Verani Windham Agents Spend Day Supporting Food for the Hungry

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty (Verani) agents used both their time and treasure this May to ensure local residents in need don’t go hungry. A group of agents took time out of their hectic schedules of showing homes and closing deals to sort food for Food for the Hungry, a volunteer-run food pantry based out of the Hope Center at the Pleasant Street Methodist Church in Salem. They also delivered a $1,000 check, which will be used to purchase food and supplies from the New Hampshire Food Bank.

Phylis Marchulaitis, Food Panty Director for Food for the Hungry, said they serve an average of 50 families a week. They are able to purchase food from the New Hampshire Food Bank at a deeply discounted rate, and according to their formula they will be able to purchase over 10,000 pounds of food with Verani’s $1,000 donation. The pantry also has received enough donations this year to host a Fourth of July cookout featuring apple pie, ice cream, hamburgers and hot dogs for their families.

“Salem is a very generous town, and we get a lot of support from people like Verani’s agents,” said Marchulaitis. “We’re so appreciative of what they did.” She estimated that Verani’s agents sorted about 500 pounds of food, helping the pantry get organized after a slew of donations from the U.S. Postal Service’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Verani’s donation was made through its philanthropic and social development initiative, VeraniCARES. Verani agents and staff have the option of donating to VeraniCARES by either payroll deduction or from sales commissions, and Verani will match up to $10 per donation. VeraniCARES is supporting many community and charitable initiatives across New Hampshire and Massachusetts during the month of May as part of its May Day campaign, which dispersed more than $45,000 to those in need through nonprofits.

Food for the Hungry (FFTH) is an outreach mission of the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church and serves people in Salem, New Hampshire. Founded in the late 1970s by Oliver Eacker and led by Gretarose Barnes, FFTH offers healthy food in a safe, compassionate environment for those in need. Most of their food is purchased from the New Hampshire Food Bank using donations, and volunteers help staff the food pantry and coordinate food drives. They also collect back to schools supplies and hold a coat drive every October to benefit the families they serve. For information about how to volunteer or get involved, email phylism603@yahoo.com.

The VeraniCARES initiative kicked-off in 2015 and has donated $55,000 to local communities since its inception. To learn more about VeraniCARES, visit their website. Read more about the May Day campaign here.