Shown from left are Brittany Saucier, assistant vice president of Branch and Business Development, David Peterson, senior vice president of Commercial Lending and Valerie Guy, executive director of The Friendly Kitchen. Courtesy photo/Merrimack County Savings Bank

CONCORD – Merrimack County Savings Bank recently announced its partnership with The Friendly Kitchen to provide necessary funding for the expansion of its Concord location.

As the city’s only soup kitchen, the 1,000 square-foot 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, the bank’s senior vice president of Commercial Lending.

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 its Family Friendly Meals Program which offers family size take-bake style meals as well as education about food assistance programs.

“It’s been a pleasure working with David and the team at The Merrimack,” said Valerie Guy, executive director of 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 also is not the first time that The Merrimack and The Friendly Kitchen have worked together. In 2012, The Merrimack helped finance the construction of the soup kitchen’s location on 2 South Commercial St. following a fire that destroyed their original location at Hope House on Montgomery Street.