Fosters reports from Rochester, New Hampshire a long-time resident of Acorn Terrace Cooperative has been honored with the ROC-NH  “Above and Beyond” award. Although Richard “Dickie” Williams is president of the cooperative, he is best known for his many acts of kindness as a handyman and all around helping hand to many in the community. Above & Beyond awards honor members of New Hampshire’s manufactured-housing cooperatives who “go above and beyond in their willingness to pitch in for their communities, and to assist their neighbors.” Having been called the Saint”, “King Richard”, “Mr. President” and even “Pope”, Dickie received his award June 2, from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen at ROC-NH’s “Co-ops Celebrating Community” event. Acorn Terrace became a cooperative Oct. 1, 2010 with assistance of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. Resident Maureen Kinch says of Williams: “The garbage cans go out, the garbage cans go in. He’s just always there, no matter who’s there, no matter what anybody needs. He’s always there to help.” MHProNews has learned there are 102 MH cooperatives in NH.

(Photo credit: Kate Harris/Community Loan Foundation–l-r, Community Loan Foundation Pres. Juliana Eades, Williams, and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen)