Coast to Donate Fares on Leap Day to NH Foodbank as Part of #DayItForward

As a part of their #DayItForward efforts, COAST has made the decision to donate all fares and donations collected aboard their buses on that day to the NH Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH, in support of those in need of food assistance in New Hampshire. The goal is to raise $2,000, and in doing so, enable the NH Food Bank to purchase approximately 4,000 meals to help New Hampshire citizens in need.

COAST has a longstanding history with supporting area food banks and paying it forward through stuff-a-bus campaigns sponsored by our employees and area radio stations. Some of the organizations that have been recipients of support generated through COAST in the past have included Gerry’s Food Pantry in Rochester, the Interfaith Food Pantry in Farmington, Dover Food Pantry & Operation Blessing in Portsmouth. “When one of our staff members heard about the #DayItForward campaign to do something special on Leap Day this year, our

Leadership team leapt into action,” commented Rad Nichols, COAST executive director. “We are very excited to be partnering with the NH Food Bank and do what we can to make a meaningful impact.”

“We applaud COAST and their customers for generously partnering with the NH Food Bank on this #DayItForward fundraising effort,” said Mel Gosselin, executive director of the NH Food Bank. “The winter months can be a very difficult and challenging time for those who are faced with ‘Eat or Heat’ decisions by the limitations of their resources. While this support will have an impact at a difficult time of year for many people, the need is still growing. One in nine people in New Hampshire, which includes 42,170 children, are food insecure. The NH Food Bank can turn every $1 donated into two nutritious meals.”

COAST is Greater Seacoast New Hampshire’s public, non-profit regional public transit system, with the mission of promoting and/or providing public mass transit services in Southeastern New Hampshire.