It Takes Dianne’s Village: Meet July’s Granite Stater of the Month
I am honored to recognize as July’s Granite Stater of the Month an individual who truly embodies the best of New Hampshire’s all-hands-on-deck spirit, consistently rolling up her sleeves and helping her community: Dianne Paquette of Salem, New Hampshire.
Dianne started with two elementary school playgrounds that needed repairs. She led efforts to raise money to repair the playgrounds because in her words, “somebody has to.” After she was successful in raising money to repair the playgrounds, Dianne set her sights on other town landmarks, and was instrumental in raising funds and gathering volunteers for several projects, including restoring the historic Salem Depot Train Station.
In Salem, Dianne has formed a core group of friends — a group that she calls the “Village” — made up of law enforcement officials, fire fighters, and Granite Staters who share her commitment to helping their community.
Recently, Dianne and the “Village” have focused on helping those in need after two separate apartment fires in Salem. She helped organize a spaghetti dinner that raised nearly $6,000. Then, following a second fire — and with the help of fire fighters working in the kitchen — she organized a pancake breakfast that raised over $5,000.
Dianne said that these fires increased awareness about an issue that is near to her heart, the lack of affordable housing in the Salem area. And the funds she helped raise are going to address many of the challenges the victims of the fires will face, including relocating. As she said, you can’t fix everything with pancakes and spaghetti, but you can do what you can to help.
Dianne reminds us all that sometimes helping your community is about being the person to take the first step and voice the idea, and her efforts to mobilize friends and neighbors to work together has made a real difference. For her dedication to Salem, I’m proud to recognize Dianne as July’s Granite Stater of the Month.
If you know someone who represents the best of New Hampshire, you can nominate them to be recognized as a Granite Stater of the Month here.
