An introduction, mission statement, and more.
ABOUT W4W
An Introduction.
While many students spent their spring break adjusting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing for the transition to remote learning, Eliza Bower (founder) was also thinking of a way to help the local Williamstown and Berkshire County communities. Bower reached out to medical centers and restaurants in Berkshire County and began organizing a campaign that would connect the two, providing medical workers with free meals and giving restaurants much-needed business, while simultaneously connecting and engaging the Williams College community.
On April 3, Bower and fellow team members launched a GoFundMe campaign called “Williams for Williamstown: Feeding BMC,” with all proceeds going towards buying meals for frontline healthcare workers at Berkshire Medical Center (BMC).
Bower and fellow member Emily Tibbetts (co-COO) who were both still located in Berkshire County, made their first delivery to the Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) on April 6 and have since provided over 1,500 meals to hospital staff at BMC and the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center — ranging from health workers that serve critical care patients to the engineering department — and others in need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Berkshire County.
W4W has since used this student-led grassroots movement to continue providing support in many aspects to the Berkshire County.
Mission Statement.
Williams for Williamstown’s (W4W) initial goal was to help feed front-line medical workers, support local restaurants and businesses in Berkshire County, and engage the Williams College community — a win-win-win proposition!
Williams for Williamstown provides support to businesses, organizations, nonprofits, and other communities undergoing hardship (including healthcare providers, first responders, nursing care teams, essential workers, and others in need) in the Berkshire County area. For example, Williams for Williamstown will purchase meals and goods (i.e., sandwiches, flowers, chocolates, snacks, cards) from Berkshire restaurants and shops with money raised from Williams College students, alumni, faculty, and others for delivery to the Berkshire Medical Center and Southwestern Vermont Medical Center staff, and others facing hardship amid the COVID-19 pandemic (such as residents of Mohawk Forest). We focus on food deliveries, but also provide other goods, most of which are on request of the communities we support (i.e. flowers for morale).
If you are interested in supporting W4W, you can do so through our take action page Thank you!
Please follow us on Instagram for more updates @WilliamsforWilliamstown, #WilliamsforWilliamstown, #WilliamsforBerkshireHospitals
Williams for Williamstown is not a registered charity and contributions are not tax-deductible. Tax receipts will not be issued for your contribution. Thank you!
Current and Future Goals.
Having started with the goal of supporting local businesses and those affected by the pandemic, we are excited to be expanding our focus and mission and targeting Berkshire County’s increased food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have currently partnered with Mohawk Forest and the Al Nelson Friendship Center. Mohawk Forest is a subsidized housing community in North Adams, MA that helps provide food and a community to its residents. The Al Nelson Friendship Center is an amazing community food pantry providing healthy food to food insecure families and individuals in Berkshire County.
Williams Recovery of all Perishable Surplus (WRAPS) usually packages and delivers extra food from the dining halls to deliver to Mohawk Forest and while they are unable to operate, we are excited to join WRAPS and continue deliveries to the community!
Our first meal delivery to Mohawk Forest was on June 12th. We delivered 30 meals from MadJack’s BBQ in Lanesboro, MA, a Black-owned restaurant with some amazing barbecue!
A visual representation of our WIN-WIN-WIN strategy!
A delivery in action!
Eliza Bower, picking up lunch from the Purple Pub, for the BMC!
A breakfast delivery to our amazing front-line workers at the BMC!