Portsmouth Regional Hospital CEO presents oversized check for $25,000 to leaders from the non-profit Gather.
Portsmouth Regional Hospital today announced that the HCA Healthcare Foundation has awarded a second $25,000 grant to Gather, doubling the Foundation's total support to $50,000 to expand access to healthy food for individuals and families across the Seacoast.
Gather is a Seacoast-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing hunger through short and long-term solutions. It provides free, nutritious food and resources to meet immediate needs. As a Community Food Center, Gather also offers program opportunities for learning and connection where food is an entry point to supporting long-term well-being, dignity and stability. The organization is one of the nation's oldest social services organizations, delivering innovative programs that treat those they serve with with dignity and respect.
“Hunger affects the health and well-being of entire communities,” said Sean Patterson, chief executive officer of Portsmouth Regional Hospital. ”Gather's relentless commitment to innovation as a pathway to healthier communities strongly aligns with HCA's Healthier Tomorrow Fund's priorities. We are proud to partner with them to increase access to nutritious food and vital support services for families across our region.”
In addition to this second $25,000 grant, Portsmouth Regional Hospital regularly supports Gather's mission through donation drives, hospital-level sponsorship and volunteer participation. In 2025, Portsmouth hospital colleagues donated more than 1,450 pounds of food and other items to Gather, and both Portsmouth hospital and sister facility Frisbie Memorial Hospital colleagues volunteered in Gather's annual Thanksgiving meal distribution event, during which individuals from 536 households received healthy and delicious food to prepare a Thanksgiving meal at home, including a turkey, all the fixings and a pie. Additionally, Gather clients who participated had access to hats, gloves, mittens, warm socks and other cold-weather items.
As one of the region's largest anti-hunger organizations, Gather is at the forefront of addressing food insecurity. In 2025, the organization served more than 90,000 individuals across 134 communities in New Hampshire and southern Maine, distributing 1.7 million pounds of food at no cost to recipients.
Grant funding will support Gather's pantry market, mobile markets and other innovative food access programs, enabling the delivery of nutritious food and prepared meals to residents experiencing hunger throughout the Seacoast region.
“We are witnessing Seacoast community members struggle to afford their basic needs on a daily basis. When this happens, we find that households are forced to make hard choices about their grocery bills, choosing more affordable food that does not support their long-term health. This coincides with the decline in food that we previously received from federal programs, forcing us to purchase more nutritious, nonperishable goods that are staples for any healthy diet,” said Anne Hayes, executive director of Gather. “We are deeply grateful for this timely support, which will help us continue meeting the urgent food needs of our community that nourishes and supports the long-term health of those we serve.”
This grant is part of the HCA Healthcare Foundation's Community Catalyst Grant Program through the Healthier Tomorrow Fund, a community impact initiative focused on advancing health access and addressing critical local needs.