduce stigma and ensure more kids get fed. “It gives students another opportunity to fill up and then access their curriculum.” 

Why SNAP Isn’t Reaching Everyone 

SNAP and WIC are essential, but are underused in New Hampshire. 

“We estimate only about 32 percent of people eligible for SNAP are participating,” Milliken said. “And WIC serves just over half of those eligible.” 

For those enrolled, benefits often fall short of expectations. “In 2024, the average SNAP benefit in New Hampshire was $167 per month – that’s $5.49 per person per day,” Milliken explained. “It’s only about a third of the cost of a modestly priced meal in New Hampshire. People run out of benefits by the third week of the month.” 

Hunger in Rural NH 

In rural areas, challenges multiply. 

“Families don’t have access to grocery stores like in the bigger cities,” Cipriani said. “They rely on convenience stores that often don’t offer nutritious food. There’s no public transportation. And there are fewer food pantries and soup kitchens.” 

She also flagged stigma: “People are afraid to ask for help or think it will be a waste of their time. There’s so much misinformation about benefits like SNAP.” 

What Gives Hope 

Despite the challenges, each guest reflected on reasons for hope. 

• Kyle Repucci: “Every other Friday, our teachers volunteer outside school hours to run a mobile food pantry.” 

• Elsy Cipriani: “I am seeing more collaboration and partnerships. Food is just part of the puzzle – we need affordable housing, health care, and more. Seeing people more open to working together gives me hope.” 

• Laura Milliken: “We help coordinate food access coalitions across the state. Communities are working together, and we can make the change we need to get people fed. In New Hampshire, it’s not that hard to end poverty. There really are solutions.” 

(To request a full transcript of this episode, please contact info@nhfpi.org.)