Freedom Old Home Week 2025 Grand Marshal

Doris and Paul have been full time residents of Freedom for 24 years.  In 1996 while dining at a restaurant on route 16, Doris picked up a real estate magazine and saw a home she liked.  Later, at a family gathering she met Alice Petersen who bragged about the future retirement home she and Charlie bought in Freedom.  Doris thought, “Where is Freedom?” and went home and once again looked through the magazine.  It so happened that the home she liked was located in Freedom.  The rest is history….After 9/11 in 2001 Doris and Paul moved to Freedom permanently.

Fondly referred to as “Food Pantry Doris”, she has been committed to feeding Freedom residents and those in the surrounding communities for eighteen plus years.  Not only does she and her crew ensure the food pantry is well stocked and open every Saturday for her clients, Doris works throughout the week to secure food for the pantry.  She is constantly campaigning for donations and town funding support and applying for State and Federal Aid.  When asked why she has worked with the food pantry for so long, she replied that she loves the joy and satisfaction she gets from meeting with clients on Saturdays.

Although best known for her service to the Freedom Food Pantry, Doris is a mainstay in many other Freedom organizations.  A long time member of the Ladies Guild, Doris has sewn more quilts than one can count.  Before joining this group, Doris could not sew and didn’t know how to tie a knot.  Now she and the Ladies Guild donate 200 baby quilts each year to the birthing center at Memorial Hospital.  Attend any monthly Community Club Supper and Doris is a familiar face.  Her involvement with the Freedom Community Club began when her neighbors Barbara and Malcom knocked on her door and invited them to a supper. Since that first supper she has served several years as the treasurer and today Doris can be found helping to clear tables or cleaning up at the evening’s end.  Each May one can find Doris at the Freedom Mill Pond helping out with the Annual Kids Fishing Derby hosted by the Freedom Firefighters Association.   When asked how she got involved in so many events, Doris replied, “Show your face in one place and if you’re a volunteer, other organizations can use you.”  Doris doesn’t know how to say “No”.  If a Freedomite is in need and Doris knows about it, rest assured she will find a means to help.

When Doris isn’t  busy volunteering in the community or pet sitting for a neighbor, she loves freshwater fishing, visiting Yellowstone and Glacier National Park, knitting with cotton yarn  and gardening.  She loves flowers and vegetables. One can look out of any window in her home and see dozens of hanging pots.  Her favorite flowers are begonias, geraniums and callabrachia. She says there is nothing like fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.  Excess veggies are given to neighbors on her road or to the Food Pantry on Saturday mornings. 

Doris was recently honored as one of  the 2025 State of New Hampshire Older Adult Volunteer Winners by the New Hampshire State Commission on Aging.   Hardworking, dedicated, passionate, adaptable, committed and industrious are words used to describe Doris.  This description fits her to a tee.

For all of her contributions that have bettered our community, the Freedom Old Home Week Association is honored to recognize Doris Sirois as this year’s FOHW Grand Marshal.