Senator Hassan Recognizes Melissa Matthews and Belle Rae Zachesky/Copp of Raymond as December 2019 Granite Staters of the Month

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan today recognized Melissa Matthews and Belle Rae Zachesky/Copp of Raymond as December 2019 Granite Staters of the Month for seeking to turn their own grief into positive change and mental wellness for their community.

In the last few months, both Melissa and Belle lost someone dear to them. Melissa lost her husband, Graham, to suicide on September 30, 2019, and her niece, eight-year old Belle, lost her father, Jesse, to an opioid overdose the next day on October 1. In response to their shared grief – and to distract from their sadness – Melissa and Belle are seeking to raise awareness about the importance of mental wellness in their community. Belle and Melissa have started promoting wristbands with the slogan “Lets change the ‘I’ in mental illness with ‘WE’ for mental wellness” to help spread this important message to others. The two have also started a Facebook page called MW Warriors to try to create an online community of support and positivity.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

To read Senator Hassan’s statement in the Congressional Record recognizing Melissa Matthews and Belle Rae Zachesky/Copp as December’s Granite Staters of the Month, click here.

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