Adams Friends of Animals Food Pantry Receives $1K in Donations

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Friends of Animals Food Pantry received an early Christmas present last year of more than $1,000 in pet food and supplies.

Roy Thompson, founder of the Adams Friends of Animals said Greylock Animal Hospital teamed up with Purina and Stop & Shop and donated toys, towels, food, racks, and even some money for Thompson's scholarship fund for students interested in a career in helping animals.

"That is a big lift for us, and there is a lot of good stuff," Thompson said. "It may encourage others to do the same thing; we have some pretty good people out there."

Thompson said the offer came after he received a call from Greylock Animal Hospital. He said they wanted to donate and take some collections, but he did not expect the huge payload.

He said they want to make the donation an annual Christmas gift to the pantry, that provides food and pet supplies to pet owners who may not be able to afford a good meal for their furry companions.

Thompson said the food pantry always has had support from Berkshire County in its entirety and even those who live farther way make the trek to Adams to drop off a few cans of dog food.

"In my opinion it's when things set tough, which they are, people look out to help each other," he said. "People love their animals, and we get some nice gifts ... and we certainly appreciate it."

Thompson said even McDonald's helps the pantry.

He said Mike Geary, the owner of the redemption center on Commercial Street where the pantry is located has encouraged them to grow and use up as much space as they need.


Tags: domestic animals,   food pantry,   pets,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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