Yarmouth Sharon McDonnell and Roy Gibson “Gib” Parrish with the 2021 Latchstring Award on May 20 for their work on the Yarmouth Community Coronavirus Task Force.

The annual award is given to a resident who  “has contributed his or her time, effort and concern for an extended and exemplary period for the benefit of the community.”

McDonnell and Parrish were recognized at a Town Council meeting May 20 with a declaration read by Councilor Meghan Casey, who said the married couple “provided critically important support to the Yarmouth community to lift up community engagement, public health, neighbor to neighbor caring, and outstanding public education and understanding during the most challenging and anxious times of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

McDonnell and Parrish, who are both doctors with expertise in epidemiology, volunteered their time to advise Town Manager Nat Tupper on best practices during a pandemic, Casey said.