Legacy Contributes to Elder Services

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Legacy Banks Foundation has granted Elder Services
Bill Dunlaevy, Chairman and CEO of Legacy Banks; Robert Dean, executive director of Elder Services and Richard Sullivan, president of The Legacy Banks Foundation.
of Berkshire County, Inc., $10,000 to support the organization’s Meals on Wheels Program. Last year, Elder Services prepared over a quarter million meals in their Lanesboro kitchen with over 200,000 of them delivered to the homes of frail Berkshire seniors and the remaining served at over 14 lunch sites throughout Berkshire County.

According to Robert P. Dean, executive director
of Elder Services, state and federal funding sources have not kept pace with the increased food and fuel costs or the larger demand. “We so appreciate The Legacy Banks Foundation stepping forward to support this important program,” commented Dean. “With economic conditions being what they are, I am certain we will see the need for hot, nutritional meals for seniors continue to grow. Legacy’s significant financial contribution will go a long way toward ensuring that we are able to fulfill that need.”

Elder Services’ Meals on Wheels Program provides hot, nutritious noontime meals to seniors who are homebound throughout Berkshire County. Through this program, over 1,000 meals are prepared each weekday – over 800 of which are home-delivered by drivers who travel 226,000 miles a year throughout 38 different routes. In addition to delivering meals, Meals on Wheels drivers conduct daily “wellness checks” on the seniors who receive meals and keep an eye out for additional services they may need.

Richard Sullivan, president of The Legacy Banks Foundation, commended Elder Services, saying, “This is an important community-based program, which fills a vital need for a vulnerable population. We are pleased to support this effort and especially applaud those who volunteer their time to serve our elders.”

Anyone seeking information about Meals on Wheels may call Elder Services at 413-499-0524 or 1-800-544-5242.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settled neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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