Shirley Davis, the organizer for United Neighborhood Organization, holds the sign that she'll be hanging at the headquarters at her 95 Bracewell Ave. home.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Thirteen households are teaming up for United Neighborhood Organization's community tag sale on Saturday to raise money for various neighborhood programs.

 

The tag sales run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each household donated $10 — some more — to the UNO for community programs, including back-to-school and Christmas parties, pizza parties and other activities.

 

"It makes the neighborhood look good," Shirley Davis, the group's organizer and Bracewell Avenue resident. "It's great for morale — not just for the kids but parents too."

 

Households on Bracewell Avenue, Houghton, River, Liberty, North Holden and Parker streets will participate in the sale.

 

"I thought this would be a good thing to do to raise money," Davis said.

 

In addition to the tag sale, the North Adams Lion's Club will sell refreshments, a free face painting will be available for kids and a Ding Dong Truck will cruise through the neighborhood, which primarily covers from River Street to Liberty Street and Houghton Street to Eagle Street.

 

Davis said the organization puts a lot of its focus on the children. Participation is still steady too — Davis said about 20 kids attended a more recent swimming trip to the YMCA.

 

"She's does a lot so many things with the kids," said Kathy Keeser, who worked closely with Davis during her tenure at the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.

 

Keeser also said when she moved into the neighborhood for a one-year stint in 1997 she heard talk about the area being in bad shape, but that didn't resemble what she saw.

 

"It was pretty good when I moved in there," Keeser said. 

 

The group has previously received various grants and support from local organizations, such as a $395 grant from Berkshire Prevention Alliance in 1998 as well as matching donations from Walmart. This year, the Corner Market on River Street pitched in.

 

The organization began in 1990 when 60 residents met at the Salvation Army to address the deterioration of the neighborhood from litter, vandalism, alcohol, drugs and "children running wild out on the streets."

 

Since then, the community has held many clean-up days, built a playground with the help of then-Mayor John Barrett III and others, sidewalk-chalk days, Christmas house decorating competitions, award ceremonies, movie parties and much more.

 

Davis said if this sale is a success it can become an annual fundraiser for the block.