BHS Honors Employees With Donation to Berkshire COVID-19 Fund

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems is giving $50,000 to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Berkshire County, co-led by Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and in partnership with Northern Berkshire United Way and Williamstown Community Chest.  

The donation, which was made in honor of all BHS employees and medical staff, will be designated to support two major programs that provide reliable access to healthy food for residents of Berkshire County.  

"From restaurants and small businesses to physicians and hospitals, we are all hurting as a result of COVID-19. After learning about the significant increase in food pantry needs in recent months, we knew we had to act. Our hospitals will have time to rebuild after the severe economic losses we have experienced, but a hungry family simply cannot wait," said David Phelps, president and CEO of BHS.

When social distancing and COVID-19 regulations forced BHS to cancel its annual employee and physician recognition events, BHS leaders decided that it would be fitting to redirect the budgeted funds that had been reserved for those events and, instead, make this donation in honor of employees and physicians.

"We have received so much love and appreciation from our community members during the pandemic. We want to give back to our community now, when the need for basic food and supplies is real for so many Berkshire residents," Phelps said.

The $50,000 donation will be split evenly between the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which services 12 food pantries in the Berkshires, and the Market Match program, which allows low-income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to double their weekly food allowance when shopping at local farmers markets. The Food Bank distributed 186,000 pounds of food in the Berkshires in March and reports a 20 percent increase in the number of households seeking services.

"The Berkshire Health Systems’ employees and medical staff have gone above and beyond to support our community during this public health crisis," said Candace Winkler, president and CEO of Berkshire United Way. "We are especially grateful for BHS's generosity at this difficult time, given the health system’s own significant financial needs. This gift proves that BHS’s care extends beyond the doctor’s office or the hospital room and touches the core of our community."

Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation have been able to leverage BHS's gift to unlock an additional $100,000 in funding from the MA COVID-19 Relief Fund and the Berkshire Community Action Council to be directed toward food pantries and programs in the county for operations and capacity-building.

"We are lucky to be able to partner with BHS to deliver this much-needed relief to our Berkshire food pantries and the families they serve," Winkler said.

Cyclists Pedal Into Berkshire Bike Month

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:42AM / Saturday, May 04, 2024

Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan addresses bikers at the event. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Clad in helmets and bright colors, more than 20 people gathered in Park Square to kick on Berkshire Bike Month on Wednesday.

The month of May will be stacked with bicycle-centered events throughout the county — beginning with an eight-mile loop from the city's center that ends at Hot Plate Brewing Co.

"We have we have a lot of things going on in Pittsfield for bicycles and for safety," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said.

"We're not anywhere near where we should be. We have a lot of work to do."

Bike month is meant to promote the safe use of streets for anyone and everyone no matter how they are traveling, he said The commissioner is especially excited about Bike to Work Day on May 17, as he can register to be recognized for his typical commute.

He presented a proclamation to President of the Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan. It states that the city is committed to the health of its citizens and environment, safe cycling with road bike lanes and the extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and that the Police Department encourages safe cycling by distributing lights and helmets and accompanies the city's Ride Your Bike to School event.

BBPC is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Cohan said the quarter century has been full of commitment to bike paths and bike safety throughout Berkshire County "on roads, on trails, on tracks, and on paths."

"In expanding our mission in this way we have been able to encompass all kinds of cycles and all kinds of riders," she said.

She noted that participants range from babies to 90-year-old people. Bike month includes events for all ages.