Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) is pleased to work with The Friendly Kitchen to provide the funding necessary for the expansion of their Concord location. Serving as the city’s only soup kitchen, the 1,000 sq. ft. expansion project will allow The Friendly Kitchen to prepare and deliver more meals to those in need.
“We regularly support The Friendly Kitchen through monthly volunteer efforts, so we’re thrilled to be able to offer additional assistance with financing of the expansion,” said David Peterson, SVP Commercial Lending & Team Leader at The Merrimack.
The project broke ground in November 2023 with construction slated to wrap up by the end of February. Once completed, The Friendly Kitchen will be able to grow their Family Friendly Meals Program which offers family size take-bake style meals as well as education around food assistance programs.
“It’s been a pleasure working with David and the team at The Merrimack,” said Valerie Guy, Executive Director at The Friendly Kitchen. “This expansion will give us more preparation and storage space to accommodate the current program as well as for anticipated growth.”
This isn’t the first time The Merrimack and The Friendly Kitchen have worked together. In 2012, The Merrimack helped finance the build of their current location on 2 South Commercial Street following a fire that destroyed their original location, Hope House on Montgomery Street.
Founded in 1980, The Friendly Kitchen seeks to provide meals for the hungry through the coordination of community volunteer resources. The only soup kitchen in Concord, The Friendly Kitchen has served more than 600,000 meals since first opening its doors more than 40 years ago. The Friendly Kitchen is run by volunteers who plan the menus, prepare, cook and serve breakfasts, lunches and dinners and wash dishes. For more information, visit thefriendlykitchen.org.