Higher Ground Group Continues Support for Irene Victims

08:11PM / Tuesday, November 15, 2011Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Higher Ground was established as a nonprofit group on Oct. 21 and is dedicated to providing immediate relief for those affected by Tropical Storm Irene, preparing for future disasters, and creating more affordable housing in the area.

Higher Ground is providing services and raising money to meet long-term physical, emotional and spiritual needs associated with the disaster, which is perhaps the greatest in Williamstown's history.

The group currently provides 14 trained caseworkers who are working closely with those affected by the storm. Other volunteers are facilitating communications between the town and affected residents, fund raising to cover families' immediate needs, and networking with regional, national and international resources that can provide guidance and financial support.

Higher Ground's efforts will replace those of the Community Fund and serve to supplement the businesses, organizations and individuals who have been essential in the relief process so far.

The outpouring of financial and volunteer support exhibited since Higher Ground's inception by the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Clergy in the days following the storm has been "phenomenal," said the Rev. Carrie Bail, pastor of First Congregational Church and the organization's chairman. "Many disaster professionals have remarked on how quickly we have built an effective helping organization."

Higher Ground is accepting donations by check, which can be made to Higher Ground and mailed to 906 Main St., Williamstown, MA 01267. Those interested in volunteering should email group coordinator Robin Lenz at nbhigherground@gmail.com. To stay updated on the situation and the group's work, visit nbhigherground.org or sign up for the newsletter at here.

Upcoming events:

• All Saints Episcopal Church is making and delivering a home-cooked turkey dinner with all of the fixings for anyone who is homebound and 55 or older. Call the church at 413-664-9656 to place an order. Those interested in helping with the program should contact Diane Bleau at the same number.

• Monday, Nov. 21: The Berkshire Food Project will host its annual Thanksgiving dinner at 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church in North Adams.

• Wednesday, Nov. 23: Williams College will host a Thanksgiving meal at 11 a.m. in Driscoll Dining Hall.

• Tuesday, Nov. 29: The Williamstown Chamber of Commerce annual meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. will be a fundraiser for Higher Ground. The dinner will be at the Orchards and open to the public at a cost of $30 per person. To sign up: 413-458-9077 or info@williamstownchamber.com.

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Williamstown Board Hears Concerns About 'Hometown Heroes' Banners

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Wednesday, September 16, 2026

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Kurt Durocher told the Williamstown Select Board that he had received nothing but positive feedback from the North County communities where he proposed participation in the Hometown Heroes banner program.

Then Williamstown residents started to weigh in.

Durocher was before the board Monday evening to seek its blessing to put banners recognizing living and deceased military veterans on utility poles in Williamstown, an initiative that has been embraced in all but one of the other municipalities in the district where he serves as Veterans' Service Officer.

"The only negative I've had right now, and it's not really negative, [the Town of ] Florida doesn't want banners to go on Route 2, the Mohawk Trail, for safety reasons, understandably," Durocher said. "So we're trying to figure out an alternate way to make that work in Florida."

By and large, though, the reception to the program has been encouraging, Durocher said.

"I'll use Adams as an example," he said. "They've had a program for many, many years, but it's only for [military personnel] killed in action. Now that I've been allowed to take over that program … there's been a huge outpouring of support, because now we get living veterans on the poles as well.

"The only negative I've had is certain people want their banners in certain locations. So what we did in North Adams is we just did a random draw. I can't please everybody. I've got people who want a banner in a certain location, but three other people want that same location.It was a straight random draw for them."

View Full Story