Willing Hands

No one should go hungry when good food is available.

This simple idea sparked the founding of Willing Hands over 20 years ago, and it continues to guide us every day. We collect high-quality surplus food and deliver it—at no cost—to more than 80 community organizations across the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont that help our neighbors put food on the table.

Each year, this shared effort helps nourish more than 30,000 people and prevents over 1 million pounds of carbon emissions by keeping good food out of landfills.

Working hand in hand with local farms, grocers, markets, and wholesalers, we ensure their surplus perishable food doesn’t go to waste, but instead reaches those who need it: food pantries, senior centers, childcare programs, shelters, and affordable housing sites. For many of these partners, Willing Hands is their primary source of fresh food.

This impact extends beyond just food—it builds a stronger community. With the help of more than 700 volunteers, we also grow food together in four volunteer-powered gardens and harvest food from nearby farms during the growing season. Our volunteer program offers connection, learning, increases access to local foods, and is an opportunity for neighbors to nourish each other by working together towards a common goal.

This year, as federal food and farm supports shrink, the need in our region remains constant. More families are facing tough choices, and the organizations that support them are stretched thin.

Your support helps fill the gap.

Join us in making fresh food more accessible, reducing waste, and strengthening the web of care that connects us all.