Our Mission
Friends of Willard Street exists to reduce food insecurity and increase access to basic necessities in Berlin, New Hampshire, and surrounding communities. We believe everyone deserves access to food, hygiene items, and books, without judgment, paperwork, or barriers.
Our work is rooted in dignity, mutual aid, and community care.
Our Purpose
We provide free, accessible resources including ready-to-eat food, hygiene supplies, and books through community-based sharing spaces. We focus especially on students, families, and individuals who may not qualify for traditional assistance or who need immediate, low-barrier support.
We aim to meet people where they are, offering practical help while strengthening community connection.
How It Started
Friends of Willard Street began with a simple idea: put a Little Free Library in the neighborhood.
What started as a small book box quickly revealed a larger need. Neighbors began asking for food, hygiene items, and everyday essentials. Donations grew. So did trust.
In response, the project expanded from a Little Free Library into a community pantry and mutual-aid hub, guided by the needs we saw right outside our doors. Everything grew organically, shaped by conversations, care, and the belief that help should be easy to access and offered without shame.
Today, Friends of Willard Street continues to grow with the community, staying rooted in the same values it started with: compassion, accessibility, and shared responsibility.
What We Believe
– Access to food and basic necessities is a human need, not a privilege.
– Support should be offered without judgment or red tape.
– Community-led solutions are powerful and effective.
– Small, consistent acts of care can create meaningful change.
Leadership & Board Friends of Willard Street is guided by a volunteer board committed to accessibility, dignity, and community care.
Kirstan Knowlton, Founder & President
Ashlynn Henderson, Secretary
Sarah Harney, Treasurer
Friends of Willard Street is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.