NASHUA – The Nashua Soup Kitchen and Shelter has recently implemented changes in the continuing atmosphere of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Executive Director Michael Reinke, recent staffing issues have led to a change in day-to-day scheduling moving breakfast formerly held in the morning from 7-8 to 8:30-9:30, shifting pantry hours to 1-3 in the afternoon, but keeping dinner at 4-6 pm.

“We rely on over 1,000 volunteers per year, but the majority of our volunteers are over the age of 70,” Reinke said, “but we want them around so we don’t have them come in” due to the heightened risk if they were to catch COVID-19.

Despite an increase in individuals staying in the shelters, the shelter remains open.

“All of our family spaces were full last night,” said Reinke, “we had one bed free for single men and a couple beds free for single women.”

On the side of good news, the NSK&S has been receiving extremely high volumes of donations of fresh produce from the recent closure of restaurants in an effort to maintain social distancing.

“Restaurants keep saying ‘we’re going to give you all of our fresh produce,’ which is awesome … more than we can actually give away … but it’s not going to keep happening,” Reinke said,

As Denny’s remains open for take-out options, the diner chain is offering a breakfast match program. When two breakfasts are purchased, one is donated, which resulted in the donation of 20 breakfasts to NSK&S on Monday.

In the meantime, NSK&S along with the Boys&Girls Club, has been helping to bring produce and frozen meals to eight different locations where the school district is providing free lunches Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

While donations appear to be abundant right now, Reinke fears for the not-too distant future.

“The issue is when all the people who are unemployed and can’t pay their bills start coming in,” he said, “our peak demand is probably going to be in about 3-4 weeks from now, when we’re going to be short on supplies.”

For more information the NSK&S website at nsks.org.

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