07/07/2026
After 11 years of hosting fundraising events and storing Carol Rivest Memorial Foundation supplies, clothing donations, and raffle prizes in my dining room, spare bedroom and basement, we are thrilled to announce that CRMF finally has a headquarters!
This has been a dream of mine for a few years—a dedicated space where we can hold board meetings, accept donations of clothing, household items, and raffle prizes, organize our programs, and host small community events. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our Open House this fall.
A very special thank you to my husband, Dave, for generously sharing his game room/carriage house with CRMF. For months, he poured his energy into transforming the space. He installed a mini-split system, added galvanized wainscoting, carefully sanded and whitewashed each barn board, and reconfigured the garage doors from overhead to beautiful swing-open doors. He gave up many weekends at camp to bring this vision to life. Your love, patience, and hard work made this possible, and I am grateful.
A special Thank you to Cutting Edge Installations Inc. for your generosity in donating your time, material professionalism, and exceptional craftsmanship on the epoxy flooring. It completely transformed the room, brightening the space and bringing everything together beautifully. Brenda Duggan, thank you for your incredible team. Brian did an outstanding job leading the project, and Jay DeGray took great pride in repairing the cracked concrete edges before the flooring was installed. His dedication and attention to detail will always be remembered.
Thank you to Andy Hayward for removing the popcorn ceiling, skim coating, and painting it. The beautiful ceiling, combined with the new flooring, gave the room an entirely new life.
A heartfelt thank you to Jess Riley of Farmhouse Pehr for your talent and eye for design. Your thoughtful finishing touches made the space feel warm, welcoming, and complete.
Thank you also to Roger, Scott, Katie, Kyle, Jesse, and yes—even me—for assembling and moving the furniture. I may have tackled the coffee tables and chairs, but this project truly was a team effort. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part with their talents, and support to make this vision a reality.
As beautiful as this project has been, it was completed during a heartbreaking time in our lives.
On April 14, 2026, Cutting Edge Installations installer, Jason Degray unexpectedly passed away. He was a kind person, and I feel fortunate to have met him and witnessed the pride he took in his work.
On May 13, 2026, we lost my mother-in-law, Walterine Deraleau.
Then, on June 24, 2026, we said goodbye to my mother, Sandra Rivest.
I share these losses because resilience is at the heart of the Carol Rivest Memorial Foundation. Every day, we encourage others to keep moving forward through heartbreak, grief, and life’s unexpected challenges. While it is important to take the time we need to mourn those we love, it is equally important to continue living with purpose and hope.
Completing this headquarters became a reminder that even in the midst of sorrow, healing is possible. We can grieve deeply while still building something meaningful for others. I know my mom would have been proud to see this project become a reality. She and my mother in law Wally were supportive of CRMF and often donated clothing or housewares to the domestic violence shelters.
This headquarters is more than just a building. It is a place where hope will grow, programs will be planned and our community can come together, and Carol’s legacy will continue to make a difference.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has supported CRMF over the past 11 years. Because of your kindness, generosity, and belief in our mission, we are ready for this next chapter.
Sheila Rivest CRMF Director
