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About the Contoocook
Carry© Triathlon
and Fund, and Wood for Warmth
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Ours is a simple,
family effort to get neighbors in a small New England town to have fun
participating in an athletic event that celebrates our community,
teamwork and helps
raise money for various causes within our town.
In 2002 we began this
effort to honor two young boys that died in a tragic winter accident.
First called the Carr-Shumway Triathlon, its proceeds assisted the
building of The Spirit
Skateboard Park in Contoocook Village, as a
memorial to these wonderful boys. As we
were organizing the first
event, three important principles emerged to guide our efforts.
First,
that although this was to be a competitive athletic event, we were going
to encourage participant diversity – we wanted families, teens,
grandparents, as well as seasoned athletes. Second, that part of the
experience was to have fun – so unusual prizes, team identities and team
costumes were part of the experience. Third, since the Congoran family would underwrite the event’s expenses,
all proceeds will be directed
toward assisting individuals
and families in our community
Every year since,
this triathlon has been dedicated to helping people in the villages of
Contoocook and Hopkinton through the Contoocook Carry Community Fund. Proceeds raised from this event, which in the past had
been used for assistance with food,
shelter, pharmaceuticals, etc., are
currently being directed toward fuel assistance for those
in the
community who need our help.
About the
Contoocook Carry Fund
In mid-August, a
town-wide mailing will be done to give all residents an opportunity to
make a
donation, large or small, to help their neighbors weather the
upcoming, harsh New England winter.
These funds, added to the Triathlon
proceeds and generous sponsorships given by families
and businesses,
have been of immeasurable help to our residents during the cold weather.
About Wood for
Warmth©
In 2008, the
Contoocook Carry Fund received its first donation of a cord of wood. We
realized that direct gifts of wood, here in New Hampshire, might be of
enormous help to families bearing the
significant rise in costs of fuel
oil and gas. Wood for Warmth was created to encourage neighbors to help
neighbors by donating or trucking to and/or splitting wood at the newly
formed Sean Powers Wood Bank (named for a beloved fallen police
officer). Volunteers (families, teens, adults, dogs, etc.) finally
stacked 11 cords of wood to help their friends. Throughout the 2008
winter, those who
ran a little short on firewood supplies, asked for a
voucher to access this wood – and now we are
down to 1 cord. Those who
received wood, offered to come back on a volunteer day – and so
the
cycle goes on of Neighbors helping Neighbors. Please read and see
pictures at
www.WoodforWarmth.org.
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