Longtime Country Bridals owner and town volunteer Cathy Furze has been named the 2021 Citizen of the Year by the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce.
Each year, the chamber names a prominent citizen, business and nonprofit to recognize for their contributions to the Jaffrey community. This year, Furze was named Citizen of the Year, with Threads of Hope, a charity resale clothing store, named as Nonprofit of the Year, and Cournoyer Funeral Home as Business of the Year.
“This surprised me,” Furze said Thursday. “I guess the things I do in and for the community aren’t being done to be recognized – they’re being done to better the community. So it’s quite humbling.”
Furze recently retired from her long tenure running Country Bridals on Jaffrey’s Main Street, turning the business over to her daughter, who had worked with her for years. She spoke to the Ledger-Transcript by phone as she was en route to Louisiana to assist with the rebuilding of homes destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Ida.
Volunteerism isn’t new to Furze, who has been involved in a long list of town committees and organizing events for years.
“The more involved you are, the more the town becomes family, and the more you care about how you can make it better,” Furze said. “Volunteerism is something that is very much needed in the community.”
Furze has volunteered with Women of Faith groups, and as a leader for the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. She has given talks at Conant High School about business ownership and mentored students, was recently part of the town’s Broadband Committee and helped to plan the 2020 Conant High School graduation when COVID-19 restrictions moved the ceremony to the Silver Ranch Airpark.
Additionally, she was a longtime organizer for the annual Festival of Fireworks, has been an organizer for fundraisers such as the Ron Despres Golf Tournament and the Monadnock Arts live auction and organized a regional bridal fair for many years. She currently serves on the chamber of commerce board.
Furze said she encourages young people to get involved with their local community.
“It’s important that youth be involved with something outside of themselves, and see how they can use their minds and hands to help others around them,” Furze said. “I want to thank the chamber and the community for allowing me to work with and for them.”
The 2021 Nonprofit of the Year recipient is Threads of Hope, a resale clothing store in Monadnock Plaza.
Threads of Hope is sponsored by the Hope Fellowship Church in Jaffrey as one of its ministries. Most items in the store are donated by church members or residents of Jaffrey, and the staff is volunteer, allowing the items in the store to be priced mostly at $1.
Store manager Ruth Ann Moody said the store started 10 years ago selling clothing specifically for mothers and young children, but found that the need was much more far-reaching. Today, it sells clothing for men, women and children of all ages.
While it’s sponsored by the church, anyone can come to the store to shop, and it’s run by volunteers both from the church and the wider community.
“This is a very community-focused ministry,” Moody said.
Last year, the store began getting so many donations, it had outgrown its location in the Monadnock Plaza and opened a new location within the same plaza, but with a larger show floor and more storage space.
“We couldn’t do this without the community behind us,” Moody said. “And many people like to donate to us, knowing that it will stay in the community and help their neighbors.”
Moody said Threads of Hope was honored to receive the award.
“It is a blessing to know that what we’re doing for the community is really viewed as a benefit, and to know that the community appreciates that we’re here and what we’re doing,” Moody said.
Mike Shea, who nominated the store, stated in his nomination letter, “An often-overlooked aspect of the low-pricing model is that it allows shoppers to maintain dignity. As opposed to receiving direct handouts, shoppers are paying modest prices for the items they choose, and everyone feels good about the transaction.”
The Cournoyer Funeral Home in Jaffrey, the oldest family operated home in the Monadnock Region, has been named the Business of the Year.
“The Cournoyers have always been good about investing in their community through their work in various community organizations, by working with other local companies as well as supporting various charities, first responders, schools and sports groups,” stated resident Alison Bergeron in her nomination letter.
Run by fourth-generation owner Mark Cournoyer and Cournoyer’s son Garrett, already involved in the business, Mark said the business and his family has deep roots in Jaffrey.
“You’re here to make a living, but also to really help each other and support each other, especially in a time that’s difficult,” he said. “That’s where we try to be here and make sure that families receive the personal care they deserve.”
Both Mark and Garrett Cournoyer volunteer within the community, as well as provide support for various organizations through the business, Mark said. The funeral home has offered support to surrounding communities fire and police department equipment funds, sponsored softball teams and provided support for local food pantries and the Monadnock Humane Society, which provided training for the funeral home’s therapy dog, Ziva.
“We’re invested in our little towns around here,” Mark said. “Everything goes back into our homes and communities.”
Mark said he was honored by the recognition.
“We don’t do this to be recognized in any way, so to have something like this, or even to be considered for it, is humbling. It was a nice surprise. You don’t do anything like this to be recognized,” he said.
All of the recipients will be honored at the virtual annual meeting Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. Anyone interested in attending should contact the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce at 603-532-4549 or info@jaffreychamber.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.