The Merrimack County Saving Bank (The Merrimack) Foundation announces the local non-profits selected to receive $64,050 in grants to support community efforts. In all, 26 non-profit organizations were awarded grants to go toward initiatives that not only strengthen communities across Central and Southern New Hampshire – but also the improve the quality of life for our neighbors, family and friends.
“As a mutual savings bank, The Merrimack would not be able to give back without support from our customers and the communities we serve,” said Linda Lorden, President of The Merrimack. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to help fund programs that make a difference.”
The 2025 Merrimack County Saving Bank Foundation grant recipients include:
- Best Buddies New Hampshire
Awarded $1,500 to sustain and grow the School and Adult Citizen Best Buddies Friendship Programs. - Boys and Girls Club of Central NH
Awarded $3,500 to support a four-day enrichment program called “Junk 2 Funk” for 50+ Penacook summer campers. - Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua
Awarded $1,400 to support their evidence-based Afterschool Program for youth in grades K-12. - CATCH Neighborhood Housing
Awarded $2,500 to build a basketball court at Bow Vista, an affordable housing community. - Catholic Charities New Hampshire (NH Food Bank)
Awarded $5,000 to provide hunger relief for approximately 8,200 people seeking food in The Merrimack’s service area. - Circle Program
Awarded $3,000 to support the Circle Program’s year-round 1:1 and small group mentorships for girls 9 – 11 years old. - Coalition for Open Democracy
Awarded $1,400 to support voter education initiatives, provide direct assistance, and connect community members with trusted local notary services. - Connor’s Climb Foundation
Awarded $5,000 to fund the SOS (Signs of Suicide) Module and the continued expansion of the Youth Ambassador Program for two schools in The Merrimack Region. - Families in Transition
Awarded $2,500 to increase availability and access to affordable, culturally appropriate, healthy and local foods for children and their families experiencing food insecurity. - Family Promise of Greater Concord
Awarded $2,500 to support the “Wheels up, Barriers Down” Program which provides financial assistance to families with children who are housing instable and at imminent risk of becoming homeless. - The Friendly Kitchen
Awarded $2,500 to purchase a new walk‑in freezer. - Friends of Concord Crew
Awarded $2,400 to fund seasonal registration fees for qualifying youth families. - Friends of Forgotten Children
Awarded $1,300 to stock their pantry for families experiencing food insecurity. - Girls Inc. of New Hampshire
Awarded $2,500 to provide weekly afterschool programs for elementary and middle school girls in Hopkinton and Concord, providing academic support, mentoring, and life skills through Girls, Inc.’s research‑based curriculum. - The Granite YMCA – YMCA of Concord
Awarded $4,545 to replace front and rear exterior door locksets and the panic device on the rear exit at the YMCA of Concord Child Care Center. - Marguerite’s Place
Awarded $1,500 to support their Financial Resiliency Program, which offers financial coaching, savings programs, and emergency support for single mothers and their children in their transitional housing program. - Meals on Wheel of Hillsborough County
Awarded $1,000 to support their mission of reducing hunger, food insecurity and social isolation among low-income older and disabled adults. - Nashua Police Athletic League
Awarded $2,500 to support their Youth Safe Haven and Juvenile Court Diversion programs for 400+ underserved youth in Greater Nashua. - New Hampshire Campaign for Legal Services
Awarded $3,000 to provide legal assistance in areas such as housing, domestic violence, access to health care and benefits, and consumer protection. - New Hampshire Career Academy
Awarded $1,700 to purchase student laptops for their 2025‑2026 cohort. - Overcomers Refugee Services
Awarded $2,000 to fund the cost of rent for an additional office space to increase their capacity to offer English language and citizenship preparation tutoring. - Pittsfield Youth Workshop
Awarded $2,500 to assist in providing quality and effective year-round programming for free to youth in grades 6 – 12 from Pittsfield and surrounding communities. - Salem Family Resources
Awarded $2,500 to support a Family Workshop Series, providing free parenting education, child development, and school readiness workshops for families in The Merrimack’s service area. - Scouts BSA Troop 292
Awarded $2,205 to fund annual registration fees for 15 adult volunteers for the 2025-2026 program year. - Waypoint
Awarded $2,500 to support services for youth experiencing homelessness or at risk in Merrimack County. - YMCA of Greater Nashua
Awarded $1,100 to support the Y’s Power Scholars Academy program to help up to 400 under-resourced Nashua youth who are behind grade level.
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 1st.