Rosemarie Bessette
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| Jim and Cindy Mello with Rosemarie and Norm Bessette
Jim and Cindy's nomination letter said:
Bring what you can. Take what you need!
That’s the mantra of the Lebanon Children’s Clothing Wardrobe. Begun in 2011 in the garage of her family’s home, Rosemarie Bessette has been gathering and distributing clothing for children throughout the area. Quickly outgrowing the garage, she held 2-3 swap events at Lebanon Elementary School in 2012, and in 2013 the Lebanon Community Center became its home for 4 events each year. In December 2014, she organized the first toy swap to ensure that all children would enjoy the holiday season. Planning for this year’s toy swap is underway. Recently she has partnered with the Redeemer Lutheran Church on Village Hill as the host facility which will enable the clothing wardrobe to grow for many years of continued service. Rosemarie has made this a genuine community event by enlisting help from family members and individual volunteers, as well as groups like Cub Scout Pack 58 and the Lebanon Leos. Setting the example of volunteerism within the community sets the bar high for others to follow. Watching Rosemarie interact with visitors to the clothing swap is like being invited into her home. Her warm welcome and engaging manner puts all at ease and feeling welcome. Her goal is to ensure that every child has what is needed and appropriate. She is even known to take donated items home and work some magic so that she can take pride in the quality of items available. Saturday, October 17 was the latest event for the Clothing Wardrobe. In just 3 hours, 82 families with 212 children were served. In true Rosemarie style, she thanked the Lebanon Community for their generosity for donating clothing and recognized that this is a community project and a service of which our town can be proud.
Without the vision, commitment to cause, and perseverance of Rosemarie Bessette, the Lebanon Children’s Clothing Wardrobe would not exist or continue. She is truly a Ray of Sunshine as she touches the lives of many!
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| Ray of Sunshine Archive: |
| August 2017 - Pat Tolokan |
| May 2017 - Carolyn Stanich |
| February 2017 - Rita Perry |
| November 2016 - Jonathan Wadsworth |
| August 2016 - Marie Hakmiller |
| May 2016 - Lorraine Strenkowski |
| February 2016 - Alice Bury |
| December 2015 - Rosemarie Bessette |
| August 2015 - Tonya Landrie Ohlund |
| May 2015 - Karen Schenck |
| February 2015 - Maurice Simard |
| November 2014 - Dorothy Stevens |
| August 2014 - Phyllis Pintal |
| May 2014 - Karen Porter |
| March 2014 - Joan Merritt |
| November 2013 - Ron Pires |
| August 2013 - Dorothy Deptula |
| May 2013 - AnnMarie Poudrier |
| March 2013 - Frank Kristoff |
| January 2013 - Bil Czmyr |
| August 2012 - Patti Sue Brown |
| May 2012 - Bobbi Brown |
| February 2012 - Judy Prescott |
| November 2011 - Kathy Pekarovic |
| August 2011 - Dee and Dale Hammon |
| May 2011 - Sandy Reed |
| February 2011 - Rich Balogh |
| November 2010 - Lisa Baker Rose |
| September 2010 - Dan Hill |
| May 2010 - Susan Humes |
| February 2010 - Donna Charron |
| November 2009 - Pamela Bibeau |
| August 2009 - Joan Morin |
| June 2009 - Kay Roan |
| March 2009 - Marion Russo |
| December 2008 - Frank and Shirley Mauro |
| November 2008 - Charlene Perry |
| October 2008 - Angela LaTour |
| September 2008 - Joan Goba |
| August 2008 - Donna Clauson |
| July 2008 - Rosa Tirado |
| June 2008 - Barbara Leary |
| May 2008 - Kord Baker |
| April 2008 - Joe Henry |
| March 2008 - Barbara Colon |
| February 2008 - Charlie Wynn |
| January 2008 - Jessica Medina |
| December 2007 - Linda Harbec |
| November 2007 - Richard Kelley |
| October 2007 - Lynn White |
| September 2007 - Paul Doyle |
| July 2007 - Pam Horrocks |
| June 2007 - Lauren Perrotti |
| May 2007 - Jean DeSmet |
| April 2007 - Gen Micali |
| February 2007 - Belinda Clark |
| January 2007 - Miriam Epstein |
| December 2006 - Anita Sebestyen |
| November 2006 - Eileen Spear |
| October 2006 - Monique Roy |
| September 2006 - Helen Card |
| August 2006 - Joan Doiron |
| July 2006 - Roddy McComber |
| June 2006 - Tom Beardsley |
| May 2006 - Victor and Martha Funderburk |
| March 2006 - Barry Shayer |
| February 2006 - Judith Jencks |
| January 2006 - Ray Milvae |
