About Us

Interlakes Community Caregivers was founded in 1998 as an outreach program of the Center Harbor Congregational Church in Center Harbor, New Hampshire.  The first group of 25 volunteers included six who served as coordinators. Working from their homes, these coordinators received requests from neighbors and contacted the volunteers who provided services for these neighbors.

In 1999, grants were received from The United Church of Christ and the Lakes Region Charitable Trust.  Volunteers were recruited and an office was set up in the church, where it remained until 2003 when the first annual appeal for funds was made. Caregivers incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in January 2004. In 2012, Caregivers added the town of Sandwich to the communities it serves.

A Board of Directors governs the organization, and offices and staff are now located in Moultonborough, New Hampshire.

 

Our Mission

Interlakes Community Caregivers, Inc. supports the independence, safety, comfort and dignity of our adult neighbors within our designated communities through the services provided by our volunteers.

Staff

Kathryn Holt

Kathryn Holt

Executive Director

Kathryn was previously the Executive Director of Belknap House, a homeless shelter for families and was responsible for the overall management and direction of the organization. Prior to that, Kathryn also worked as a Program Director with NFI North. Kathryn graduated from Marymount University with a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. Kathryn lives in Laconia with her family and enjoys spending time with her children.

 

Amy Blongy

Amy Blongy

Lead Coordinator

As an educator for the past 30 years, Amy has been a teacher in the classroom, a mentor to new teachers and a coordinator for after school programs. In 2017, Amy received Teacher of the Year from her school district. She brings a strong background of communication, organization, and enthusiasm to her role. Amy lives in Meredith with her husband Steve and enjoys reading, long walks and spending time with her family. 

Board of Directors

Chris Kelly, Chair

Chris Kelly, Chair

Meredith

Chris Kelly was born and raised in Waltham, MA, graduated from Waltham High School in 1983 and Westfield State
College in 1987. Chris moved to Meredith NH in 1988. In 1991 Chris became licensed as a REALTOR and has been helping people buy and sell real estate since that
time.
Chris met his wife Doreen in 1992, married
in 1994, they have two children, Taylor (1995) and Ryan (1998).
Chris is the owner/broker of RE/MAX Bayside in Meredithand Laconia NH. Chris is an active parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo in Meredith, NH. Chris is an active board member on the Greater Meredith Program and Belknap Economic Development Council.
Chris considers his family his number one joy in life. Chris likes to travel, snow and water ski, hike in the woods, play golf, and read.

 

John Valpey, Vice Chair

John Valpey, Vice Chair

Meredith

John lives in Meredith and recently retired after 25 years as a lawyer and executive with Bank of America.  Now a real estate developer, consultant, and private equity investor, John is an active volunteer and has served on several non-profit boards.  

George Jewell, Treasurer

George Jewell, Treasurer

Meredith

George has been volunteering for ICCI since 2011. George is a tax accountant, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and two Master’s Degrees, one in Business Administration and the other in Taxes. Other volunteer interest includes history and he is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Meredith Historical Society after a long term as its President. When not sharpening his pencil and counting numbers, George enjoys woodworking in general and specifically working on the house he built with his wife Nancy in Meredith. George is a Long Distance Volunteer Driver and serves on the Finance Committee, as well as Treasurer.

David Hughes, Vice President

David Hughes, Vice President

Center Harbor

David Hughes was born and raised in Laconia and Center Harbor. After graduating from Inter-Lakes High School, David attended the Florida Institute of Technology, Canaan College, and Windham College in Putney Vermont, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, with minors in History and Math. Growing up, he always learned to “help thy neighbor” as this was a family ethic and, in 1975, David began his career in Social Work for the State of New Hampshire, advancing to Adult Protective Social Worker III in the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services, retiring in April 2011. David served as a Selectman for the Town of Center Harbor from 2011-2014 and has been a Firefighter/EMT for the Center Harbor Fire Department since 2004. David has worked with various agencies throughout Belknap, Carroll, and Grafton Counties. With good working relationships and experiences with various local Caregiver agencies, it was inevitable that a relationship with Interlakes Community Caregivers developed. David has served previously on the Board and looks forward to continued service. David has four adult children and three grandchildren all living in New Hampshire.

Harry “Hank” Offinger

Harry “Hank” Offinger

Sandwich

Hank grew up on a farm in Connecticut and graduated from Colby College in Waterville, ME before getting his Master’s degree in Social Work from Smith College. He made a career selling management consulting services to Fortune 500 companies for over 30 years and is an actor, performing in theatre, television and movies. Hank and his wife Maureen moved permanently to New Hampshire in 2014 and he became the Director of Care Management at the Taylor Community in Laconia. Hank and Maureen have two adult children, Ross and Caitlin, and five grandchildren.

Susan Gutchess

Susan Gutchess

Sandwich

Susan has been a life-long summer resident of Sandwich, and since retirement she lives there six months each year. She graduated from Smith College and the Yale School of Management. Her professional career focused on financial management and planned giving, first at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and later at The Nature Conservancy. She also serves on the Boards of the Squam Lakes Conservation Society and the International Student House in Washington, DC. She believes in service to the community and is delighted to be asked to serve on the ICCI Board.

Merron Treadwell

Merron Treadwell

Meredith

Merron has lived in Meredith with her husband for the past 9 years, after moving here from Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Before that Merron lived and worked in the Washington DC area. She has a vast business background and currently works for Bay Equity. She enjoys cooking, traveling, and meeting new people. She loves her new community and is excited to be a part of an organization that helps our Neighbors.

Will Speers

Will Speers

Sandwich

Will retired to Sandwich in 2019, after teaching high school English for 40 years in Delaware. A summer and vacation resident since birth, Will enjoys hiking, family, reading, travel, the outdoors. He’s also involved with a variety of activities and groups in Sandwich.

Dyan Lowman

Dyan Lowman

Meredith

Dyan is a local attorney with Boutin Lowman, PLLC where her practice focuses primarily on real estate and real estate financing.  She lives in Meredith with her husband and enjoys relaxing on Lake Winnipesaukee, reading, watching football, and spending time with her family – especially her granddaughter. Dyan looks forward to using her skills and warm personality to assist ICCI in its support of our community.

Evelyn Lamprey

Evelyn Lamprey

Madison

Evelyn grew up in Moultonborough and currently works as Marketing Director for The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth.  She has volunteered for ICCI for several years, maintaining the website and designing newsletters.  An avid skier, she is a volunteer instructor with the Eastern Slope Ski Club Junior Program.

Diane Poh

Diane Poh

Meredith

Diane has been a resident of Meredith for 38 years and the Lakes Region for 48 years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from UNH with a major in Social Services and a Master’s degree from Springfield College in Organizational Management. She worked for the Department of Corrections and recently retired from Taylor Community after 20 years working as a Social Worker.  Previous to that she worked for 5 years as a Social Worker for a Home Health Agency and Lakes Region Community Services.

She and her husband, Timothy, raised  3 children, Alexandra, Tristan and Brendan, and now have 5 grandchildren. 

Wendy Pelczar Bagley

Wendy Pelczar Bagley

Meredith

Wendy has worked in the insurance industry for over 30 years, currently for King Insurance Partners.  Taking care of her clients is her top priority.  She has over 30 years of experience as a personal lines and private client account executive. She earned her AAI-M, AIS, and CPIW designations and was awarded 2020ʼs, 2021ʼs, 2022’s, and 2023ʼs Best Insurance Agent in New Hampshireʼs affluent Lakes Region. Wendy was born and raised in Meredith, NH, and is very active in the Lakes Region community. She is Past Board President of the Meredith Area Chamber of Commerce and current President of the Meredith Rotary.  She is a member of the Granite State Insurance Professionals and NH Continuing Education Council.  She loves reading, golf, baking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Marc Fils-Aime

Marc Fils-Aime

Epsom

Marc Fils-Aime, was born in Haiti, but grew up in Everett, MA. After graduating from Everett High School, he attended Norwich University, where he got his B.S. in Exercise Science. Currently he resides down in Epsom NH, with his wife and two dogs, and is currently the branch manager for Meredith Village Savings Bank’s Center Harbor branch. In conjunction with being on the board of the Interlakes Community Caregivers he is also serving a term on the board of the Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Association. Marc likes to stay active by getting outdoors, as well as training in the arts of Kick Boxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jitsu.

Jason Hall

Jason Hall

Sandwich

Jason has lived in the Lakes Region for the past 7 years after a 20 year career with the Milford Fire Department in Connecticut. He currently works as a paramedic for the Med Check Urgent care in Meredith and as a boat Tour Captain for the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.  Continuing his life in the fire service, Jason is active in the Sandwich Fire Department and serves as the Assistant Chief.  In his free time, Jason enjoys hunting and fishing.

Peg Gavenonis

Peg Gavenonis

Moultonborough

After beginning her career at Coopers & Lybrand in Boston, she joined Polaroid and was a Financial Controller across many divisions, traveling extensively worldwide. Upon retirement she and her husband settled permanently in Moultonborough, and then offered her services to St. Charles Church, where she still operates as Chair of Finance, Chair of Fundraising, Director of Communion Ministers, Leader of the Book Group, Chair of the annual Blessing of Animals (in conjunction with four other churches), Minister to Meredith Bay Colony Club, Official Wedding Coordinator and warbles often as soprano cantor! Peg has a B.S. in Accounting (Penn State), an MBA (Boston College) and her CPA (MA).

Peg’s joys and passions range from opera, symphony and Broadway, to kitties of any kind, wine and politics. She has volunteered at the NH Humane Society and is mom to six geriatric and dearly loved darlings of the feline variety.

She is delighted to have recently been welcomed as a board member and looks forward to many new friendships and exciting adventures!

Notes from Neighbors

I’m so blessed by Caregivers who give my rides so often lately and never expected my small gift.  

I certainly appreciate your services- transportation is my largest problem as my children do not live close by.  Whenever I call for a ride, I can count on a pleasant voice on the phone and an interesting conversation on the road!

L.N.

Thank You from the bottom of my heart for helping me.  You and your drivers are very nice and kind and I appreciate you all very much.  I really enjoyed my ride and the people are great! So again, I thank you and God Bless you all.

N.P.