Berkshire Children and Families Hires Development Director

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Bethany Kirchmann has been hired as the director of development for Berkshire Children and Families.

Kirchmann brings with her a decade of experience in fundraising and organizational advancement as well as a passion for her community. Prior to joining BCF, she gained extensive experience in fundraising for the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center and Barrington Stage Company.

She holds a B.S. in Arts Management from Franklin Pierce University. She is currently on Pittsfield’s Artscape committee, and has served on the boards for Berkshire Young Professionals and the Berkshire Initiative for Growth.

Berkshire Children & Families is one of the oldest nonprofits in Western Massachusetts with work concentrated in four key areas: early education and care; child and family well-being; intensive foster care and adoption; and Kids 4 Harmony, an intensive classical music program for social change.

 


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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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