Health, Hope and Healing Around the Holidays Health Programs at Fairview Hospital

04:10PM / Sunday, November 19, 2023Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Fairview Hospital and Berkshire Health Systems will offer "Health, Hope and Healing Around the Holidays," a series of free health programs to support our community during the holiday season.

The program is offered as part of the Berkshire Health Systems role as healthcare partner and community advocate for improving the region's overall quality of life.

Programs include:

Approaching the Holidays with Better Health in Mind: Nov. 28 4:00 -5:00 p.m. The holidays can be a slippery slope when it comes to staying healthy and avoiding the overindulgence that accompanies the season. Emotions, stress and even exhaustion can lead us to let down our guard. Join Fairview nutritionist Meg McGonagle,RD, for a discussion about common challenges and smart strategies for approaching holiday eating and drinking events, common triggers, and getting back on track when you slip, in order to enter the new year on a healthy note.

Finding Joy - Nov. 30 10:30-11:30 a.m. There really is both physical and mental health benefits associated with laughter, fun and joyful activities. During the holidays, it is especially important to find joy, even if there are moments of loneliness or sadness. BHS Director of Wellness, Maureen Daniels, M.Ed, will lead a discussion over a morning cup of tea. Together, we will explore what brings you joy and create a plan for adding more joy into your life by recognizing the power of simple, small moments that bring joy if we see them.

Coping with the Holidays: Dec. 5 2:00-3:00 p.m. Traditions and celebrations can spark feelings of loss or sadness for many people during the holiday season. Tricia Lewis, LICSW, a health counselor with BMC Healthworks, a member of BHS' Employee Assistance Program, will discuss the importance of recognizing and accepting these feelings and explore ways to navigate this sometimes very difficult time of year.

Resolutions: A NEW You or a BETTER You? Dec. 7, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. It's the time of year we often commit to new goals only to find ourselves with a sense of failure just a few weeks into the new year. To prepare for successful resolutions in the coming year, join Rich Berry, RN, Coordinator of Fairview Hospital's Life Enhancement Program, to learn how to set goals and helpful tips and strategies, and how to restart if you get off track.

Trees of Light, Dec. 12 4:00 - 4:30 p.m. It's the season of light, and no matter what your tradition is or is not, lights are everywhere. We welcome the community as we light a new installation of year-round lighting at Fairview Hospital. Charles Redd, Officer of DEI and author of Berkshire Health Systems' Dignity Posts, hosts this celebration of the lighting and shares his reflection on dignity and light as we turn on the lights of care at Fairview Hospital.

Coping with Cancer During the Holidays: Thursday, Dec. 14, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to facing cancer during the holidays. Join Sue Budz, LICSW, OSW-C, and Shannon Wellauer, RN, OCN of the Phelps Cancer Center for a conversation about how to cope with having cancer or how to care for a loved one with cancer, during the holidays. Learn tips and strategies for planning, prioritizing, and taking care of yourself and others during this holiday season. Most importantly, understand that you are not alone on this journey with the region's trusted cancer caregivers.

Reservations are accepted but not required. For more information, call Fairview Hospital Community Relations at (413) 854-9609.

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Free Pet Food Drive-Thru in Becket

10:43AM / Friday, February 06, 2026

BECKET, Mass. — Berkshire Humane Society will give out bags of cat and dog food to pet owners in need during a drive-thru event this Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9:00 – 11:00 am, at the Becket Washington School Parking Lot, 12 Maple Street in Becket.

The drive-thru is in conjunction with the Becket Food Pantry.

Cat and dog owners can drive up to the distribution point and remain in their vehicle while someone takes their order and loads it into their vehicle. Cat owners will get a 6-pound bag of food and dog owners will get a 20-pound bag, no questions asked. The event is open to all, regardless of enrollment in Berkshire Humane Society's Pet Food Bank or participation in the Becket Food Pantry and is made possible by donations from Wendy and James Martin of the Martin Family Donor Advised Fund, the Eichenbaum/Archer Family Foundation and an anonymous private foundation.

"We gave out nearly 7,200 pounds of pet food in our holiday drive-thrus in Great Barrington, North Adams and Pittsfield," said John Perreault, Berkshire Humane Society's Executive Director. "People not only drove, but walked up to those events. I can't tell you how many of them told us how thankful they were for help feeding their cats or dogs," he said. "With the cold weather lately, we don't want people choosing between staying warm and feeding themselves or their cats their pets. With this event, we're hoping to reach more folks in the hilltowns. Thanks to our generous donors, we have more than 7,500 pounds of pet food to do just that! Thank you to the Becket Food Pantry for making the event possible."

Berkshire Humane Society's Food Pantry events are part of the nonprofit's efforts to keep families together and prevent people from feeling they must surrender their pet to the shelter. Other programs include the shelter's monthly Pet Food Bank, to which drive-thru recipients may enroll; low-cost spay and neuter and other veterinary services at the Society's Wellness Clinic; and dog obedience classes at Family Dog School.

Berkshire Humane Society also accepts donations to provide pet food for more families in need. Monetary donations are preferred because the shelter has agreements with pet food companies to buy nutritious food at a bulk rate, feeding more animals per donor dollar. For more information about the drive-thru event or making a donation, call 413-447-7878, extension 127.

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