Cornucopia Brings Holiday Warmth to Those in Need
UNH Food Pantry Begins Winter Food Basket Collections
 
By Lori Wright, Media Relations

As the days become cooler, thoughts of warm gatherings with family and friends and delicious holiday meals come to mind. The volunteers who run UNH’s on-campus food pantry, Cornucopia, are hoping faculty and staff will provide assistance to those in the campus community who need it.

Donated items to Cornucopia. (Courtesy photo)

“The Cornucopia Food Pantry assists the UNH community, students, staff, faculty and their families. We have a culturally diverse mix of patrons and customers. Fortunately, the generosity of the UNH and Durham communities has helped provide healthy food choices for people who have particular dietary needs and restrictions,” says Stephen Luber, manager of housing facilities and operations.

Started in October 1997, Cornucopia is a partnership of the UNH Chaplains Association, the United Campus Ministry to UNH, the Office of Student Life, the UNH Office of Community Service, the UNH Department of Residential Life, the UNH Department of Housing and the Community Service and Leadership program of the Thompson School. It is open twice a week — Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Fridays from noon to 5 p.m., and by special appointment — in the basement of Christiansen Hall.

Last year, Cornucopia served more than 600 people with food baskets, weekly needs and emergency items. The pantry typically serves about three to five families per week through its regular hours, and other folks in specific ways as the need arises. 

This year, the Food Pantry has begun an exciting new partnership with the Community Service and Leadership program of the UNH Thompson School under the direction of Professor Kate Hanson, with one class coordinating the donation of food baskets for thanksgiving, another conducting a needs assessment, and a third providing technology assistance.

This winter holiday season, Cornucopia is asking departments and individuals to volunteer to donate a food basket to a family. The food pantry distributes baskets three times a year: Thanksgiving, winter break and spring break. Each basket is designed for a family of four.

Last Thanksgiving, the UNH community provided enough food baskets – 45 – for all of the pantry’s requests. Typically, the three-basket period results in more than 150 baskets being distributed, with the vast majority of those baskets donated by UNH offices, departments, students and classes, community churches, members and businesses. The Food Pantry volunteers anticipate the need to be even greater this year.

“Someday we may live in a world where people do not have to rely on others for their most basic needs, such as food. But until then, we are extremely grateful to the UNH and Durham communities, which time and again have shown a high level of caring for all its members,” Luber says.

Food baskets should include fresh and organic foods such as vegetables and fruit, potatoes, onions, garlic, sauces, oil, rice, flour, oatmeal, tea, salt, spices and herbs, nuts, dried beans, dried fruit, raw and unprocessed sugar, eggs, milk, juice, as well as the traditional basket items. The pantry needs these items on a regular basis, as well as household and personal hygiene items, chicken, beef, fish and the occasional goodies. Thanksgiving and winter break baskets also should include more traditional seasonal items appropriate for those holidays. Gift certificates for the movies, local restaurants, ice cream shops, the hardware store and more also are welcome.

Departments or individuals interested in providing one or more baskets are invited to use their creativity and imagination when packaging the items. Use a basket, decorated box or any sturdy packaging.

Those who wish to donate a basket should e-mail any of the following four people: Marianne Fortescue at marianne.fortescue@unh.edu, Stephen Luber at stephen.luber@unh.edu, Larry Brickner-Wood at lbwood@cisunix.unh.edu, or Professor Kate Hanson at kate.hanson@unh.edu.  November baskets are needed by noon, Nov. 21 and December baskets are needed by noon, Dec. 20. Baskets will be dropped off and distributed at the Waysmeet Center at 15 Mill Road across from C-Lot.

Individuals who would like to donate food or other items can drop it off at the food pantry or at the Waysmeet Center and may contact Brickner-Wood at 2-1165 or Luber at 2-1889. Those who may need the food pantry on an emergency basis may also contact them as well. Donations of money and in-kind gifts are accepted anytime and are tax-deductible. For those who would like to support the food pantry in other ways, Cornucopia is seeking volunteers to help run the pantry and assist with fundraising, promotion and other community outreach events.