Driving through Lyme, New Hampshire, you might be taken by the lovely houses and the quaint scenery, but residents know a different story of this New England town. That story is one of deep and connected community. Lyme is also quite affluent, in the top 10% of NH towns for median income, and yet, to the surprise of some residents, many local families struggle with food insecurity. A global pandemic revealed this common and persistent need.
Six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic upended our daily lives. The outlook was grim, but in Lyme, like other towns, community members went into immediate action. Kathy Sherrieb, a long-time community volunteer, and her husband, quickly recognized the need to protect the most vulnerable – older residents. By April of 2020, the Lyme Food Pantry was born, with Willing Hands as an early and crucial partner. The group prepared food packages for pick-up and delivery for home-bound elders, meeting a critical need. Today, the Lyme Food Pantry is strong and growing, proving that silver linings are possible. Kathy and other volunteers came to see the ongoing need for a free food market.
Kathy’s eyes grew wide when she spoke about Willing Hands, “Of course they are exceptional, and completely unique!” She went on to praise staff and the sophisticated operations, “We just love Tim, our driver! We have a real connection with Willing Hands, and they have to take a lot of steps to get us fresh, high-quality food every week.” The Lyme Food Pantry now serves 20-25 families every Tuesday at the Lyme Congregational Church. It’s a joyful time each week where friendship and mutual care benefit everyone – volunteers and recipients, alike.