CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The New Hampshire Food Bank is hosting 10 drive-through mobile food pantries over the next two weeks aimed at addressing growing need because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The food bank will bring truckloads of food to be distributed to individuals and families in their vehicles.
The first ones are scheduled for Tuesday in Claremont and Laconia. Mobile food pantries also will be in Colebrook, Gorham, Manchester, and Center Ossipee. The visits run through Nov. 17.
As a result of the pandemic, the food bank estimates an additional 71,000 people are now food insecure in New Hampshire, meaning now one in seven New Hampshire residents do not know where their next meal is coming from.
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ICE CASTLES
An annual ice castle attraction in New Hampshire is returning in January, but with some coronavirus-related changes.
Ice Castles will operate in North Woodstock at a reduced capacity to promote social distancing. All tunnels and crawl spaces will be marked as one-way features to limit face-to-face exposure with other guests.
All staff and guests will be required to wear a mask or face covering.
Two new features are planned: a quarter-mile-long forest walk and a sledding hill.
Castle creators plan to start growing and harvesting up to 10,000 icicles each day beginning in late November to construct the frozen attraction.
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THE NUMBERS
More than 12,000 people have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began in New Hampshire. The state announced 215 new cases Monday. The number of deaths remained at 489.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 91 new cases per day on Oct. 25 to 182 new cases per day on Nov. 8.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
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