Taste of the Berkshires Provides Charity, OpportunityNichole Dupont
iBerkshires Staff
06:22PM / Monday, November 08, 2010
Mary McGinnis, left, and Michelle Bissell serve up hundreds of cupcakes. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Hundreds gathered at the Masonic Temple on Thursday night as the Junior League of Berkshire County once again teamed up with area restaurants to host the third annual Taste of the Berkshires.
The event, which was sponsored entirely by L.P. Adams Lumber and Building Material, provided a plethora of treats from savory to sweet, all for a good cause.
"Every restaurant donated every single thing that you see in front of you,” said Junior League President Christian Goodchild. "When we approached the restaurants in August they all said, 'what can I do.'"
This generosity is all part of the business for Mary McGinnis, owner of Mary's Carrot Cake on Union Street. She along with her assistant Michelle Bissell carted in 200 carrot cupcakes made with McGinnis' 27-ingredient secret recipe, as well as dozens of red velvet "Recession" cupcakes, because, according to her, "everyone should be able to have their cake and eat it, too."
"This is a great organization. The Junior League helps a lot of women and children," she said. "If they need a couple hundred cupcakes for a party or an event, I'm happy to give them."
For Sarah Sayers, owner of Sarah's Cheesecake and Cafe located on Crane Avenue, Taste of the Berkshires provided an opportunity, not only for the Junior League, but also for participating restaurants.
"This event reminds people that we're here," she said. "It allows us to get the holiday menus out and it reminds us of who's out there as well. Last year, the first week after we did the event, we had people in and out of the cafe. It was great."
Tammie Houghton of Ozzie's Steak and Eggs in Hinsdale said that exposure was a big draw to participating. Amidst pounds of creamy chicken broccoli alfredo and simmering teriyaki glazed chicken, Houghton said she was happy to be serving up the goods.
"This gets us out where people in South County can see us," she said. "Plus it's just fun."
According to Goodchild, the efforts of all of the restaurants and silent auction donors (which included many gift certificates from the participants) will a go a long way in supporting the Junior League's work in the community, including the Curl Up with a Good Book Literacy Program, Fostering Friendships one-day wellness event for foster families and the Nicole Wilson Beebe Scholarship which is awarded annually.
"One main component to our mission is that we train all of our members. There is an international conference in Philadelphia that we attend," Goodchild said. "We're all volunteers. We have 19 active volunteers and 68 sustaining members, including an 88-year-old volunteer. But we couldn't do any of it without this event and the generosity of these businesses."
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