The Nutrition Pantry Program (NPP): Healthy Pantries, Healthy Communities

Imagine walking into a pantry for the first time and being met with warm greetings, friendly conversation, colorful posters, recipes and an array of healthy options to choose from. This is what the Nutrition Pantry Program (NPP) helps pantries to cultivate.

Guided by a trauma-informed lens, NPP provides a structured process for implementing neighbor-centered strategies for a health-focused environment in all types of food distribution. The program centers around six key areas of focus: Cultural and Dietary Accommodations, Community Connections, Inventory: Food Sourcing and Waste Reduction, Pantry Policies and Procedures, Nutrition Education and Environment.

The Nutrition Pantry Program is a national program from Leah's Pantry, a leader in trauma-informed food security programs, which connects food pantries to direct technical assistance from trained implementers. In New Hampshire, NPP is led through a partnership between the NH Food Bank and UNH Extension. Pantries that join receive personalized guidance to implement desired changes, strengthen their capacity and build upon the great work they are already doing.

One of the first pantries UNH Extension began working with was a small but mighty pantry supported by the Christa McAuliffe PTO and the Capital Area Food Access Coalition. As part of their work with the Nutrition Pantry Program, one of their earliest steps was to rethink the language they used, renaming the pantry the Family Center Market. This shift is just one of many ways they have shown their commitment to reducing stigma around food access, fostering a welcoming and dignified experience and building a healthy pantry environment.

Not only has the Family Center Market prioritized nutrition education through offering taste tests featuring pantry items, but they have also made notable improvements to the pantry environment, highlighting healthy options in engaging and accessible ways. Produce displays, nutrition education posters, shelf signage and recipe cards for common pantry ingredients all help guide neighbors toward nutritious choices. 

The Family Center Market has also worked to create a more culturally responsive space by gathering neighbor feedback along with translating surveys and select nutrition education materials into Spanish, Swahili and Kinyarwanda. Their team has been intentional about shaping a positive neighbor experience and recently participated in Creating Respectful Pantry Environments: Customer Service for Food Distributions, an online training on trauma-informed customer service offered in partnership between UNH Extension, NH Food Bank and the Capital Area Food Access Coalition.

The Family Center Market embodies the core values of the Nutrition Pantry Program - a community-focused space where neighbors feel welcomed, respected and can access healthy foods that meet their needs and preferences.