Keene’s City Council is organizing a public hearing scheduled for Thursday to discuss a proposal from The Community Kitchen to apply for a $500,000 grant offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This meeting will provide an opportunity for community members to voice their opinions regarding the initiative.

The Community Kitchen, located on Mechanic Street in Keene, is dedicated to mitigating food insecurity in the region by offering hot meals, food box distribution, and a mobile food pantry. Executive Director Barb Weisman highlighted that the intended grant funds would aid in purchasing a new generator, modernizing the HVAC system, and acquiring a mechanical lift for transporting food from delivery vehicles.

Currently, The Community Kitchen’s operations use an outdated conveyor belt system for unloading trucks, which can take two staff members approximately four hours per truck. The proposed mechanical lift aims to enhance efficiency, allowing staff to unload trucks in a matter of minutes, thus conserving resources for other essential tasks related to community service.

The organization recently reported a significant increase in activity, with nearly 41,000 visitors in 2024 compared to around 21,000 two years prior, demonstrating a growing demand for their services. In the past year, they served approximately 32,500 hot meals and distributed enough food for over 395,000 meals to around 3,400 individuals across approximately 1,500 households.

Weisman expressed that installing a full-facility generator would enable The Community Kitchen to function as a community resource during emergencies, further enhancing its utility. Additionally, the replacement of two aging HVAC units is a priority, as they are nearing the end of their effective lifespan.

Support from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) has significantly impacted New Hampshire communities, benefiting around 135,000 residents through various projects in the last year. The Community Kitchen received approximately $154,000 from grants and an overall donor support of $1.1 million in 2024, which facilitated its operations.

The public hearing will commence at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, allowing for community members to reflect on the proposed application and its potential benefits.