When St. Joseph Regional Catholic School in Salem, NH set out to maximize participation in this year's Hannaford Helps Schools program, staff members knew success would depend on one thing: community. What followed was an extraordinary response that turned hundreds of dollars into thousands and opened the door to new opportunities for students.

St. Joseph Regional Catholic School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade and draws families from more than 20 communities across southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts. As staff prepared for this year's Hannaford Helps Schools program, they developed a plan to make participation as easy as possible for supporters.

The program evolved this year, replacing the traditional in-store collection towers with a coupon-based process that allowed shoppers to direct their earned dollars to any participating school of their choice.

Recognizing that convenience would be key to participation, St. Joseph Regional Catholic School encouraged families, alumni, parishioners, and community supporters to simply bring their coupons to the school, where staff members and volunteers would submit the coupons on their behalf.

What happened next exceeded all expectations.

The response was so strong that teachers and volunteers joined in to help process the growing number of coupons that were pouring in.

The effort helped increase the Hannaford Helps Schools funding from $468 in 2025 to $7,318 in 2026, providing significant new resources for student enrichment programs.

Service and connection are deeply woven into the culture of St. Joseph Regional Catholic School.

Students participate in faith-based activities, community service projects, local food drives, and annual Thanksgiving basket collections that support families in need. Parents, grandparents, alumni, parish members, and local organizations regularly come together to support the school's mission and enrich the student experience.

For Lori Norris, Director of Development and Advancement, the Hannaford Helps Schools program reflects the same spirit of service and partnership that defines the school.

"It means so much to us because there aren't a lot of outside organizations that directly support Catholic schools," she said. "Every little bit helps. Whether it's enrichment programs, lowering costs for families, or helping maintain our school, we're incredibly grateful."

That spirit of community support extends well beyond fundraising. It helps the school provide meaningful educational and enrichment experiences while keeping a Catholic education as accessible and affordable as possible for families.

At St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, learning extends far beyond the classroom. From robotics and chess to music, athletics, and the arts, enrichment opportunities help students discover new talents and develop important life skills. Because families pay tuition to attend the school, Norris says reducing the cost of these programs is always a priority.

"During these economic times, parents may not be able to afford every after-school enrichment program," she said. "We don't want students to miss out on those opportunities. The Hannaford Helps Schools program helps us make those experiences accessible for more families."

Funds raised through the program this year will support activities that encourage creativity, teamwork, leadership, and personal growth. While funding received through the program has historically supported the school's annual play, this year's significant increase in funds may also help expand support for additional enrichment opportunities, including:

• The annual school play
• Chess Club
• Robotics Team
• Physical fitness initiatives
• Music enrichment programs
• Ski Club and other extracurricular activities

Since joining the Hannaford Helps Schools program, St. Joseph Regional Catholic School has directed all funds raised through the initiative toward its annual school play, helping make the experience more accessible for students and families.

Funding received through the 2025 program helped bring the school's 2026 production of The Sound of Music to life.  The production marked an exciting transition for the program, with fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Tobey stepping into a leadership role and bringing her passion for theater to the school's stage.

In previous years, the school partnered with an outside theater organization called Acting Out. While the program provided valuable instruction and experiences for students, the cost to families continued to increase over time.

"We have some really talented students who can sing and dance," Norris said. "The kids love it, and we're grateful that we can offer them that experience."

By helping offset production expenses, Hannaford Helps Schools funding helps keep participation accessible while ensuring students continue to enjoy a memorable performing arts experience.  Programs like the annual school play help students build confidence, develop performance skills, work collaboratively with their peers, and express their creativity in new ways.

While the new coupon process helped simplify participation, another key factor in this year's success was expanding awareness beyond current school families.

To spread awareness and encourage participation, the staff at St. Joseph promoted the Hannaford Helps Schools program through the school's website, social media channels, weekly newsletter, and materials sent home with students. They also looked beyond their traditional audience, engaging former members of the school community and supporters throughout the region.

"People wanted to help the school," Norris said. "Once the word got out, the response was incredible."

The expanded outreach reached far beyond Salem, connecting with supporters throughout the region who were eager to contribute to the school's mission and help create new opportunities for students.

As St. Joseph Regional Catholic School prepares to put this year's funding to work, Norris says the impact extends well beyond a dollar amount.

The support helps ensure students have access to opportunities that inspire creativity, foster growth, and build connections throughout the school community.

"We are so thankful for the support," Norris said. "It means so much to our students. These programs help children grow, discover new talents, and experience opportunities they might not otherwise have. We truly can't thank Hannaford enough."

For St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, the success of this year's Hannaford Helps Schools program is about far more than a fundraising total. It is a testament to what can happen when a community comes together to invest in the potential of its students.

Published September 3, 2026.