Easterseals to name rec areas at Franklin campus to remember donor

FRANKLIN — Following a donation from the estate of Hampton native Bernadine Herron, Easterseals New Hampshire is renaming recreational facilities at its military and veterans campus in Franklin and a playground at the new Gammon Academy School in Manchester in her memory.

While the full value of the charitable gift is undisclosed, naming a building requires a minimum $1 million donation to Easterseals.

“We were just so taken aback,” Chief Development Officer Pamela Hawkes said. “It was a significant amount and is going to make a huge impact on two programs in particular that we are currently focusing on.”

The retreat center at the Franklin campus will be named "The Bernadine Herron Center," according to a media release from the nonprofit last month. In a Phase II project, a climbing wall and ropes course will also be dedicated to Herron — in addition to the playground in Manchester. Herron died last year. 

The campus will include around 30 housing units for veterans, active military and their families and will only be offered to those whose income is between 30% and 80% of the area median income.

The full plans for the campus include the retreat center, a multipurpose recreation building, a playground, outdoor performance space and a makerspace.

The construction of the campus is split into phases — Phase I is the construction of the housing units and the retreat center, which is expected to be completed in early 2025.

The Bernadine Herron Center will be a hub where Easterseals partners can provide information and services to campus residents; essentially a one-stop shop.

“When you think about the state and how it's not easy to access all services throughout with transportation or other barriers, we are trying to create one place that our vets and military can come to and really receive as many services as they can for them and their families,” Hawkes said. “Easterseals by no means can do everything, but we can have this campus and partner with other amazing programs, nonprofits, state partners who can come onsite and provide their services and create that hub.”

Chaplain Chris Peirce of the Franklin VFW is pleased to have the hub in the community.

“One of our main jobs is getting in touch with the right resources [for veterans], so if they have them all in one spot in Franklin, that’s a good thing,” he said.

Mayor Desiree McLaughlin is looking forward to the construction of the new campus. McLaughlin worked for Easterseals as a residential instructor at the Farnum North addiction treatment center in 2019 and 2020 before it closed in 2021. Easterseals also helped to put her through school where she earned an associate's degree in behavioral health at Granite State College. McLaughlin believes this development is a positive for the community, saying the reopening should add local jobs.

“It will help veterans, it’ll help the local economy, it’ll help Easterseals,” she said. “It’s an all around good thing.”

Herron was a co-founder of Herron & Smith LLC, which provides medical equipment and services in Hooksett and still is in business today. Tamme Dustin, president and chief executive officer of Herron & Smith, said in a press release that the Easterseals decision was indicative of Herron’s impact.

“We are honored to see the impact of Bernie’s gift, which is so reflective of her dedication and concern for people from all walks of life,” Dustin said. “My staff and I are proud to carry on Bernie’s mission to provide for others through this gift and through our work at Herron & Smith.”

As Easterseals works to complete building of Phase I of the Franklin campus, there is still more to do. Phase II, which includes the recreational building supported by the estate's donation, will start when Phase I is finished. But Hawkes said the nonprofit still needs help from the community to get it done.

“This is going to be a multi-year project, for sure. We need to continue to fundraise,” Hawkes said. “We want to make sure that folks understand that there's still a lot for us to receive in order to make Phase II and Phase III a reality.”

To learn more about supporting the project, contact Vice President of Donor Relations Kathy Flynn at 603-621-3413.

“We are so grateful for Bernie's gift, and for the support of this campus,” Hawkes said. “Folks need to understand that there's still a huge need. And so, if this is a project that they believe in, this is a need for our community, this is a need for our vets. We need our community to really step up and help make this a reality for our military vets.”