HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 Minuteman Cane Award - Carolyn Wortman 2021 MINUTEMAN CANE AWARD
c`T j The Select Board of the Town of Lexington,Massachusetts,hereby recognizes and presents
the 2021 MINUTEMAN CANE AWARD to:
CAROLYN WORTMAN
-• - The Minuteman Cane Award Selection Committee is pleased to announce that the recipient of the
2021 award is Carolyn Wortman for her thirty-one years of playing a leading role in the Lexington
Interfaith Food Pantry. In the early years, with her mother, Frances Wortman, (the 1996 recipient of the Minuteman
Cane Award) and for many years now as the Executive Director. She is widely recognized as the driving force and
public face of this vital Lexington resource.
Carolyn refused to let the Food Pantry close during the pandemic, where presently between 85-90 families and 206
people benefit weekly. Before the COVID-19 pandemic,this facility followed a system that was simplistic but effective.
Since the pandemic began, she completely changed the system by transitioning from a supervised self-serve pantry
system to home delivery,drive up deliveries,and curb side pickup.She knows the regular clients,what they like,their
special dietary requirements and preferences. With the changing demographics of Lexington, as more Asian elderly
access the Food Pantry,she makes sure that the Food Pantry offers the foods that guests want and enjoy.
During the pandemic, she enlisted and joined forces with Lex Eat Together and Minute Man-Tech, who assisted in
making pre-cooked carry out meals that replaced the weekly dinners at Lex Eat Together.There is a process and rules,
so everyone gets treated fairly,but Carolyn senses when someone new arrives or does not have the right paperwork;
she knows how to make the newcomer feel less conspicuous and less embarrassed.With Carolyn,those in need always
come first.
Carolyn teaches us a lot about life; commitment, compassion, perseverance, not giving up, and most of all about
passion for a cause that makes a real difference. Her vitality, keen insight, and capacity to give of herself to make
Lexington a more welcoming place for all people is an inspiration to all. She continues to challenge us to shed our
prejudices,join forces,and work together for a better town.
It has been written that"One should not grow old in a place you do not love nor grow old in a place that does not love
you." It is clearly evident that Carolyn Wortman deeply loves Lexington and that Lexington loves her in return. For
all the above and much more we recognize and honor Carolyn Wortman in her 83,d year.
Carolyn is the epitome of what it means to be a community volunteer who serves others. It is therefore with great
pleasure that we proclaim Carolyn Wortman to be the 2021 Minuteman Cane Award recipient. Congratulations!
Issued i atef appr of April 2021.
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Select Board
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Chair, Minuteman Cane Award