Friends of Mascoma Foundation

Friends Feeding Friends addresses food insecurity, nutritional well-being, and food waste across the Mascoma Valley region. As an agent of the New Hampshire Food Bank and a registered USDA food pantry serving Enfield and Canaan, NH, we operate three community-based pantry sites, including an in-school pantry at Mascoma Valley Regional High School, and provide supplemental food support to all four schools in the district. In 2025, we distributed over 117,000 pounds of food and personal care items, equating to approximately 97,500 meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity. Using an estimated value of $1.85 per pound, this represents more than $216,000 in direct food assistance delivered to our community. Our programs are designed to meet both immediate and long-term needs. We provide weekly access to two public pantries in Enfield and Canaan, distribute backpacks with food for students to take home, and ensure that households have access to a full week of supplemental food during school breaks. In partnership with the Mascoma Valley Ecumenical Council, we also coordinate annual Thanksgiving distributions for both school and community families. Additionally, through our participation in the NH Feeding NH initiative with the New Hampshire Food Bank, we are able to source fresh, locally grown produce-supporting both community health and local agriculture.

The Scholarship program awards one-time scholarships to graduating seniors who are pursuing further education, whether through four-year, two-year, trade, technical, or certification schools, as well as offering past scholarship recipients the opportunity to renew scholarships if funding is available. Candidates must submit an application. The Board of Directors then evaluates the redacted applications and votes anonymously to award scholarships. Scholarships are presented in person on Senior Awards night. Friends of Mascoma awarded $20,000 in 2025 to 16 graduating seniors.