For the Friendly Kitchen, a New Beginning: Video

The Friendly Kitchen held its open house on Dec. 13, with jazz music, dignitaries, Brie and crackers, and people from all walks of life.

The nearly $2 million building was constructed in a little more than four months, an astounding feat considering that some materials and time were donated, with the architects, Warren Street Architects, offering their work pro bono. The building will host a food pantry, a kitchen that will serve three meals during the weekdays and two meals on Saturday, and a meeting space.

The space, all involved admitted, was magnificent and inspiring, especially when compared to the previous building on Montgomery Street that burned down in a fire in April 2011.

Gov. John Lynch, D-Hopkinton, who will soon be leaving office, congratulated everyone for the work put into the building, calling it “an opportunity” to help others and “reflects all that is special about Concord and New Hampshire.”

Mayor Jim Bouley informed everyone that the Concord Fire Department had just delivered the certificate of occupancy about 45 minutes earlier, meaning the kitchen was officially open for business. He said, when the community came together to rebuild a new facility, “We did exactly what we said we were going to do.”

Byron Champlin of Lincoln Financial Group said his company was “pleased and proud to take a lead role” to support the new construction because its mission was to help people build secure futures. He said the kitchen would provide an opportunity for people with mental illness, substance abuse, or people who need a hand up, to get a decent meal, which would help them tackle “the difficulty facing their future with confidence.”

Currently, according to Merrimack County Savings Bank’s Don Bennert, a senior vice president of commercial loans, The Friendly Kitchen owes about $250,00 toward the construction. However, he noted, they repaid the mortgage the bank put together for the property that burned down which gave him hope that the rest of the building’s loan would be coming at some point, he stated, to laughs from the audience.

More fundraisers will be held to support The Friendly Kitchen and help the organization pay down the leftover debt.

One example is the Second Annual Rock 'n' Roll Benefit concert being held at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, at the IBEW 490 building on 48 Airport Road. Last year, the event raised more than $2,200. This year, the concert features sets by Ron Noyes, Mary Fagan, Matt Ghelli, Northern Light, Steve Grill, Chaz Proulx, and many more. Tickets are $20.