FRANKLIN — Twin Rivers Food Pantry is one of the larger full-service food pantries north of Concord. The Pantry welcomes people from any town in the Greater Franklin community whenever food is needed. 

Research shows that 7.4 percent of New Hampshire households are food insecure (New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute) and that 10 percent of New Hampshire children live in poverty (New Hampshire Community Action Partners). We are currently providing food assistance to an average of 650 household-visits each month. 

It’s not always easy for a person to make the decision to seek help. Twin Rivers is here to make using a food pantry a positive experience. An individual or family must register, and then they have access to fresh produce, frozen meat, farm-fresh milk, baked goods, and basic personal hygiene items. 

Each family determines for themselves what foods they go home with. The food meets an income eligibility requirement set up through the USDA, which can be done the first time you shop at the Pantry. At the Pantry, a shopper can choose among nonperishable food items. 

The Pantry received over 380,000 pounds of food from the New Hampshire Food Bank in Manchester last year. We pick up thousands of pounds of USDA commodity food, monthly, in Concord. 

We are part of the New Hampshire Food Bank’s Fresh Rescue program, allowing us to pick up donations from BJs in Tilton and Hannaford in Franklin six days a week. We also pick up weekly donations from Dollar General in Franklin.  

So far this year, the Pantry has purchased an average of 270+ half gallons of farm-fresh milk each week, in addition to 72 half gallons received from the Food Bank. We purchase fresh produce from area farms during the harvest season and also receive produce from the NH Gleans program and donations from area gardeners. 

We partner with area churches and civic organizations who donate nonperishable food. We hold several targeted food drives ourselves each year, and we benefit from donations from other organizations’ food drives, for example, the US Postal Workers food drive in May and the Boy Scouts in November.

While food remains the primary mission of Twin Rivers Food Pantry, we discovered several years ago that access to dental health and personal hygiene products for families are important needs, as well. Imagine not being able to clean your clothes to go to work or to send your kids to school! Imagine a shower without being able to clean your hair or not having a toothbrush!  

Imagine running out of clean underwear because of incontinence issues or the extra laundry load to clean soiled bedding and clothing! It is so easy to take these things for granted. People are making hard choices on how best to spend their money, and for many, personal hygiene items are a luxury. Purchases of hygiene items are not covered by SNAP (Food Stamps) or WIC benefits. 

Twin Rivers purchases diapers, toilet paper, menstrual products, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and other personal hygiene items. Our partnership with Earth Breeze, makers of laundry detergent sheets, helps eliminate the burden of having to choose between clean laundry and anything else, by providing access to detergent for those in need. This program is in its third year and has been very successful and much appreciated by our shoppers. 

We are grateful for the area towns who support the Pantry, and to the civic and faith organizations, as well as area individuals who donate food regularly to the Pantry. If you would like to help your neighbors, we accept all unexpired non-perishable food. 

We are currently in need of cans of low-sugar fruit, low-sodium vegetables, and small bags of flour and sugar. Many of our shoppers have pets, so we are accepting cat and dog food, as well. We appreciate any and all donations.

TRFP would love to show you around our facility and talk with you about what is being done at the Pantry. Please call to arrange a time for a tour, or if you would like to find out how you can shop at the pantry, reach out. Our phone number is 603 934-2662.

The Twin Rivers Food Pantry is located in the lower level of 2 Central Street in Franklin.  We are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 to 11 AM, and Wednesdays, 5 to 7 PM.