On Saturday October 4th, the Williams Cross Country teams
ventured beyond their campus environs as usual, but instead of
running the dirt roads and trails of the purple valley, they formed
groups and volunteered their time at four area locations hoping to
build team spirit, a direct connection to the community, and most
importantly, lend a hand to businesses, organizations, and the
natural habitat that make Williamstown and the surrounding
communities a special place.
Twenty-one student-athletes worked the tomato and squash fields of
the local Peace Valley Farm. This local family-owned operation
serves as a steady source of fresh produce to various entities
around the Berkshires and is a favorite summer employer to current
and past members of the team, alike. The large contingent saved the
farm approximately a month of labor and sped along the end of their
harvest and the beginning of next year's planting.
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| Bret Scofield's WYC soccer stars |
Another group of eight joined a mass of 5-to-7 year olds for their Williamstown Youth Soccer practices at the local elementary school. Besides keeping the energetic soccer newbies organized, they joined in on their eclectic warmup of follow-the-leader, short races, and screaming at loud decibels.
A work party also dispatched to a local Habitat for Humanity
site just off a steep hill frequented on training runs during the
winter. In all, thirteen team members worked on framing and
painting walls while getting guidance from several non-team
volunteers and experts.
The smallest but most brightly clothed group of seven volunteers,
including Head Coach Pete Farwell, took to local Highway 43 to
maintain the stretch of road under the team's supervision through
the Adopt A Highway program. Numerous trash bags were filled with
litter that would have otherwise dirtied this popular route for
training and the neighboring Green River. The Eph road crew pictued
above (l. to r.) included Rachel Asher '09, Beth Links '09, Robin
Kuntz '09, Moira Yoe '10, Corey Watts '10 and head coach
Peter Farwell '73.
In all, fifty members of the cross country team and staff lent a
hand on their free Saturday morning to help a local farmer with
harvesting, local children in building their health, a local family
in owning a home, and a local roadway in remaining clean for
driving, walking, biking, and running.
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| Mary Feeley '09 working at
the Habit for Humanity house |
_Olivia_Delia_-12-_Mark_Springel_-12-_Anthony_Raduazo_-12.jpg?max_height=260&max_width=380)
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| (l-r) Olivia Delia '12,
Mark Springel '12, Anthony Raduazo '12 at Peace Valley Farm in Williamstown |
