The New Hampshire Food Bank, the only food bank in the state, opened its doors on World Food Day in 1984. Its mission is to feed hungry people by distributing nutritious food through its statewide network of over 400 partners agencies, including food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, children’s programs, senior centers, and more. In turn, these agencies, many of whom receive approximately 50% of their food from the NH Food Bank, provide direct hunger relief to those experiencing food insecurity in all 10 New Hampshire counties.

In addition to food, the NH Food Bank offers innovative programs designed to fight the root cause of hunger. These initiatives empower people to learn new skills, which enables them to become more self-sufficient and improve their quality of life. One of those programs is the Recipe for Success Culinary Job Training program, which State Farm supports through funding and volunteer service. This no-cost, open-enrollment job training program teaches students kitchen fundamentals, such as equipment operation, knife skills, safe food handling and sanitation, as well as nutrition, job-search and interview skills and basic financial education. The program mainly supports low- to moderate- income adults who are unemployed or under-employed.

“Part of our mission at State Farm is to help people realize their dreams and one of our philanthropic focuses is to support those facing food insecurity,” says State Farm Corporate Responsibility Analyst Jennifer Young. “Providing people in need with a free, valuable program like this helps put them on the path for successful futures. Also, in addition to our funding, local State Farm agents volunteer alongside the students and prepare food in the Food Bank’s kitchen. We are proud to support this important initiative.”

The Culinary Job Training program runs for eight weeks, and more than 545 students have graduated from the program since 2008.

“The NH Food Bank would not be able to do the work we do without our volunteers,” said Eileen Liponis, Executive Director, NH Food Bank. “We are grateful to State Farm and their agents for their support. By volunteering in our Recipe for Success Culinary Job Training Kitchen, State Farm agents help fight hunger across the state, contributing to the approximately 5,000 nourishing meals a week that our Recipe for Success Culinary Job Training Kitchen prepares for NH Food Bank partner agencies like after-school programs.”

Visit the NH Food Bank website for more information on the Recipe for Success Culinary Job Training program.