Hassan Visits Concord’s Friendly Kitchen

Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, stopped by The Friendly Kitchen on South Commercial Street in Concord on Dec. 23, to help serve lunch to about 60 people.

It was the governor’s first time to the city’s largest soup kitchen, she said, noting that her chief of staff, Pamela Walsh, served on the Board of Directors and had talked about the facility a number of times.

The Friendly Kitchen serves two meals a day throughout the year as well as breakfast during the winter and on weekends to those in need. Lunch is usually served to about 60 or 70 people. On this particular day, a little less than 60 people were served sandwiches, soup, chips, and cookies. The Courtyard by Marriott donated some of the items over the weekend.

Hassan asked some questions about the facility and chatted with volunteers and later, was put in charge of doling out cookies to guests, some who were surprised to see the governor serving them lunch.

The Friendly Kitchen celebrates the end of its first year at its new facility next week. In 2012, it served more than 57,000 meals to about 49,000 guests.