2022 Spirit of NH Awards

Holy Cross Family Learning Center

Sr. Norma has been teaching English to English language learners at Holy Cross Family Learning Center for over a decade. She has volunteered over 2000 hours of her time teaching in class and remotely, not counting the many hours of preparation that this entails.  During the Covid years, she accepted the challenge of teaching online and continues today, in spite of being a young 90 years old.  Her energy seems endless when it comes to meeting and teaching her students.  Several of these students have reached out to her for help.  Many have succeeded well in continuing advanced education and finding positions.   

Connections Through Kindness

Susan founded Connections Through Kindness when her independent efforts to distribute food and other items to Dover community members experiencing homelessness two to three times a week expanded to include other volunteers. Susan is a tireless advocate for her unhoused neighbors and frequently collaborates with other local organizations to get their needs met.

Rockingham VNA and Hospice

Marie is dedicated to her patients as well as the Rockingham VNA & Hospice organization. In addition to going above and beyond to make her patients feel comfortable and cared for she is always ready to jump in wherever help is needed on the administrative side to ensure that things run smoothly for patients, family, and staff. Her commitment to forming deep relationships with her patients has enabled them to get the most they can from their time with the program.

Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity 

For over four years, Bob Kirouac has been a faithful construction volunteer with Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity. He brings his experience and skills to assist with new home construction projects from start to finish, as well as one-day projects. Bob has poured hundreds of hours of labor into building homes, which is a huge blessing for the partner families. Without volunteers, like Bob, the projects wouldn’t be possible. Bob does it all with a positive attitude and seemingly endless energy that spreads to the others volunteering around him.

NH Senior Companion Program

Jackie Martel has been a volunteer with the Senior Companion Program for over three years. In that time, she has volunteered over 1800 hours providing companionship to nearly 15 homebound older adults in her community. Jackie’s charismatic personality, sense of humor, and remarkable level of professionalism differentiates her from other volunteers. She is a source of comfort to her visitees and a role model to her peers.

New Boston CERT

As Director of the New Boston CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Bruce and his team operate the shelter and cooling station and support the town’s emergency services. Bruce is always available to respond to a call and is dedicated to putting in the time to make sure the team is trained and the equipment is maintained properly. Through this work, the CERT not only helps the community through their direct work but frees the time and resources of the town’s emergency responders to respond to more technical incidents.

Special Olympics NH

The team at Special Olympics New Hampshire knows that if they need something done, they can go to Kim. With 35 years of experience with SONH Kim is an organizer, an implementer, and an all-around joy to work with. From event planning to getting over a thousand envelopes stuffed and mailed Kim will get it done with a smile on her face and even leave the space cleaner than she found it.

LISTEN Community Services 

For the past two years, Joni has volunteered her time doing data entry for LISTEN Community Services in Lebanon, NH. Her dedication and proficiency in this role allows the staff to focus on the vital services they provide, as well as the ability to produce timely and accurate reports. The task can be long and tedious, but Joan does it all with a positive attitude.

Sunrise Sunset Activity Center/Recreation Department

Through her work with the Sunrise Sunset Activity Center/Recreation Department Kathy leads her Sunrise Strummers through learning new music and bringing joy to audiences from preschool age to 98 years old, from the nursing home to the town square. Her care and dedication to supporting her senior musicians across experience levels is evident and clearly extends to the people in the community that the group performs for.

NH Senior Companion Program

In her 3 years with the Senior Companion Program, Cam has grown into a dedicated team leader and home visitor. She has consistently gone above and beyond in her work with homebound seniors and disabled adults in the Berlin/Gorham area, resulting in an impact on her visitees and their families that is not to be underestimated.

Ernest Landry, Walt Roy, and Peter Coffin are long time volunteers of the Southeast Land Trust (SELT) within their town of Kingston, NH. The three of them do it all – from monitoring and improving trails, building kiosks, helping on field trips, serving on committees, and much more. All three are known to be dependable, reliable, and enthusiastic in their volunteer work, not to mention funny. It takes a special type of person who can volunteer so widely, and so consistently, while having fun, and making the experience fun for others. SELT is lucky to count these three as part of their team!

Queen City Bike Collective

There are 10 stations throughout the city of Manchester that allow the community to have access to bicycle repair tools 24 hours a day. People who rely on their bicycles for transportation depend on these stations being open and stocked. In their roles, they recruit and manage volunteers, as well as make repairs if a station has been damaged or if parts were stolen. They do this work behind the scenes, often without seeing the positive impact of their work. Riders in the community depend on these stations and they are grateful for the work of these volunteers!

Future In Sight’s Volunteer Driver Program serves individuals who are blind or visually impaired in New Hampshire. Often referred to as “friends” or even “angels,” drivers provide essential rides to doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping. They also provide much-needed transportation to peer support groups, social activities, keeping their clients happy, independent, involved, and present within their communities.

The Greater Nashua Habitat for Humanity volunteer crew not only build homes for low-income families, they also lead volunteer build days for outside groups to participate. Always ready to go above and beyond, this crew worked 6,000 hours handling all aspects of building a home from the ground up. It’s apparent that everyone on the team puts their heart and soul into their service.

UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Greg and Nancy Noga have donated their time for the past two years volunteering with UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center. They do it all – from helping with programming to mucking out stalls, and in all kinds of temperatures and weather. They often go above and beyond what is expected of them as volunteers – happily picking up extra volunteer shifts and contributing to the completion of any number of endless tasks, without even being asked.

International Institute of New England – Manchester

Refugee resettlement must be a community effort to be successful, and the volunteers at the International Institute of New England in Manchester, NH make it possible. Their eagerness to welcome new Americans and to help them integrate is genuine, self-driven, and truly inspirational. Rather than simply signing up for tasks and completing them, they take it upon themselves to form deep and meaningful relationships with families, and to use whatever expertise and resources they have to address their specific needs—be it installing air conditioners in their apartments, helping them practice English, giving them rides, teaching them to drive, or watching their children so they have the chance to socialize and support one another. The impact these volunteers have on strengthening their diverse community will be long lasting.

The volunteers at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church’s 5 Loves and 2 Fish Ministry work together to bring food to those in need around them. Each week 30 to 40 volunteers of all ages pack and deliver bread products to local food pantries, daycares, and low income and senior housing. If they see a need, they take action and meet it! With a heart for service, individuals and families serve with enthusiasm and joy.

Our Corner Store

Roger and Cindy are dedicated volunteers at Our Corner Store in Whitefield, NH. For the last 15 years they have been integral members of the volunteer team. From collecting and sorting donations, testing electronics, to cleaning things and cashiering – the list goes on and on! At nearly 80 years old, they have cut their schedule back to two days a week, previously opening and closing the store every day. The two are role models for other volunteers. They are a hard-working and dependable team. Roger and Cindy are always happy to help and will never turn anyone in need away.

Pemi-SAR

The volunteers of the Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue Team (Pemi-SAR) assist NH Fish & Game with woodland searches for lost and missing people as well as ensuring injured hikers are safely and efficiently carried out of the White Mountains. Team members are invited by necessity to what are often the worst days in people’s lives; from an injury that prevents the victim from getting back to the trailhead to much more tragic situations. They are not deterred by the time of day, weather, or trail conditions in their response. Beyond their individual skill sets, they bring a deep sense of camaraderie, trust, and gratitude for one another to each rescue.

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country

Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country is a nonprofit that empowers individuals with disabilities by building community, confidence, and skills through sport, recreation, and adventure. In the past year, 350 volunteers provided over 2,500 sport and recreation outings – including skiing, rock climbing, and even fly fishing. Volunteers not only provide the lessons but go above and beyond to drive those without transportation and fix gear.

Canine Companions

Canine Companions is a service dog industry nonprofit with chapters nationwide, including New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. The chapters raise awareness, recruit new puppy raisers and volunteers. Volunteers report immense pride in helping to move their puppies along on their journey to become service dogs. In tandem with the service dog recipients, volunteers do an incredible job of spreading awareness through events and fundraising; The impact of our volunteers is felt throughout the entire canine community.

Granite State Ambassadors

The organization creates opportunities for civic-minded people, mainly retirees, to use their skills and talents, which then enables NH welcome centers and events to promote our state. Volunteers do anything from staffing info desks, partnering with many tourism-related nonprofit organizations in NH, and even helping with large, statewide events. Together, they hope to create a legacy of welcome for visitors and residents in the state.

The International Nepalese Literary Society, based in Concord, is a Nepalese-run nonprofit dedicated to helping the NH Nepalese community understand and integrate with America while also preserving their culture. Volunteers help others with English skills, teach civic engagement and how to vote, and promote volunteerism in the community.

Less Leg More Heart

Less Leg More Heart is a nonprofit that seeks to spread hope, decrease suffering, and enhance viability within the amputee community. They do this by providing customized education, support, services, and supplies during and after life-changing medical circumstances.

New Market Historical Society

The New Market Historical Society (NHS) has existed for many years, but during the 2020 pandemic and beyond, its volunteers have been laser-focused on researching, documenting, and publishing local history through the creation of a historical walking tour. The volunteers of the NHS made a concerted effort to bring historical perspective outside, to the people of the town. Their work involved countless hours of volunteer time and welcomed businesspeople, teachers, students, senior citizens groups, and others to walk the tour and engage with the rich history of the town.

Peace of Mind Medicaid Consultant

Peace of Mind Medicaid Consultant’s mission is to support every older and disabled adult in New Hampshire (even those who are unable to pay for their services) through the “Red Tape” application process for the NH Long Term Care Medicaid or Independent Choices Medicaid Programs. Volunteers support clients every step of the way through submitting an application, providing follow-up documents, and even court appeals.

PNS STEM Outreach Program

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Outreach Program engages employees in volunteer activities throughout New Hampshire and New England, in schools and after school programs. The mission of the program is to inspire, engage and educate students from kindergarten through graduation in hands-on STEM activities while introducing participants to STEM careers.