Moe Daneau and Jimmy O’Neil chatted endlessly as they scarfed down sausage and pepper subs.
Daneau told the story behind his skyline button down from Muscle Beach in Los Angeles, and O’Neil reminisced about his many hang gliding adventures around the world. O’Neil touted about his collection of over 100 antique hats, mainly fedoras, while Daneau sported a bright orange AmeriCorps cap.
The two, who met for the first time at a weekly luncheon at Weare’s Hand in Hand, could have been mistaken for old friends. Daneau, 82, carpools to the center from Goffstown frequently, but 80-year-old O’Neil, of New Boston, has only come a handful of times.
Meeting people is always the highlight of Daneau’s experience at Hand in Hand.
“I fell in love with the place as soon as I walked in,” he said.
It’s also the highlight for other patrons and volunteers . Hand in Hand — a nonprofit thrift store, senior center and food pantry rolled into one — has grown as a community hub for the rural town and its surrounding areas. With a new building, the center hopes to expand its footprint as well.
Ron Merrill, a volunteer with the nonprofit, has lived in Weare for over 40 years but said it’s been difficult to establish “community unity.” The largest town in Hillsborough County by size, Weare is fragmented into distinct boroughs and does not have a strong downtown presence, he said.
He said he hopes Hand in Hand will be the place where people can finally gather and make connections.
“Our intent is not to make money,” Merrill said. “It’s just to be good citizens and just make life as nice as possible for as many of our people as we can.”
Hand in Hand has been in operation for three years at its current location at 33 North Stark Highway, off Route 114. The nonprofit runs on a strong core of volunteers such as Melody Beauregard, who has been a part of the organization in its early days seven years ago.
Beauregard works in the thrift store, which is packed with clothes, from the racks to the walls. The only revenue the center makes is from thrift store sales, which ranges from $500 to $750 per week, Merrill said. All the money goes back into operations of meals and activities.
“I keep a record when I learn someone’s name, so I know 200 people that come in here by name,” Beauregard said. “They come in and they tell me they’re happy things and sad things … it’s very special to me.”
A few steps away is Hand in Hand’s kitchen, where Brian Sullivan has something new prepared every Wednesday. Once a week, the nonprofit provides free meals to anyone who needs one. Sullivan said they serve about 50 people per week, a majority of whom pack into the dining and activity rooms to eat together. A handful choose the pick-up and delivery options.
He started preparing meals regularly in November and has experimented with dishes he has always thought about making.
“I’m very passionate about food, so it’s always been something I always wanted to do, and being able to provide a nice hot nutritious meal for the seniors is a real blessing,” Sullivan said.
Weare’s food pantry, established nearly two decades ago, at one point stood as a cardboard box available for collection and drop-off in front of town hall. After moving locations a few more times, it’s home landed in the corner of the kitchen at Hand in Hand.
Sullivan expects that keeping people in town involved, especially those on the outskirts, will hugely benefit those who are struggling to afford basic necessities.
“We need to be in touch with them to make sure that they’re okay, that they’re getting what they need,” he said.
The final piece of Hand in Hand is its activities. From book clubs to crafts to tai chi sessions, the organization offers several events throughout the week. Heleen Kurk, a volunteer who helps organize the programs, recalled one day where four high school girls came in to set up an in-home beauty spa, complete with nail care, hair braiding and massages.
Kurk remembered the women feeling special because of the attention and care they received.
“For a number of people here, it’s the only time they really are with other people,” she said.
“Economics doesn’t divide them. You can be lonely and be the wealthiest person in the world, you know?”
The growth of community at Hand in Hand has reached its physical capacity — prompting another move. Merrill said they have been looking for another place for two years and finally landed on a property a few miles down the road in April. The new building boasts open spaces, an updated kitchen area and plenty of storage space.
Merrill said the nonprofit has already gotten many donations to help construct the space. An anonymous donor helped finance the building purchase, and local companies and residents have pitched in to offer a free heating and cooling system, painting materials and accessibility ramps.
Beauregard said the thrift store’s back room has maxed out and that it’s difficult to work in such small spaces. Sullivan said he hopes the new place can attract even more community members. Kurk said the programs can finally have their own dedicated area.
When Merrill walked through the building — with cardboard boxes and cleaning supplies strewn across different room, old paint needing a makeover — he could see all the possibilities and more.
“It’s hard to get time to get a real community spirit for a town with almost 10,000 people, and I’ve been affected by that,” he said. “I think we’re on the on the edge of something really big, something really nice.”
Correction: This article was updated to correctly spell Moe Daneau’s name
