[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 25, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO MIKE MANNING

 Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize Mike 
Manning of Penacook as May's Granite Stater of the Month. After a 
chance stop-by at the Open Door Community Kitchen, Mike Manning stepped 
up to volunteer and now even comanages the kitchen, which provides free 
meals to help individuals in need in the community.
  When Mike saw a ``Free Meals'' sign outside the United Church of 
Penacook in 2015 and decided to venture in, he had no idea how much 
that decision would impact his life. Mike connected with the chair of 
Open Door Community Kitchen and learned about their mission of serving 
meals to communities in and around Penacook. Later that year, Mike 
became the kitchen's cochair, organizing volunteer shifts, food orders, 
and donations.
  In his first years as cochair, Mike made sure that Open Door 
Community Kitchen provided three free sit-down meals a week, with extra 
food for people to bring home and last them the following days. 
Mealtimes provided a sense of camaraderie and togetherness among 
volunteers and attendees alike.
  Yet when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Open Door Community Kitchen was 
hard hit. Many of the volunteers were older and started to stay home at 
the onset of the pandemic because of the risk to their health. With 
limited capacity, the kitchen had to reduce its three free meals per 
week to two. In addition, the dining hall space had to close, and Open 
Door transitioned to making to-go meals.
  Nevertheless, Mike put every effort into making sure that Open Door 
Community Kitchen was able to keep running during the entire pandemic, 
never missing a week. Even with a skeleton staff and rising food 
prices, Mike has worked around the clock to continue serving meals. And 
now, he is working to restart Open Door's in-person meals, which 
provide an important sense of community.
  Mike's efforts to serve his neighbors during a time of need and under 
unprecedented challenges are commendable. As Mike himself says, if 
everyone could just help each other, the world would be a much better 
place. His actions exemplify the best of the Granite State spirit of 
working together to support each other, no matter the obstacles, and we 
are lucky to have him in our midst.

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