Food services are available to all in need within the greater Nashua area. No identification is required.
 
Breakfast: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Dinner: Monday – Saturday, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Sunday, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
 

Food Pantry

Please do not arrive early, you will be turned away. Remember to bring along your own shopping bags to carry your food items. NSKS does not provide bags.
 
Perishable Items: Fruits, veggies and bread are available Monday through Friday, 11 am – 2:45 pm. There is a limit of two pantry visits per week.

Food boxes: Eggs, meat, and nonperishable items are available Monday through Friday 11am – 2:45 PM. There is a limit of one box per month.

We are the only local shelter providing emergency family shelter. NSKS serves all clients without need for identification and emphasizes non-discriminatory practices.

Shelter: Emergency shelter and services are available for homeless single men, single women, and families with children.

Emergency Shelter is first come, first serve. For questions or to check availability of shelter, please call (603) 889-7770

The goal of this program is to help at risk individuals overcome barriers to employment.
For support in any of the following areas, please contact Employment and Education Advocate, Donna Marceau:
donna@nsks.org
(603) 889-7770 ext 117

Employment Services

1. Consultation, intake and referral:
   Meet with our Employment & Education Advocate Donna Marceau to determine what is available to you. Donna will help to assess strengths, weaknesses, barriers and opportunities, and help you map a path to achieving your goals.
2. Employment Preparation:
   Our Advocate will provide guidance on how best to prepare and search for employment, this includes obtaining proper ID’s, developing an effective resume, coaching on proper demeanor and attire, and identifying appropriate job searching strategies.
3. Employment Placement Assistance:
   Our Advocate will monitor job search and advise potential strategies for improvement, as well as avenues for opportunity.
4. Employment Retention:
   Our Advocate will provide follow up consultation to facilitate job retention and determine possible nest steeps for vocational development.

Identification and Documentation

Birth certificates and IDs:
Only individuals who are homeless are eligible for financial assistance. Financial assistance may not be used for fines or reinstatement fees.

Education

Vocational Training: Homeless individuals receive appropriate consultation support and referrals in identifying programs that they can complete to improve employment prospect.

Transportation Support

Bus Tickets: Eligible clients may receive bus tickets for the use of obtaining employment. Goals must be identified in advance and progress must be reported to continue use of this service. Only needs directly applicable to employment are eligible requests.

Bike Donations: Clients may apply to receive a donated bicycle. This program is entirely dependent on available resources. All applicants are considered simultaneously, based on need, ability and utilization requirements.

Supplies for Work

Based on donation availability or grant eligibility, clients may be eligible to receive supplies needed to maintain employment. This may include but is not limited to: work gloves, work boots, tools, computer supplies, professional stationary, software, interview clothes, non-slip shoes, scrubs and other work-related items.

For support in these areas, please contact:
Director of Housing Services, Olga Cruz
olga@nsks.org
(603) 889-7770 ext 112

Assistance is offered in limited quantities for the following services:

• Financial assistance for emergencies to prevent homelessness
• Assistance in accessing housing subsidies, welfare benefits and other programs
• Assistance in landlord mediation and negotiation
• Referrals to parenting classes, 12-step programs and counseling

Personal care items are available to Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter clients. No identification is required. A family or individual can request a toiletry bag once a month through the pantry. Toiletry bags are filled with whatever donations we have on hand.

Diapers: Available Monday through Friday, 11am – 2:45pm (quantities are limited).

Hygiene Products: Available Monday – Friday, 11am – 2:45pm. Items such as razors, shampoo, soap, toilet paper and tooth paste. Personal care bags are limited to once a month.

Shower: Available for unsheltered persons. Walk-ins welcome Monday – Friday from 8:30am – 3pm.

Laundry: Available for unsheltered persons. Walk-ins welcome Tuesdays & Thursdays from 8:30am – 3pm.

Thanksgiving Food Boxes: Each November, the pantry distributes approximately 1,100 food boxes and turkeys to individuals and families assuring that they will have holiday meals in their homes.

Holiday Boxes: And in December, another 800+ food boxes are distributed along with turkeys and other classic holiday foods.

Library: Our “Dining Room Library” offers books and magazines that are free for the taking. Children are given books on an on-going basis and during the school supply distribution program.

School Supply Distribution: This important program supplies new backpacks and school supplies and assures that the children will start school on even footing with their peers. This program shows that the community feels their education is important.

Support for Children: Children receive holiday items such as Easter baskets, boxes of Valentines Day cards to distribute to their classmates, birthday cakes and other holiday treats. For Christmas we work with local businesses and individuals to supply 250+ children with gifts requested by their parents/guardians and each family with a basket of household & cleaning supplies and holiday treats.

Women Helping Women: Programs have included distribution of items such as new underwear and socks, make-up, and beauty supplies for women who are currently staying in our shelters and would otherwise not have these supplies.

We regularly host Nashua Public Health, Rivier University, UNH Cooperative Extension, Lamprey Health Care, and other organizations who offer services such as HIV testing, flu and other vaccines, blood pressure and diabetes testing, nutrition and cooking classes, and much more.

For questions or to sign up, contact Wally or Denise:
wally@nsks.org
or
denise@nsks.org
(603) 889-7770

The Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter’s Backpacks for Back to School program provides necessary school supplies to the children in our community. The NSKS staff works diligently with our clients, of which there are nearly 5,000 children of all ages, to provide those in need with necessary school supplies in order to be successful in their school year.

Questions? Email or call Carol Weeks:
carol@nsks.org
(603) 889-7770 ext 121

Thank You 2019 Volunteers and Donors!

Thank you to all who participated in this year’s Backpacks For Back-to-School Program at NSKS. In two short weeks of packing and one day of distribution, we were able to assemble and distribute 1,354 backpacks. Please know the extreme gratitude we have for our donors and volunteers working to make the city of Nashua a better place. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Learn More About Our Backpack Program

The goal of this program is to provide families with gifts and supplies for children’s birthdays.
For more information, please see Kitchen Staff.