Baroco Donates $500 to BCAC's Giving Tree

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Janie McCormick of BCAC receives a check from Karen Wright and Jennifer Bisbee of Baroco.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — BCAC's Giving Tree program will help 25 more local children this Christmas with a $500 donation.

Baroco, which provides day programs for adults with developmental disabilities, donated proceeds from one its fundraisers.

"This donation comes from our annual craft fair," said Baroco Clinical Coordinator Karen Wright.

Berkshire Community Action Council's Giving Tree program connects donors with the names of children whose families are struggling financially. The donors then shop for warm clothing and gifts for those families.

BCAC already provides transportation for many of Baroco's clients and when the company's craft fair raised more money than before, it was decided to give back to BCAC. In previous years, the craft fair money had gone to various charities — including sponsoring a family through the Department of Social Services.


With the success, they are supporting BCAC's program and hoping to raise more funds in future years and build a closer partnership with programming — such as a revamped volunteer program the company is launching. The fair has been growing under Program Director Jose Larios.

According to Janie McCormick, of BCAC, the donation will support 25 of the remaining children on the list. Overall, 1,100 names were collected this year and the organization has found donors for about 800. There remains just short of 300 names on the list as of Friday but she expect all of the children will receive presents — partly because of gift's like Baroco.

"About $1,200 in donations have come through," McCormick said, excluding Barocos.

Next week, Nuclea is expected to shop for about 100 of the remaining names and any left the following week will be shopped for by the nonprofit organization.

"The community and businesses have been wonderful," McCormick said.

But, McCormick said despite those donations, there is still a need for residents to sponsor some children. Volunteers are also welcome at the Giving Tree table at the Berkshire Mall.


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Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

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