AMHERST — A loud caravan of at least 30 cars, some of which were decked out with signs and balloons, paraded into the parking lot of Groff Park on Saturday to give a send-off to Ruth Harms, a case manager at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County who will soon retire after almost 30 years.
Harms, dressed as the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Halloween (one of her favorite holidays), quickly disregarded the chair her colleagues had placed for her as each vehicle carrying family and friends drove by to congratulate her in the chilly fall afternoon.
“This is the best party ever,” remarked Harms, 65, to a nearby friend as people in at least 10 more honking cars waited in line to talk to her.
Harms said she started as a part-time case manager at the county Big Brothers Big Sisters in January 1991. She became supervisor of case managers at one point, she said, but years ago decided she wanted to “drop back” and become a case manager again. As a case manager, Harms said she makes matches between volunteer mentors and kids and then supports those relationships in whatever ways she can. She plans on retiring in December.
“I’m going to miss Big Brothers Big Sisters — I love this program,” Harms said. “I never wanted to go anywhere else. But it just felt like it was time.”
After her retirement, Harms said, she hopes she’ll be able to travel when coronavirus restrictions ease. She also said she might do some volunteering of her own. Harms said she knew something was going to be planned for her retirement and had requested that it be done outside.
“I didn’t want to do a Zoom retirement party,” she said. “That’s just not me.”
Jessie Cooley, director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County, said Harms has been “as passionate about her work today as she ever was.” According to Cooley, Harms has also been “the unofficial — but very important — party planner for our entire organization.”
“She’s just festive and enthusiastic and she loves to spread joy,” Cooley said. “So when it came time for her to retire, which none of us are ready for but we understand … we thought, ‘OK, how can we celebrate her with the same type of festive energy that she would bring?’”
For each of Harms’ 30 years working at the organization, Cooley said Harms would receive a balloon and a “favorite item,” such as a gift card to Herrell’s Ice Cream & Bakery in Northampton and an Aruban flag, since Harms was born in Aruba.
State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, was one of the participants of the drive-by parade for Harms. Domb, who used to be the executive director of the Amherst Survival Center, said she’s known Harms for about 10 years as the two both worked in social services in the area. Domb delivered to Harms two citations from the state Legislature, including one from state Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, in recognition of her work.
“She’s not only an organizational treasure … she’s a regional gift to so many families and so many kids,” Domb said.
Harms told of one match she made between a student at Amherst College and a kid going to school at Amherst High School. She said the big brother had helped his little brother apply to college and that he ended up getting into Princeton University.
“I got to be down there for his graduation weekend. So that was pretty special,” Harms said. “That’s just one of many.”
Jayne Pearl of Amherst volunteered as a big sister in 2006 when her son, who had a big brother of his own, went to college.
“We instantly bonded,” Pearl said of Harms. “She was just so wise. By definition, there are problems in the family of ‘the little.’ And she was very able to help me negotiate and navigate through that.”
Harms said she was grateful for her friends and family who came to celebrate her retirement.
“It’s a very fun event,” she said.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.