For Eleanor, Tuesday is the best day of the week.
I consider the Laconia Senior Center to be my second home, and look forward to going each week.
— Eleanor L. Leclerc,
Former LSC Volunteer and Current Attendee
She’s not the only one. Help us make sure it stays that way.
A meal is never just a meal.
For the seniors who gather at the Laconia Senior Center every week, and for those who can’t leave home and rely on Meals on Wheels to bring the world to their door, a hot and nourishing meal is a lifeline. It means someone thought of them today. It means they don’t eat alone.It means another day of staying independent, staying healthy, and staying connected to the community they love.
The challenge is in the kitchen or rather, the lack of one nearby.
Right now, every meal served at every senior center in Belknap County, and every Meals on Wheels delivery, starts its journey in a commercial kitchen an hour away in Concord. By the time it arrives, it’s often cold. Quality suffers. Portioning is an educated guess, over-prepped to be safe, which means waste. Every mile of transport costs money that could go directly into care. And our staff and vehicles stretch thin keeping this system running. This is not the way it should work. And it doesn’t have to.
CAPBM has been a neighbor in Belknap and Merrimack Counties for more than 60 years.
Through more than 70 programs, spanning health and nutrition, housing, energy assistance, early education, workforce development, and more, we show up for people at every stage of life. The Laconia Senior Center and Meals on Wheels are among our most vital connections to the people we serve. They are where nutrition, independence, and community come together under one roof. They deserve a kitchen worthy of that mission.
The Center is more than a gathering place. It is a trusted hub of support, education, and nourishment for older adults. We have seen firsthand the meaningful impact it has on the individuals we mutually serve.
— Beth J. Slepian,
President & CEO, Granite VNA
5,000 meals served each month from the Laconia Senior Center and Meals on Wheels
Here’s what changes when the kitchen is ours.
A renovated, commercial-grade kitchen at the Laconia Senior Center changes everything. For Eleanor. For the neighbor who can’t get out and counts on that knock at the door every day. For the thousands of seniors across Belknap County and into Franklin who deserve a fresh, hot meal made with care, not a meal that spent two hours in a van.
With this kitchen we can:
Nearly double our reach - growing from 4,818 meals per month to 9,160, extending service to seniors in Alton, Tilton, and Franklin for the first time
Serve fresher, more nutritious food - prepared on-site, hot, and ready - not traveling for hours before it reaches someone’s table
Reduce waste and transportation costs, so more of every dollar goes directly to the people we serve
Grow programming with cooking classes, nutrition education, and intergenerational events that connect young people and older adults
Build a regional hub where connection, dignity, and good food are available to anyone who needs them
A modern, fully equipped commercial kitchen will greatly enhance the Center’s ability to prepare healthy meals efficiently, broaden its programming, and meet increasing demand. Reliable access to nutritious food is essential for healthy aging.
— Kate Bruchacova,
Nutrition Connections, Extension Teacher, Belknap County UNH Cooperative Extension
You’re invited to our table.
1,500,000
Because of generous funders and the belief of our community, we’ve raised $1,265,000 toward a $1.5 million goal.
Investments like this help ensure that seniors in our community have continued access to nutritious meals, supportive services, and meaningful opportunities to remain connected and engaged.
— Winifred M. Tunstall,
Supervisor & Community Paramedic, Winnipesaukee Mobile Health Program
We need $235,000 more to bring this kitchen and everything it represents to life. That’s it. That’s the gap between where we are and what we’ve been working toward for years.
Will you help us close it?
Ready to join our table?
Your gift, of any size, moves us closer to the kitchen that changes everything for seniors across our region. Reach out today to learn more or make your donation.
Heather O’Brien,
Director, Elder Services
603.225.3295 x1110 • hobrien@capbm.org
We strongly believe this project will have a lasting and meaningful impact on our community and fully support this funding request.
— Kirk Beattie,
City Manager, City of Laconia