Esther Sawyer CPA, LLC has been identified as was one of Barrington's Best Businesses for the category of Giving Back. The owners – Chris and Esther Sawyer are engaged in multiple facets of giving back to our local and national community.
For the Sawyers Faith and Family Comes first. Esther was born in Guyana and still has family in that area. Guyana is known for its violent crime, such as armed robbery and murder, which is common. Local police lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents.
Over the years both she and Chris has sponsored many of her family members to come over legally in The United States. Not only do they sponsor those family members, but they help them to obtain jobs homes and education if necessary. They don't just give them the one thing (a ticket out), they provide them with the infrastructure that they need to be successful. In July they sponsored her youngest sister with her two children. She has gone to LNA school, is now employed, and her children are excelling in school.
Chris is a Navy Veteran with 8 years of service which included combat in Lebanon and has been sober for 25 years. He was recently asked to speak at an Alanon meeting as a person in recovery, educating family members of alcoholics and addicts on the recovery process. He considers AA as a community and therefore, a part of his family. He still attends meetings, speaks and helps other AA individuals. He's very engaged and involved with The Triangle Club in Dover and helping people to become better, and have a firm foundation for restoring and repairing their lives. Chris and his church team participate in the Annual 5K Spirit of Recovery Race, which is a core fundraiser for the Triangle Club.
They've participated in the NH Seacoast Project Linus blanket events with their church. This is a community event (the next one is scheduled for November 14th) where new sew fleece blankets are created and then dropped off at the Joanne Fabrics drop off-site. Blankets are distributed to children in need, including at homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, and hospitals.
As a family, they have gone to the Strafford County Homeless Center and cooked meals for the residents. They try to do this in times where there's a greater need. During the warmer months, there are traditionally fewer people in the shelter, so while the need is still there it is not as apparent. During the wintertime, people need more connections. The Sawyer’s go in and create a whole meal to help the occupants to feel encouraged and valued. They give the community “hugs” to show them they are valued and loved.
Chris and Esther are also very engaged in the local American Legion. Chris is the finance officer. Esther is the president of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. As leaders, they tried to identify more veterans to bring into the organization. It's not just a social club. The American Legion has a mission:
“It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans. “
From https://www.legion.org/mission
Chris and Esther view their many activities as a way of identifying people in need. It provides them with a way to surround these people with the community and lift them up. Veterans especially, service to our country should never be forgotten. The Sawyers exemplify these beliefs by helping other people. In their Church, they're very active in Leadership and engaged in many Outreach programs. From youth leadership to communications, they are present and involved as partners to help their church thrive and grow.
Whatever the Sawyers participate in is a family event with their daughter Xena. They go as a unit to help wherever they can. Both Esther and Chris are encouragers and investors in people, and they have taught their daughters to be the same. The Sawyers doesn't just temporarily help a person. They don't hand them a fish. They teach them another way to live.
