It was a bitterly cold December day at the Nashua Public Library when Rosemary Ford, director of St. Joseph Hospital’s Mobile Health Clinic, noticed a man bundled in three jackets, gloves, scarves and hats — still shivering as he waited outside.
“We invited him inside to warm up and have something to drink,” Ford recalled. “And my heart just went out to folks. People were hungry. People were cold. They didn’t have
the proper gear to live in this type of environment.”
Ford immediately called Michele Canto, director of community ministries at Grey Nuns Thrift Shop. Together, they asked: How can we respond quickly to those experiencing homelessness and hardship in Nashua? From that conversation, the Mission Meals & Medical program was born.
Since 2025, Mission Meals & Medical has parked the Mobile Health Clinic outside Grey Nuns Thrift Shop in Nashua once a month — expanding to twice a month in 2026 — serving around 40 people per visit. Guests receive warm meals, on-the-spot medical care and vouchers, removing barriers for Nashua’s most vulnerable.
The program is for the community, by the community. Neighbors such as La Legion Barbershop join in, giving haircuts that open doors to employment and human connection, turning a simple trim into opportunities.
From routine wound care — the most common care provided — to vaccinations, testing and over-the-counter medications, the clinic breaks the devastating cycle of untreated illness, and sometimes even saves lives. One patient discovered he had cancer during a routine check, and another received urgent treatment that prevented a full foot amputation.
Your support keeps Mission Meals & Medical moving — putting meals on tables, medical supplies in hands and care within reach, helping St. Joseph Hospital provide the foundation of food and healthcare that Nashua’s most vulnerable need to survive today and build stability for tomorrow.
Want to help Mission Meals & Medical continue to expand in 2026?
