Rotary Club of Durham Great Bay Award their 2023 Citizen of the Year Award to Judy Belanger of Lee. She is the Youth Services librarian at the Lee Library and long time Lee resident. The event was held at the Brown Center, Durham NH.
For the past 33 years, Judy Belanger has been blessed to call Lee her home. She first became connected to this community by providing in-home childcare for local families while raising her four sons. Her path to volunteering intertwined with the growth of her sons, and it has been especially focused on children and families. From organizing crafts and helping to run Parents' Night Out at Mast Way School to leading the Lee Church youth group on mission trips and local service projects, Judy has remained committed to making a positive impact and nurturing young people into capable and caring adults.
An avid Baseball mom, Judy has also dedicated herself to being present on the sidelines. She has cheered on all four of her boys as they played baseball and took on coaching roles. Her unwavering support has not only contributed to their growth but has also exemplified her commitment to her family and community.
In 2019, as her youngest prepared to head off to college, Judy embraced the role of Youth Services librarian at the Lee Library. She dedicated herself to providing fun, educational, and creative programs and crafts. Additionally, she began volunteering weekly at the Wilkinson food pantry, an endeavor that has brought deep rewards and new connections within the community. These roles have evolved over the years, and Judy has consistently been a positive and supportive presence. Judy also volunteers in the newly created Lee Greeters group, which welcomes new residents and families to our wonderful town and community with welcome packages and information pages on local places of interest.
Looking back on her journey thus far, Judy realizes that she hasn't just lived in Lee; she has thrived, building a meaningful life by working with the wonderful families in her community. The quote 'The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention' has been her constant inspiration, reminding her of the profound impact of even the simplest acts of kindness. She's reminded daily that it truly takes a village, and she expresses profound gratitude to the wonderful village she calls home for all the love and support.
Judy’s efforts to engage the children during the lock down were well thought out and appreciated by the townspeople. A few of the things she did for the children consisted of Facebook live story hours and creating craft projects, with all the necessary items included, for pick up outside the library. These craft projects were available every Tuesday for families to stop by and pick up, at no charge, to do at home.
Judy Belanger is the epitome of the Rotary motto of Service Above Self and is deserving of the recognition of the Durham Great Bay Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year.
A $1000 donation from the Rotary Club, in Judy’s honor, will be to the Lee Library Community Center Foundation, for youth room furniture.