Volunteer Spotlight: Merrimack County Department of Corrections Team Builds Community at Day of Caring 2025

Each year, Granite United Way’s Day of Caring brings volunteers together across New Hampshire to support local nonprofits. But behind every project is a story, and this year, one of the most moving came from the Merrimack County Department of Corrections. Their dedicated group of employees honored a colleague’s personal loss while strengthening their team bond and giving back to their greater Concord community.

We caught up with Kraig Emery from the Kalahan Emery Memorial Foundation and longtime Day of Caring Merrimack County Planning Committee member Rose Mirante to learn how their team turned a May 16, 2025 trail cleanup project at the Kalahan Emery Memorial Trail at Carter Hill Orchard into something truly more personal.

Q&A with Sgt. Kraig Emery and Rose Mirante

Q: How did this year’s Day of Caring project come together?

Rose: This project was new to our department and was introduced by the founder of the Kalahan Emery Memorial Foundation, Sgt. Kraig Emery. The trail is part of Carter Hill Orchards in a picturesque place. When Kraig shared his vision, I knew it would be a meaningful opportunity for our team to support something bigger than ourselves.

Kraig: I’ve contributed to Granite United Way for nearly 40 years through our annual workplace charitable giving campaign at the MC DOC, and I’ve seen Rose organize our Day of Caring employee volunteer team for years. After we dedicated the trail in 2022 in memory of my son, Kalahan, I thought this cleanup would be a great way to honor him while participating in a community event that my team at the MC DOC already supports.

Q: What inspired you to host this trail cleanup, and what made it meaningful?

Kraig: My son Kalahan passed away at just under 2½ years old from Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). Since then, raising awareness has become my life’s mission. Cleaning up the trail named for him has given us and others a peaceful space to reflect and learn. The response to the project was incredible. Everyone was so engaged when I spoke about the foundation and the trail, and it meant a lot to see both my coworkers and strangers come together for something that was so personal to me.

Rose: Bringing this trail clean up to our annual Day of Caring event helped raise awareness for a cause that’s very important to us at the MC DOC and in our community, and the volunteers serving on the Day of Caring Merrimack County Planning Committee were eager to support, too. The trail itself is beautiful. It’s short, accessible, and you’re surrounded by nature. All the volunteers appreciated learning Kalahan’s story and about the work of the SUDC Foundation, and our team was especially grateful for the chance to support our colleague, Sgt. Emery.

Q: How did it feel to see so many volunteers participate?

Kraig: It was powerful. At one point I looked back and saw the line of volunteers walking the trail. I thought to myself, “Kalahan, your story continues. Your candle is shining.”

Rose: It felt very special to see staff from our department care enough to volunteer and be involved. It gave our team an extra opportunity to be together outside of work and enjoy each other’s company. It reminded me why I keep coming back to this event and the planning committee year after year.

Q: Do you hope to make the Kalahan Emery Trail cleanup a tradition?

Rose: Yes! We’re already thinking about future improvements. There appears to be an opportunity to build a new bridge at the end of the trail, and by bringing in garden tools to cut and clear the trail, we can help to create safer walking paths. I continue to be inspired

every year during Day of Caring as so many people from the community come together to volunteer their time to help agencies with projects they normally would not be able to do. I feel that Granite United Way’s work is vital to the community, as it helps so many non-profits.

Kraig: I’d love to see it become annual. Raising awareness of SUDC is so important to me, and I feel that the more people who participate, the bigger emotional and educational impact it will have on the community.

Q: What advice would you give others thinking about organizing a Day of Caring team?

Kraig: Just get out and do it! There are opportunities that fit all interests and skill levels, and the feeling of giving back is incredibly rewarding. We all have something to offer, and there are so many in need. We can be the example and influence others.

Rose: It puts a smile on your face when you celebrate a job well done that has a positive impact on others. The moments we shared as a team on the trail helped us build trust, morale, and a real sense of unity.

Q: What does it mean to you to see correctional staff involved in service projects like this?

Rose: Volunteering gives us a chance to connect outside of the daily grind and show another side of our work. We’re part of the communities we serve, and this reinforces that.

Kraig: It helps erode stereotypes and shows we’re not just officers. We’re neighbors, parents, and volunteers, too.

Looking Ahead

Both Kraig and Rose hope that the Kalahan Emery Trail cleanup project at Carter Hill Orchard will grow into a regular part of Day of Caring, giving even more community members an opportunity to join. Whether you can give one hour or one full day, their message is clear: volunteer service builds connection and stories like theirs show just how powerful that connection can be.

To learn more about Day of Caring, joining a regional planning committee, or submitting a volunteer project, please contact info@graniteuw.org.