Nourishing Youth Through Community Partnership and Commitment to Summer Meals

Recognizing that summer can be a challenging time for students who rely on school meals, the Carroll County Food Access Network (CCFAN), which was established with support from NH SNAP-Ed and NH Hunger Solutions, stepped in with innovative strategies to ensure all children thrive, even when school is out.  

The collaborative spirit of CCFAN is driving meaningful change. The community came together to unlock new opportunities to increase access to nutritious food during the summer; ensuring local youth and families have support year-round. 

Carroll County is home to compassionate individuals, resilient families, and proactive local organizations, all united by a shared commitment to helping every resident thrive. Building on these strengths, CCFAN and its partners set bold, strategic goals in response to a county-wide food access needs assessment conducted in 2023. 

One of CCFAN’s top priorities for 2024 was expanding summer meal programs, with a focused effort on reaching youth in rural and underserved areas. Through this initiative, Carroll County is taking a significant step toward equity in food access and a healthier future for all. 

A shining example of this collaboration happened in Ossipee, where local leaders, schools, and organizations rallied to ensure no child went hungry over the summer. During a town meeting, an engaged citizen proposed that Ossipee allocate funds to End 68 Hours of Hunger (End68), enabling this organization to deliver summer meals to youth. This multifaceted approach reflects the community’s deep commitment to making nutritious food accessible to all, regardless of barriers. 

Achievements through teamwork and determination:  

• Innovative Partnerships: CCFAN brought together Ossipee Central School (OCS), New Hampshire Food Bank, End68, Meals on Wheels, Ossipee Concerned Citizens, and White Horse Recovery Center to create a comprehensive summer food access initiative. These partnerships maximize the reach and impact of existing programs while introducing new solutions.  

• Expanded Summer Meals: OCS hosted a Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), providing free, nutritious meals daily to an average of thirty youth. To ensure no child was left behind, OCS also coordinated weekly food bag distributions, including fresh produce from the White Horse Recovery Center’s Garden, supporting families and youth who were unable to access the SFSP sites.  

• Community Outreach: Local staff and volunteers worked together to identify eligible youth and deliver food bags directly to their neighborhoods, leveraging resources like Meals on Wheels drivers and partnerships with community hubs such as Ossipee’s Public Library. Over 11 weeks, 637 food bags were distributed, with 85% reaching Ossipee’s most underserved communities.  

• Regional Impact: The success in Ossipee inspired neighboring towns, including Middleton, Tuftonboro, and Wolfeboro, to participate, demonstrating the power of a coordinated approach to community food access.  

These efforts nourished children and highlighted the resourcefulness and determination of Carroll County’s residents and organizations. By prioritizing strategic communication and collaboration, CCFAN and its partners turned the challenge of summer food insecurity into an opportunity to support local youth and strengthen community ties. 

In 2025, the Carroll County Food Access Network (CCFAN) is building on its success by expanding summer meal programs and delivery options, focusing on the Tamworth community. With leadership from SNAP-Ed teachers, CCFAN is mobilizing local resources and partnerships to meet this goal.  

A key asset already secured is a commercial kitchen at Remick Farm, which will serve as a central hub for meal preparation. The effort is strengthened by a coalition of committed local partners, including the New Hampshire Food Bank (NHFB), Bearcamp Center for Sustainable Community, Tamworth Recreation Department, Tri-County Transit, Tamworth Community Food Center, and KA Brett School. 

Together, these organizations are shaping an innovative and collaborative approach to ensuring that all children in Tamworth have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer, regardless of location or transportation barriers. 

The innovative model piloted in Carroll County offers a powerful blueprint for communities across NH seeking to improve summer nutrition access. In 2024 alone, an estimated 5,237 students who typically receive free school meals during the academic year missed summer nutrition support, resulting in a loss of approximately $510,124 in federal funding. 

Carroll County’s success demonstrates that with collaborative leadership and SNAP-Ed support, communities can effectively leverage local assets, forge strategic partnerships, and design targeted, place-based solutions to close these critical gaps. 

With commitment, coordination, and creativity, every community has the potential to ensure that no child goes hungry during the summer months, transforming seasonal challenges into opportunities for lasting impact.

The University of New Hampshire Extension is an equal opportunity educator and employer. UNH, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and New Hampshire counties cooperating. Direct inquiries to unh.civilrights@unh.edu. USDA this institution is an equal opportunity provider. The preparation of this document was financed under a contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services. This material was funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP.