The Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation has awarded $49,567 to 23 nonprofit organizations serving local communities. The Foundation was funded by Merrimack County Savings Bank (The Merrimack) in 1997 for grant-based contributions to nonprofits that enrich and improve the quality of life for residents living in the Bank’s service areas. These grants are in addition to the Bank’s many local contributions in the form of sponsorships, donations and scholarships, as well as the exceptional volunteer efforts of their employees.
“Support of our community continues to be central to our mission,” said Linda Lorden, President of The Merrimack. “The Foundation allows us to support organizations that strengthen the places where we live and work, and helps to improve the lives of our customers, employees and the local community as a whole. We are thrilled to help these organizations make our communities stronger.”
This year’s Foundation grant recipients include:
Brigid’s House of Hope, Concord
Awarded $3,500 to support funding for two house manager positions to provide 24/7 staffing and security at a long-term restorative safe house. Brigid’s House of Hope is a long-term, transitional safe house for survivors of human trafficking and exploitation in New Hampshire and surrounding areas.
Boys & Girls Club Central New Hampshire, Concord
Awarded $2,000 for the purchase of five tablets to allow staff to communicate with caregivers, track development and provide enrichment to the children. The Boys & Girls Club of Central NH provides a safe, fun environment for children ages six weeks through 18 years, with early learning centers and before- and after-school programs in Greater Concord, Kearsarge and the Lakes Region.
Catholic Charities New Hampshire, Manchester
Awarded $2,300 to help 1,000 underserved families and individuals receive emergency assistance through individualized casework services. Catholic Charities NH (CCNH) was founded in 1945 to serve the poor and vulnerable statewide, and remains committed to addressing the varied and individual needs of each person seeking assistance.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Manchester
Awarded $2,700 to recruit, train and supervise additional volunteers. The Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire (CASA) was founded to advocate for abused and neglected children within the state court system.
Family Promise of Greater Concord
Awarded $3,100 to aid the organization’s “Pathways toward Independence” program, designed to provide stable housing for 56 individuals over the next year. Family Promise was established to provide shelter, meals, hospitality and support through a network of local congregations and an interfaith group of more than 400 volunteers.
Family Promise of Southern, NH, Nashua
Awarded $1,500 to assist the homeless community with short-term case management, conflict mediation, funding for groceries, short-term rent subsidies and utilities. Through safe housing and education, Family Promise guides families as they break the cycle, and rise from homelessness to sustainable independence.
Friends of Aine, Manchester
Awarded $2,024 to fund Friends of Aine’s grief backpack program for schools in the Concord and Merrimack Valley School districts. The backpacks provide school personnel with tools and resources for grieving children in their classrooms. Friends of Aine provides bereavement support services and resources to children and families who have suffered the loss of a loved one.
Friends of New Hampshire Drug Courts, Concord
Awarded $2,300 for financial support of participants so that they can secure stable housing, transportation, health, dental or child care, as well as other services critical to their completion of drug court programs and long‑term recovery. The first statewide nonprofit Drug Court support organization, Friends of NH Drug Courts is dedicated to activities and participants throughout New Hampshire, including Belknap-Laconia, Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough South-Nashua, Hillsborough North, Rockingham and Strafford counties.
The Front Door Agency, Nashua
Awarded $3,100 to support homeless single mothers and their children with affordable housing, supportive services and extensive case management. The Front Door serves families transitioning from crisis to self-sufficiency, offering a wide range of assistance to Nashua’s disadvantaged population including: shelter, food, heat, child care, transportation, supportive services and education.
Harbor Care, Nashua
Awarded $2,080 to operate permanent housing units for 150 homeless parents, children and veterans in Greater Nashua. Harbor Care is the shared name of Harbor Homes, Keystone Hall, Healthy at Home, the Harbor Care Health and Wellness Center, and the Southern NH HIV/AIDS Task Force. They serve low-income individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or living with mental illness and other disabilities.
The Mayhew Program, Bristol
Awarded $2,500 to support tuition for Merrimack County boys, aged 10 to 18, in Mayhew’s school-year mentoring program and residential summer camp program at no cost to their families. The Mayhew Program challenges and helps at-risk New Hampshire boys believe in themselves, work well with others and find their personal best.
Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County, Merrimack
Awarded $1,000 to support their mission of reducing hunger, food insecurity and social isolation among homebound older and disabled adults. Meals on Wheels of Hillsborough County is dedicated to improving the physical, mental and social well-being of participants through nutritious meals, health education, opportunities for social interaction, among many other related services.
Merrimack Valley Day Care Service, Concord
Awarded $2,166 to repair the facility’s fire safety doors at their Concord location. Merrimack Valley Day Care Service offers high quality and affordable childcare services for children of low-income families and for children with special needs.
New Hampshire Humanities, Concord
Awarded $2,700 to support Connections, the organization’s literacy program for adult English learners and new Americans within Concord and Greater Nashua. Funding will also help enhance their adult education programs including English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and immigrant programs. The mission of New Hampshire Humanities is to strengthen communities with education programs fostering reflection, discussion and connection to new ideas. Connections is offered statewide in partnership with adult learner service programs, ESOL classes for new immigrants and refugees, GED classes and prison parenting support programs.
NHTI Community College, Concord
Awarded $800 to provide workshop materials to participants of their six-part, Sustainable Agricultural program. NHTI, Concord’s Community College, is a dynamic public institution of higher learning that offers accessible and rigorous education for students, business and the community.
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) of New Hampshire, Concord
Awarded $1,080 to support the organization’s Farm Share program and Organic Gardening series. NOFA advocates for and educates on organic and sustainable agriculture, family-scale farming and homesteading in rural, suburban and urban areas, agricultural justice and other related policy issues. They are dedicated to facilitating the creation of interconnected healthy communities living in ecological balance.
Penacook Community Center, Penacook
Awarded $1,866 for the purchase of three laptops for portable and reliable technology. The Penacook Community Center provides residents of Penacook and surrounding towns with opportunities to promote, develop and maintain social, educational and recreational activities.
Awarded $2,400 for year-round programming for more than 200 students in grades 6-12 in Pittsfield and surrounding towns. The Pittsfield Youth Workshop offers a variety of programs, activities and trips, with the mission of empowering the youth by helping them develop useful skills, self-esteem and meaningful friendships.
Riverbend Community Mental Health, Concord
Awarded $2,500 in support of evidence-based practices at Riverbend’s children’s programs specifically designed for youth and their families. Riverbend Community Mental Health Center provides specialized behavioral health services to more than 7,000 adults, children and families in central New Hampshire.
Second Start, Concord
Awarded $2,671 to go toward the scholarship fund for students of Second Start’s New American Driving School. Second Start was established to improve the economic and educational well-being of New Hampshire residents, with the mission of helping people become more productive workers, family members and community citizens. Programs are offered for adult basic education, HiSET preparation, English for speakers of other languages, job training, career counseling, support for at-risk youth and childcare services.
SEE Science Center (SEE), Manchester
Awarded $1,500 to provide additional science programming to title 1 schools within SEE’s service area of Nashua, Pittsfield, Hudson, Concord and Allenstown. The SEE Science Center engages visitors of all ages in the pursuit of science discovery through hands-on exhibits, demonstrations and programs.
Webster House, Manchester
Awarded $1,500 to go toward their Outdoor Activities Program, which introduces residents from vulnerable populations to recreational activities as a positive emotional outlet. The Webster House provides a safe haven for children and teens unable to live at home.
Awarded $2,280 to help fund Power Scholars Academy, a six-week summer learning loss prevention program for 400 low-income youth living in Greater Nashua who are behind in literacy grade levels. The goal of the program is to teach participating children to read at their grade level by the third grade.
The Merrimack County Savings Bank Foundation was funded by Merrimack County Savings Bank in 1997 for grant-based contributions to non-profit organizations that enrich and improve the quality of life for residents living in the Bank’s service areas. Five Trustees, selected among the Bank’s Corporators and Board of Directors, administer the Foundation and its activities; distributing a portion of the Foundation’s endowment each year. While not focused on a particular category, the Foundation remains mindful of the receiving organization and its contribution to the quality of life in the communities served. Applications are due annually before September 1.