Members of SmileSquad, a Community Caring Program comprised of volunteer employees from Franklin Savings Bank, joined the Belknap-Merrimack County Community Action Program to deliver roses to Meals on Wheels recipients on Friday, May 6, in Andover, Danbury, Franklin, Hill, Northfield, Salisbury, Sanbornton, and Tilton.

A total of 132 meals and roses were delivered by SmileSquad members, including Jeffery Savage, CEO of Franklin Savings Bank; Dorothy Savery, Executive Assistant and Assistant Corporate Secretary; Tab Gerry, Project Manager; Renee Sylvester, Accounting and Deposit Services Specialist; Erin Mercier, Security Specialist; and Sarah Stanley, Community Relations Officer.

According to Sarah Stanley, “Distributed just before Mother’s Day, the timing of the rose delivery was perfect to honor mothers. But the spreading of smiles didn’t end there. A red rose was given to each recipient in the Meals on Wheels program. One woman who recently lost her only daughter cried upon receiving her rose, but the tears were ones of joy. She confided in us that she wasn’t looking forward to Mother’s Day; however, she now had a happy and memorable reason to smile on Sunday.”

Granite United Way sold the roses as a fundraiser for their organization. Franklin Savings Bank purchased 25 dozen roses to support the cause, while the rose deliveries to New Hampshire businesses were provided by UPS.

Founded in January 2013, Franklin Savings Bank created SmileSquad as a program to connect the bank with the communities it serves on another level. The program continues to pay it forward with random acts of kindness to benefit local non-profits, businesses, and community members. This altruistic program provides an element of surprise by not disclosing where SmileSquad members will show up in the communities served by the bank. The goal behind the program is to create a ripple effect of random acts of kindness, thereby encouraging others to simply “pay it forward.”