St. Mary’s Bank Charitable Foundation has awarded $5,338 to Stepping Stones, Greater Nashua’s only drop-in center for homeless, unaccompanied youth aged 25 and under. The grant award will enable Stepping Stones to provide two youths with six months of services, some of which will include food, clothing, and access to a shower and laundry. 

“Stepping Stones provides a vital service to a segment of the population that is underrepresented and often forgotten,” said Ken Senus, St. Mary’s Bank CEO. “We applaud and support their critically important mission.”

Established in 2020, the Foundation ensures St. Mary’s Bank can sustain “a high level of community giving for the long term.” 

“An investment in Stepping Stones directly reflects our broader philanthropic areas of concern,” added Senus.

According to Zach Paone, development and communications coordinator for Stepping Stones, the grant supports their goals to help young people plan their career, educational, and housing goals.

“We depend on funds from charitable organizations to provide this safe haven as more youth turn to our new transitional housing that opened this past spring,” he said.

Since 2020, Stepping Stones has helped more than 130 young people with nowhere to go access food, clothing, showers, laundry, mail, and lockers. To learn more about Stepping Stones, visit steppingstonesnh.org.


Pictured Left to Right: Zach Paone, Stepping Stones development and
communications coordinator, Kelsea Batchelder, St. Mary’s Bank community
and employee engagement specialist, and Kathy Farland, Stepping Stones
executive director.