11/03/2025
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L.I.F.E. Ministries received gold level certification
WOLFEBORO — L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry has been recognized as a Gold Certified Nutrition Pantry under the Nutrition Pantry Program (NPP), a nationwide program that combines the best practices of healthy pantry work with a “trauma-informed” approach. The program is sponsored by Leah’s Pantry, a California-based organization founded in 2006, and coordinated locally by the New Hampshire Food Bank. L.I.F.E. Ministries is one of only six food pantries in New Hampshire to receive this certification.
NPP applies principles and processes that promote a client and community-centered distribution. It lifts up the strengths of each pantry by offering technical assistance, resources, idea sharing, and connection to the community. The program measures six focus areas:
• Cultural and Dietary Accommodation: People of different backgrounds have access to food and information that fits their preferences and health needs.
• Nutrition Education: Clients, volunteers, and staff have access to nutritional and culinary education.
• Environment: Clients are warmly welcomed and healthy options are easy to access.
• Inventory, Food Sourcing and Waste Reduction: Healthy foods are prioritized for distribution. Pantries support a variety of waste reduction efforts.
• Community Connections: Pantries connect and collaborate with the community.
• Policies and Procedures: Policies and procedures are documented and align with a commitment to dignified, healthy distribution.
The program was coordinated by Tom Fiser, Vice President, and Diane Rock, Food Pantry Coordinator, along with volunteer Patty Walker, a Registered Dietician whose guidance on nutritional aspects of the program was invaluable. They worked closely with Meredith Howe, who coordinated the program for the New Hampshire Food Bank. Joy Gagnon, Health and Well-Being Teacher for UNH Extension who has been a long-time resource for the Pantry, has conducted nutrition classes for our clients. Blaine Kaiser, Operations Manager, and Kathy Davey, Food Coordinator, worked with the team to review our inventory and begin making adjustments to increase the availability of healthy food options.
“The Nutrition Pantry Program has been a significant achievement for us in two major ways,” said Bill Connors, the Food Pantry’s President. “From the nutritional standpoint, it is a big step toward focusing on nutrition education and increasing the availability of healthy food choices. We have an obligation to our clients to promote healthy nutrition, and we have an obligation to the donors who make our work possible to ensure that we are providing healthy food for our clients. Secondly, our Gold Level Certification is a major accomplishment. Our volunteers and our leadership team have worked hard to ensure that we have a highly functioning organization. This verifies that we are indeed operating at the Gold Standard.”
Connors also noted that our pantry staff – already a highly-motivated, hard working group of volunteers – was excited and inspired by the program.
“Thank you to everyone involved – not only the team who worked so hard on this program, but all of the volunteers who contribute so much effort to caring for our clients, and to Leah’s Pantry and the New Hampshire Food Bank for this recognition,” he said.
Although the Pantry has received this certification, the work is far from over; the NPP will be a program of continuous improvement, with periodic reassessments to be held in the future.
