MANCHESTER — Charlie Sherman has his fingers crossed for sunshine May 20, when New Horizons holds its 22nd Annual Walk Against Hunger. “It's our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Sherman, the New Horizons executive director.

“Last year it poured,” said Sherman, who counts on the walk to provide not only needed funds, but also an opportunity to increase awareness of New Horizons' programs.

Walkers can register in advance at www.newhorizonsfornh.org, or register the day of the walk. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 20, at Veterans Park, corner of Elm and Central streets,

Sherman promises walkers there will be food, entertainment and fun at the walk, which will take place rain or shine. The goal for this year's walk is $150,000, a 10 percent increase from last year.

Every penny counts, he said, because there has been an increase in use of the shelter, the food pantry and the daily meals provided at the 199 Manchester St. site.

Not everyone realizes the extent of the services provided, he said, thinking of New Horizons as only a soup kitchen and/or shelter.

There is a food pantry, daily supper meals and shelter both at 199 Manchester St. and Angie's Place, around the corner, and health care and case management services are provided, including a program specifically for homeless veterans.

Demand is up for all services this year, said Sherman.

The food pantry serves more than 1,000 families and individuals each month, at least 200 people are served supper each day and most nights at least 100 people sleep at the Manchester Street shelter, plus 16 women at Angie's Place.

At the Manchester Street shelter, Sherman said: “We consider 100 people what we can handle comfortably.” But sometimes there are even more in need of a bed and Sherman said: “We'll never turn anybody away.”

One of the reasons Sherman is hoping for good weather for the walk is that some of the walkers, who are members of church or business teams, don't know the full story of what New Horizons does.

He said the perception of who comes to New Horizons as being the person pushing the shopping cart with their belongings in it, or sleeping on the park bench all day doesn't square with who is helped by New Horizons.

“There's always going to be a percentage of hardcore,” he said. But often, he said: “It's people who have hit a rough patch.” They aren't homeless, but they may have lost a job or had their hours cut. “Maybe only one spouse is working now,” said Sherman.

“We see a lot of that. People who in a good economy wouldn't even know where (New Horizons) was,” said Sherman. Now they come once a month for a box of non-perishable groceries that includes all food groups and is sized for the single, couple or family recipient. The box is supplemented with meat, fruit, vegetables and pastries. “It depends on what we have.” Sherman said the pantry food is worth between $110 and $150 and is enough to last about two weeks, which is enough for some recipients to get through the month. Others are also eligible for food stamps, but the stamps won't take them through the month.

He said so many people in need were coming to the food pantry that New Horizons has had to restrict it to Manchester residents and to require identification. Even so, there are about 100 more pantry recipients than last year. Many of those seeking food have homes, but are on fixed incomes, SSI or unemployment. “We see a lot of those,” he said.

The shelter meal program is divided, with a meal for seniors, considered to be anyone over 50, served at 3 p.m. Sherman said attendance at that meal averages 50 people. Attendance at the 4:30 p.m. meal averages 160 to 180 people, and Sherman said it's not unusual to see families at the later meal.

Given the cost of feeding a family, he said sometimes parents and children will come for supper to save available cash for rent, utilities or other essentials.

Sherman said the walk is one of two major fundraisers, with the other being the annual Thanksgiving Breakfast, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, which in 2011 raised $110,000.

Students at Manchester's four middle schools each held their own Walk Against Hunger yesterday to raise money for New Horizons.

Last year, said Sherman, Hillside and McLaughlin raised $30,000. This year, all four middle schools participated and Sherman was looking forward to a significantly higher total.

The Derryfield School has a team participating in next week's Walk Against Hunger, but yesterday it held an event to raise awareness about hunger and raise some extra dollars for New Horizons.

While hundreds of people turn out for the annual May Walk Against Hunger, and Sherman would like to see thousands participate, he said smaller fundraisers held throughout the year are extremely important.

For more information about the Walk Against Hunger, or about New Horizons, go to www.newhorizonsfornh.org.







Horizons' services are so important.

According to government statistics, the poverty level is $22,300 for a family of four and while the statewide figure for New Hampshire is 8 percent below the poverty level, in Manchester it is almost 17 percent. When it comes to children, 27 percent of children in Manchester live below the poverty level.

Derryfield's dining service Sodexo donated the food for the Hunger Banquet, so money students brought in what would otherwise be spent for lunch, along with non-perishable items they brought, were earmarked for New Horizons.

While hundreds of people turn out for the annual May Walk Against Hunger, and Sherman would like to see thousands participate, he said those smaller fundraisers are extremely important.

In addition to the student fundraising activities, some of the smaller important fundraisers and food collections throughout the year include the Greater Manchester Board of Realtors Bowl-a-thon, the New Hampshire Potters Association/Brookside Congregational Church “Empty Bowls” event that features soups from Manchester restaurants, Milly's Tavern's Holiday Party to benefit New Horizons, and the Home Builders & Remodelers Association annual New Hampshire State Home Show.

For more information about the Walk Against Hunger, or about New Horizons, go to www.newhorizonsfornh.org.