Berkshire Money Management Donates $25K in Food to Thanksgiving Angels

Harris puts in manual labor to bring the produce and other foods into South Congregational Church.

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — About 1,600 local families will have turkey day feasts on the table thanks to a collaboration between Berkshire Money Management and the Thanksgiving Angels.

On Friday, BMM presented the organization with a big $25,000 check, doubling its fundraising efforts during a year of increased need. The funds are a match to what the organization was able to gather.

"The Thanksgiving Angels needed roughly $50,000 this year to supply the amount of food for people who are in need this year, and I figured it would be really hard for them to do it this year because it's going to be harder to attain that food because of food prices, and that's going to reduce people's disposable income," founder and CEO Allen Harris said.

"So we thought that what we do is approach the Thanksgiving Angels since and say, 'we'll donate $25,000 as a matching campaign, what we would like to do is keep as much as we can of that local, so if you can match it $25,000, I'll give this $25,000 and Wohrle's will supply that food.'"

Thanksgiving Angels is a joint effort between more than 20 food pantries, organizations, and faith communities that provide turkeys and all of the sides to residents in need.

The food was sourced from Wohrle's, filling up two whole box trucks. Volunteers were buzzing around the South Congregational Church's supply room, unloading the mass quantities of carrots, onions, potatoes, squash, and more.

Program coordinator Mary Wheat was astonished by the amount of food that was coming in. Wheat also runs the church's regular food pantry.

"It's a very very generous donation," she said, "It made it possible for 1,600 families to have a nutritious Thanksgiving."

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

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.