Inspired by what was intended to be a one-time community service project, you dedicated a significant portion of your time at Williams, along with an intervening summer and a full year after you graduated, to developing your vision of a social service program for North Adams residents centering on the sharing of meals. The genius, however, turned out to be not only in the vision but also in the design. With the advice and help of many, you were the prime mover of an effort that continues to bring together students of Williams and North Adams State College, members of north Berkshire’s business and professional community, and the neediest and loneliest residents of North Adams in a program that helps meet those residents’ compelling need not only for basic nutrition but for the warmth of human contact and for vital information on the services they need to survive. Farsighted enough to develop community support and a community-based board of directors for the program so that it could thrive after you moved on, you can take great satisfaction in the degree to which it has flourished. Six years after you swallowed your disappointment when a single person showed up for one of its first lunches, the Berkshire Food Project now serves more than 12,000 meals each year. In recognition of your distinguished achievement in service to the north Berkshire community, Williams College is proud to present you with this Bicentennial Medal.
Megamenu Social