PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Former President Jimmy Carter never visited Berkshire County but the impact of his post-presidential efforts can be seen every day here. 

 

Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, are easily the most famous volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, which has chapters in both Central and North Berkshire. For more than 35 years, they helped to build affordable housing with the organization.

 

"I had the opportunity to meet President Carter and Rosalynn a few times in Atlanta over the years. I believe they are truly the most caring and thoughtful people in the world and represent the best of humanity," said Central Berkshire Habitat's CEO Carolyn Valli.

 

Central Berkshire Habitat was established in 1992 and serves Central and Southern Berkshire County.  

 

James Carter died on Dec. 29 at age 100; Rosalynn last year in November at age 96. Carter only served one term as president, from 1977 to 1981. 

 

They first volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Ga., near their home of Plains, in March 1984. Later that same year, the Carters joined Habitat volunteers in New York City's Lower East Side to renovate an abandoned building in partnership with families in need of affordable housing. That trip marked Habitat for Humanity's first Jimmy Carter Work Project (later renamed the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project). 

 

"We are deeply saddened by President Carter's passing, and our prayers are with the rest of the Carter family," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "President and Mrs. Carter began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity near their home in southwest Georgia, soon bringing worldwide attention to the need for decent and affordable housing. We are grateful for the incredible impact the Carters have had on Habitat and on the families who have benefited from their shining example. The Carters put Habitat for Humanity on the map, and their legacy will live on in every family we serve around the world."

 

Each year since then until 2019, the Carters volunteered with Habitat to build or improve houses alongside homeowners in communities across the United States and around the world. The former president also served as a member of the organization's board of directors from 1984-1987.

 

"I think every human being has within himself or herself a desire to reach out to others and to share some of our blessings with those who are in need," Carter had said. "What's opened up that avenue for me and my wife and hundreds and thousands of others is Habitat for Humanity. It makes it easy for us to reach out and work side by side with the homeowner who's never had a decent house, perhaps. I haven't been on a Habitat project that I wasn't thrilled and inspired, and wept."

 

Over the last three decades, the Carter Work Project has inspired more than 108,000 volunteers across the United States and in 14 countries to build, renovate, and repair 4,447 Habitat homes. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has served more than 62 million people around the world.

 

In 2016, Habitat named President and Mrs. Carter as the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians for their extraordinary dedication to service in alignment with Habitat's vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

 

On Carter's 100th birthday in October, Central Berkshire Habitat's Build & Repair Corps constructed a tribute wall and door to acknowledge how his efforts opened doors to brighter futures for thousands of Habitat homeowners over nearly four decades. This tribute wall is located at the Berkshire ReStore retail outlet at 399 Hubbard Ave. The public is invited to pay tribute by signing the memorial with their names and personal messages. In addition, the public can sign the official online memory book to see and share Habitat's global tribute to President Carter.