Tilton Senior Center receives $4,500 grant from Meredith Village Savings Bank

TILTON — Tilton Senior Center was chosen as one of thirteen local non-profit agencies to receive a grant from the Meredith Village Savings Bank Fund at the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (MVSB Fund) in 2014. The $4592 grant was used to purchase a commercial dishwasher and to install a fire suppression hood over the stove in the senior center's kitchen. These additions have allowed the center to expand their lunch program to provide three meals per week to area seniors in need.

In 2008, Caring Hands Assisting Tilton (CHAT), a group of volunteers that assists seniors and disabled community members in Tilton, received permission from the Town of Tilton to establish a Senior Center in a vacant municipal building known as the Lochmere Grange. With $20,000 in support from the town, the group set out to completely renovate the historic building. Through tremendous fundraising efforts and contributions from local businesses and contractors the group was able to fully restore the building while maintaining its historical integrity, make the facility ADA and building code compliant, upgrade the plumbing and electric and install a heating and cooling system.

Once the senior center was up and running, the group partnered with the Community Action Program (CAP) of Concord. This partnership provided them with a part-time Program Director and the ability to offer one meal per week to a small group of seniors. As more and more local towns cut back on their lunch programs, the number of seniors seeking meals at Tilton Senior Center tripled. The group made it their goal to meet the demand and expand their lunch program to three days per week, but in order to do this they needed to add a fire suppression hood over their stove and obtain a commercial dishwasher.

After receiving a donated fire suppression hood from a local business, they sought out a grant from Meredith Village Savings Bank to fund the rest of the project. Thanks to the support they received they were able to complete the work and expand their lunch program to two days per week and add a brunch. The commercial dishwasher has reduced their clean up time significantly with each load of dishes taking only three minutes.

"We are so thankful for this contribution from Meredith Village Savings Bank and for all of the support we have received from so many local business and individuals," said Pat Consentino, Vice Chair Executive Committee/Selectmen. "These additions have not only allowed us to offer more meals, but they have also greatly reduced the clean up time for our volunteers, giving them a chance to focus on the projects and programs that bring so much joy to our attendees."