Greylock Insurance Agency Makes Donation to Breaking Bread Kitchen

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Greylock Insurance Agency recently made a $250 donation to the Breaking Bread Kitchen.
The donation was matched with a $500 donation from the Arbella Insurance Foundation’s “Let’s Drive Out Hunger” initiative. The $750 check was presented by Jessica Havens, GIA Account Manager, to Paul Mulholland, Co-Chair, Breaking Bread Kitchen.

Breaking Bread is a partnership of eight South County churches and groups that volunteer on Thursday evenings to serve free hot meals to 60 to 80 community residents at the Sheffield American Legion.

 “Organizations such as the Breaking Bread Kitchen do great work by providing meals and fellowship for deserving residents," Sharon MacEachern, AVP, GIA Insurance Operations said. "GIA is always happy to support our community, and very appreciative for the matching donation given by the Arbella Foundation to help Breaking Bread continue their efforts.”


Mulholland said he is grateful for the donations.

The funds will be put to good use buying food and supplies for the Thursday night dinners that are free to all who would like to attend," he said.

Now in its seventh year, Arbella’s “Let’s Drive Out Hunger” initiative collects contributions from Arbella’s nearly 500 partner independent agents and matches each donation on a two-to-one basis up to $500 for emergency food programs, soup kitchens, food pantries, and homeless shelters throughout New England.

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Toy Library Installed at Onota Lake

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Feel free to use or leave a toy at Onota Lake's newest infrastructure meant to foster community and benefit kids.

Burbank Park now has a toy library thanks to Wahconah Regional High School senior Alexandra Bills. Located along the wall at the beach area, the green and blue structure features two shelves with sand toys that can be used to enhance children's visits.

The Parks Commission supported Bills' proposal in February as part of her National Honors Society individual service project and it was installed this month. Measuring about 4 feet wide and 5.8 feet tall, it was built by the student and her father with donated materials from a local lumber company.

Friends and family members provided toys to fill the library such as pails, shovels, Frisbees, and trucks.

"I wanted to create a toy library like the other examples in Berkshire County from the sled library to the book libraries," she told the commission in February.

"But I wanted to make it toys for Onota Lake because a lot of kids forget their toys or some kids can't afford toys."

Bills lives nearby and will check on the library weekly — if not daily — to ensure the operation is running smoothly.  A sign reading "Borrow-Play-Return" asks community members to clean up after themselves after using the toys.

It was built to accommodate children's heights and will be stored during the winter season.

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