NHBR About Town: Week of January 30, 2026
Business and event happenings around the state of NH
NHBR About Town: Week of January 30, 2026
Business and event happenings around the state of NH
1. Matt Masson of Manchester, general manager of the McDonald’s at 907 Hanover St. in Manchester, is holding a winter blanket donation drive at the restaurant to help the unhoused. Donations will be shared with the Manchester-based nonprofit Families in Transition, which serves those experiencing homelessness. The drive was held in honor of McDonald’s 1 in 8 Day.
2. Meredith Village Savings Bank announced a $2,000 donation to support the nonprofit Mount Washington Observatory. The observatory’s goal is to advance the understanding of Earth’s natural systems which create weather and climate. Standing at the MWOBS administrative offices in North Conway are, from left: MWOBS Director of Finance and Administration Brenda Sullivan; MVSB Business Development Officer Ariana Roy; and MWOBS Executive Director Drew Bush.
3. The MVSB (Meredith Village Savings Bank) Fund at New Hampshire Charitable Foundation has awarded $116,539 in grants to 53 local nonprofit organizations. Of this total, $100,539 was granted to 37 local agencies and $16,000 was distributed to 16 food pantries to help combat food insecurity in MVSB’s service area. The grants represent MVSB’s support of organizations that strengthen communities.
4. The Red Arrow Diner has donated $10,000 to the nonprofit Operation Delta Dog, which rescues and trains shelter dogs to be psychiatric service companions for local veterans experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The diner raised funds from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11, 2025, with their Breakfast for a Year raffle.
5. Two robotics teams from Bedford Academy recently competed in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge. Both teams qualified for the state competition, which was held Dec. 6. FIRST LEGO League is geared toward students ages 4 to 16 and helps them develop STEM skills and take part in hands-on robotics activities through the use of LEGO bricks.
6. Franklin Savings Bank announced it has collected more than 640 toys during the WMUR Toys for Tots drive. The fundraiser is sponsored by the bank, and the fundraiser is managed by the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation. All of Franklin Savings Bank offices were drop-off locations for unwrapped toys.
7. In November, Advantage Truck Group held Veterans Day breakfasts around New England to honor its veteran and active-duty service member employees. Breakfasts were held in Lancaster, Lebanon, Manchester and Seabrook. ATG employee members and managers cooked the meals together to show appreciation to their colleagues. Advantage Truck Group is a designated Military-Friendly Gold employer.
8. Members of the D’Amante family has donated more than 20 oversized stuffed animals to the playroom at Concord Hospital’s pediatric unit. For about 30 years, the D’Amante family has annually supported services at Concord Hospital, including the Payson Center for Cancer Care and The Family Place. Young patients can choose their own stuffed plushie to snuggle with and take home.
