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Manchester first responders compete to package meals for NH Food Bank

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  Published in Food and Wine on Saturday, September 13th 2025 at 19:27 GMT by WMUR
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Manchester First Responders Turn Food Drive Into Friendly Competition to Feed the Hungry

In a heart‑warming display of community spirit, Manchester’s police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services turned their annual food‑bank drive into a spirited competition on Friday night, raising more than a thousand pounds of non‑perishable items for the New Hampshire Food Bank. The event, which took place in the city’s downtown, saw officers, firefighters, EMTs and volunteers racing to out‑score one another in a bid to win the coveted “Best Food Drive” trophy, all while reminding residents that a single can of soup can change a family’s life.

The New Hampshire Food Bank, which serves over 100,000 households across the state, has partnered with local first responders for years to collect food donations. This year, the partnership took on a new edge, with the city's emergency services teams forming their own “teams” and setting a target of 500 pounds each. The first team to hit that mark would claim bragging rights and a symbolic trophy that will sit in the fire station’s trophy case for a year.

“Competition is a great way to motivate people,” said Police Chief Mike Greeley, who led the Manchester Police Department’s Food Drive Team. “But more importantly, we’re all in this together. Every can we haul to the Food Bank is a gift to families who might otherwise go without.” The chief, who has been a long‑time advocate for the city’s hunger‑relief programs, noted that the event helped bring attention to the Food Bank’s mission: to distribute fresh, nutritious food to anyone in need, regardless of their background.

The Fire Department’s crew, helmed by Captain Susan Lee, began the competition early in the morning, loading trucks with canned beans, pasta and rice. The city’s ambulance crew, known for their swift responses to emergencies, surprisingly had a knack for finding freezers full of frozen meals and ready‑to‑heat dinners. EMTs from the Manchester Health Department, many of whom were on duty during the day, took the opportunity to collect items from the community in the evenings, handing them off at a makeshift “drop‑off” station set up on Main Street.

Local residents were quick to rally around the event, turning the streets into a sea of red, blue, and white. “I love seeing our first responders get together for a good cause,” said longtime Manchester resident Linda Perez, who worked at the Food Bank’s headquarters. “They’re always there to help, so it’s great to see them give back in this way.” Perez, who has volunteered at the Food Bank for fifteen years, added that the competition not only increased the quantity of donations but also heightened community awareness of food insecurity in Manchester and the surrounding towns.

The Food Bank’s executive director, Tom O’Connor, praised the event’s success and the dedication of the city’s emergency services. “We’re grateful for the support of our local first responders,” O’Connor said. “Their willingness to go above and beyond to keep our community safe extends beyond the front lines. They are actively working to ensure that no resident goes hungry.”

A small group of local businesses also contributed by offering extra space in their warehouses for the donation trucks to unload, and some even set up donation bins in their lobbies. “It was a community effort,” said Sarah Liu, owner of a nearby grocery store. “Everyone pitched in, from the food banks to the fire trucks. We’ve never seen this kind of collaboration.”

The competition’s final tally saw the police team come in close, followed by the fire department and the ambulance crew. The final numbers—5,432 pounds of food for the police, 5,210 for the fire department and 4,965 for the ambulance crew—highlighted a combined haul of 15,707 pounds. This exceeded the Food Bank’s monthly goal by over 30 percent, ensuring that families in Manchester and the surrounding counties received an extra boost of nutritious food for the coming weeks.

In the end, the trophy was awarded to the police department, but the real win was the community’s collective effort. As Chief Greeley reflected, “It’s about more than the trophy. It’s about showing that when we work together, we can overcome any challenge—whether it’s a crisis at the scene or a crisis at the dinner table.”

The event has set a precedent for future collaborations. City officials announced plans to hold an annual “Food Drive Showdown” in October, with the winner’s trophy rotating between the city’s emergency services each year. For many residents, the event is a reminder that first responders are not only protectors in times of danger but also champions for the welfare of their neighbors.

For those who missed the event but want to support the cause, the New Hampshire Food Bank welcomes donations online at www.nhfoodbank.org and encourages community members to keep their canning bins full. As the Food Bank’s mission remains clear, the story of Manchester’s first responders’ competition underscores that community resilience is built not only on emergency response but also on everyday acts of generosity.