Cultivating Community Through Pantry Partners

With food pantries facing growing demand and shrinking resources, one local initiative in the New Hampshire North Country is sowing seeds of change. Pantry Partners, a grassroots effort led by community member Martie Cooke, brings together volunteers, students, and local organizations to grow fresh produce for neighbors in need.

The project began when Cooke reached out to the community seeking support and collaboration. Casella’s NCES Landfill team, a longtime supporter of regional sustainability and service efforts, was quick to offer use of their greenhouse space to help kickstart the program and reinforce its mission to support local well-being in practical, hands-on ways.

Joined by senior intern Felicia Egnew, Cooke began planting, while students at North Country Charter Academy assisted in germinating seeds using their hydroponics system in science class.

“Our partnership with Casella has allowed students to flourish outside of the classroom. For many of our kids, getting themselves out in the community can be a challenge. Casella provided the perfect opportunity for students to find success and learn to believe in themselves,” said North Country Charter Academy Center Director Alexander Greene. “By utilizing the facilities at Casella, such as the greenhouse, students got real-world work experience that will help prepare them for life after high school. Casella’s commitment to supporting our local youth has been a major windfall for North Country Charter Academy.”

After maturing in the greenhouse, the plants were distributed to volunteer gardeners and planted by students during their experiential learning day. Once ready for harvesting, produce will then be donated to area food pantries, providing fresh, healthy food directly to those experiencing food insecurity.

Through shared time, space, and dedication, Pantry Partners has cultivated more than just produce, nurturing a network of neighbors growing stronger together.

“Here at NCES, we are excited to be able to provide support for local initiatives such as Martie’s pantry project and the North Country Charter Academy’s experiential learning program,” said Community Engagement & Outreach Manager Rebecca Metcalf. “Programs like these are what community collaboration is all about.”