The Goffstown Network food pantry program originated within a local church, as an offshoot of the parish’s Community Outreach Program. In the mid 1970s, a modest food locker was set up and administered by parishioners of St. Matthew’s church. As the ministry grew, and as community needs and response increased, cooperative ventures developed between the St. Matthew’s Outreach, local schools, area churches, town officials and banks. ​ Eventually, the St. Matthew’s Outreach Program expanded from offering just food assistance to the development and implementation of a Christmas Program, as well as supplying groceries for 1 – 2 weeks per month. ​The community response was overwhelming, as local and civic organizations joined the effort. As a result, an ad hoc committee was formed in order to investigate the formation of a separate new community-wide non-profit organization called the ‘Goffstown Network.’ The Goffstown Network was (and is) governed by representatives of the 25 member organizations. Out of these representatives, an Executive Board, consisting of a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, was elected. In 1990, an incorporation application for the Goffstown Network was submitted to the state of New Hampshire. ​In 1991, a grant proposal was submitted to the United Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church, requesting expansion funds in order to hire a half-time administrator. Network made a major investment, hiring a coordinator from outside the Executive Board for one year, and now looked forward to having a formal office set up, procedures developed and implemented and the volunteer base coordinated. This resulted in the creation of the program that exists today. In 1993, the Holiday Basket Program was permanently placed under the Goffstown Network umbrella. ​Today, the Goffstown Network is a fully volunteer organization that has expanded its outreach to provide weekend food to children in Goffstown and New Boston. The pantry works closely with its communities by partnering with local businesses on food drives, giving youth groups service opportunities, and sharing our resources with other local pantries.