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Not many can claim a legacy impacting 1.3 million people, but Howie Knight can. After 20 years of service, he just stepped down as the Wakefield Food Pantry's President from 2016-2023.
Knight's warmth, energy and commitment bred success, but Knight deflects credit to his community and volunteers. Since the pantry's formal incorporation in 2004, it's provided more than 1.3 million meals. The feat narrowly exceeds Janet Miller, who retired as WFP's Operations Director after 19 years in 2022, Knight is the last of WFP founders.
Tragically, hunger is real and persistent in the Granite State. Currently, 1 in 15 NH people (1 in 12 kids) now face hunger, according to Feeding America. The NH Food Alliance identifies "1-in-6 NH households as food insecure" - more than 2X since 2020. While hunger is on the rise, major food providers, like NH Food Bank (a Catholic Charities program with 400 NH agency partners like WFP; Manchester, NH) and the USDA have cut back up to 60 [ercemt n their monthly pantry provisions. This adds enormous pressures on all food pantries struggling to make up that support locally.
Knight returned to WFP this week to accept a grant he applied for and hold court with some key stakeholders. This included the ministers at The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist (StJB), Parson Kit Wang, and Rev. Larry Brickner-Wood of the First Congregational Church (FCC) of Wakefield - both honorary WFP Directors. Lead WFP volunteers, like Marilou McLean, Brian Shipley, Tom O'Neill and others, also attended.
Marilou Maclean, WFP Operations Director, led the walk-thru meeting with a tour of the 2,200 square foot facility and shared logistics and statistics. "On average, we serve about 180 people and provide up to 15 meals per person every week," reported MacLean. She acknowledged, "Our biggest and on-going struggle is simply keeping food on the shelf."
Thankfully, WFP has always had great business partners, generous contributors, and a fleet of 75 amazing volunteers that make it one of NH's best 35 food pantries. The Poor People's Pub, Lovell Lake Market, Blue Bay Restaurant, Knotty Pine, and Hannaford are among WFP's most supportive partners.
"Our churches, especially the FCC and St John's, have always stood by us and we so appreciate their year-round food donations and support," said MacLean. Along with their food basket, StJB presented Howie a $2,000 grant from their 2023 EpiscoGolf children's charity raffle to help fund WFP's Food-in-Time (FIT) program, specifically to help feed local kids in need.
Howie Knight then shared WFP's astonishing beginnings in testament to the generosity of the entire community. The Wakefield Food Pantry dates back to the early 2000s, when it was originally in the Wakefield Town Hall, inspired by then StJB's Father Peter Faas. The pantry next moved (~2004) to share the current Wakefield Parks and Rec building, but by 2010 it was clear it again outgrew its space.
Thanks to the vision of devoted WFP founders -- including Maggie Kennedy, David Schweitzer, Janet Miller and Howie Knight, -- a special grant challenge and much collective support, the dream of a dedicated pantry came to fruition at 1500 Wakefield Road in January 2013. The Royal Little Foundation provided WFP founders with a $100,000 grant challenge, IF the town could raise $50,000. "In less than six months, our Wakefield community raised $66,000, local contractors donated more than $88,000 (time and materials) and the townspeople voted 86% in 2012 in favor of an incredible 99-year property lease for $1," said Knight, standing beneath the big check. The 1-acre lot between the highway department lots also allowed the pantry to start its garden to provide fresh produce in season for WFP recipients. Knight reflected, "Our (WFP) founders worked together to lay out a vision for the pantry and that is what the pantry is now."
Knight also quietly admitted his doctor recommended he 'cut back a bit' on his community service after a recent health concern. At 76, Knight was active on five boards including the WFP, Wakefield Budget Committee, Wakefield's Trustee of the Trust Fund, Pine River Pond Association and Wolfeboro's Huggins Hospital. Knight then handed over the keys but assured all he "wouldn't be going away anytime soon," as clearly WFP remains his passion.
"It's truly remarkable what Howie's team has achieved at WFP the last two decades," commented WFP's new President, Tom O'Neill, of MoxDog Marketing Group, as he accepted the keys. "I'm so thankful as it's a lot easier to maintain the strong foundation they've laid than build it."
WFP also continues to improve and expand. The non-perishable brown donation drop box - open 24/7 -- has been moved to the pantry's front door recently for easier and safer access. The pantry's back- yard garden gained a shed this year. Most importantly, WFP extended its reach to help Middleton residents and has evolved into a regional food pantry.
The Wakefield Food Pantry's annual complete Holiday Dinner Box giveaways also remain an essential favorite. Thanks to an anonymous turkey sponsor each year, nearly 100 Thanksgiving dinner boxes (for 410 people in 6 towns!) were distributed on Nov. 18. WFP's Christmas dinner boxes - and a glimpse at Saint Nick & Mrs. - are on deck at WFP for Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-noon.
The Wakefield Food Pantry (www.wakefieldfoodpantrynh.org) serves the villages of Wakefield and the nearby communities of Brookfield, Milton, Effingham, Middleton (new) and Newfield, Maine.
Entirely volunteer driven, WFP (603-522-3094) is open Wednesday, 10 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm.
As always, unexpired food - especially cereal and soups -- and monetary donations are needed and most appreciated. Donations can be dropped off at 1500 Wakefield Rd, Wakefield, NH. Donations can be sent to the Wakefield Food Pantry (PO Box 426, Sanbornville, NH 03872).
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