Photos courtesy of Meredith Village Savings Bank and Merrimack County Savings Bank

“Mitten tree” drives held by Meredith Village Savings Bank and Merrimack County Savings Bank brought in thousands of dollars and winter clothing items. 

MVSB’s drive collected 1,712 mittens, hats, gloves and scarves from community members and bank employees. The bank matched each contribution with a $2 donation, generating $3,424 that will be split between 11 local nonprofits addressing childhood food insufficiency. 

The items will be distributed by the branches to local schools, early learning centers and other organizations that support families in need in their local communities. 

The bank has held mitten tree drives every holiday season since 1979. 

The Merrimack’s drive gathered 2,800 handmade and store-bought mittens, gloves, hats and scarves, which that bank also matched with $2 donations, generating $7,100 for eight local food pantries and Concord’s Friends of Forgotten Children nonprofit. 

Like MVSB, items collected in The Merrimack’s drive were delivered to local nonprofits to distribute to those in need. 

“We’re grateful for the outpour of community support, especially our local knitters that work year-round on donations for our drive,” Linda Lorden, president of The Merrimack, said in a statement. 

Both banks are part of New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp.