Pittsfield Salvation Army Helps Fulfill Christmas Dreams
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Besides toys for children, the Salvation Army will give food baskets to 500-600 families in need.
"Christmas is challenging," said Maj. James Fletcher. "We get more requests for help at this special time of year."
His wife, and co-commander, Maj. Dulce Fletcher said a lot of young mothers are stressed out trying to keep their homes together. "They are so relieved to get food and toys for Christmas," she said.
The Fletchers have been members of the Salvation Army for 30 years, serving in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and a number of other states before being assigned to Pittsfield nine months ago.
"Every place has its quirks," said Dulce Fletcher. "But people that come to us need the same things and are under the same stress."
Her husband spoke of an influx of first-timers seeking help. "A lot of them have been laid off. Some that have been out of work a while are coming to us because they no longer can get help from those Community Action programs in the Berkshires whose funds have run out."
One of his duties is to manage the ubiquitous Red Kettle Campaign, which pays for the Christmas program.
"We have a nice crew, but we could use more volunteers. I like to have eight to 10 kettles out, and though volunteers are reliable, they can get sick and be out a day or need to be away for a day," said Fletcher.
There are stalwart volunteers who return to ring bells again and again. "A couple of ladies have been doing it for years," he said. "They look forward to it and started bugging me in the summer to get ready for kettles. ... I don't know how they do it, I couldn't."
Dulce Fletcher jokes that her husband's job is to bring home the money, while hers is to spend it — on various programs supported by the Army.
Now as Christmas approaches, she is busy managing the Angel Tag Program, in which individuals, businesses and local churches sponsor a child for Christmas. In addition to gifts and food baskets, a holiday dinner for those in need and a festive party for their children, with token gifts, are part of the Christmas program.
"The American Legion gives a huge dinner on Christmas Day so we will have our dinner on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 4:30 p.m.," said James Fletcher. (The dinner will be served at 300 Wendell Ave.)
Throughout the year, free breakfast is offered weekdays from 9 to 10 and Sunday dinner is offered from 4:30 to 5:30. "The meal program is very important to the people we serve. Some wouldn't eat without it," said Fletcher. "We get to know if the people we serve have problems."
Dulce Fletcher knows, she said, that the older people who come to breakfast are on fixed incomes and would not make breakfast at home. "They come for the fellowship as much as for the food," she said.
Those eligible need only sign a list to take English muffins, bread or other bakery products from the bread rack, available from 9 to 3.
The Christmas food baskets contain meat — ham or turkey — cranberry sauce, vegetables, potatoes and bread. "I'm trying to get cereal to put in the baskets so that the families will have a full day's supply of food," Dulce Fletcher said.
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For more information on Salvation Army programs in Pittsfield, go The Salvation Army offers many other services, including utility assistance through the Good Neighbor Fund, clothing assistance and Bridging the Gap, a first-time juvenile offense program that can help youth aged 10 to 18 stay out of correctional institutions.
A lot of that assistances relies on the Salvation Army's 120-year-old Red Kettle Campaign.
"There are many factors that contribute to the success of the kettle program," James Fletcher said. "We have been doing well, so far. The weather has been good so far. When it's very bad, the bell-ringers can't stay out."
The volunteers enjoy sharing their experiences, he said. "They get excited when children dump their piggy bank into the kettle."
Last year, the Pittsfield Unit met its goal of $52,000. This year the goal is $54,000, and $22,000 was collected as of Dec. 5.
Whatever the amount of a contribution, it is appreciated as it brings the Salvation Army closer to fulfilling its mission to help anyone in need.
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