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Hope Amandos, Pamela Knisley, BUW Community Engagement Manager Brenda Petell, and Gretchen DeBartolo at the Thanksgiving Angel's setup day on Monday. Thanks to the volunteers and donations, more than 2,000 people will be getting a Thanksgiving meal.
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Bags of groceries lined up and waiting for distribution.
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Grace Walton and state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier among the volunteers on Monday.
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Thanksgiving Angels Show Up for Increased Need

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Cole, 6, and Trey, 3, stock bread for the Thanksgiving Angels in this provided photo.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — As the cost of living continues to rise, so does the need for Thanksgiving Angels.

The meal kit distribution effort has surpassed last year's numbers, serving more than 2,200 local families in need. Around 500 volunteers have helped with the entire process and on Monday, around 100 volunteers packed into the South Congregational Church for drive-through distribution.

Generosity is the engine that has powered Thanksgiving Angels for around 15 years.

"The community is so incredibly generous with financials and their time and helping us to pull this off," co-Chair Gretchen DeBartolo said.

"… it's a lot of hands, an awful lot of hands, and without that, there'd be nothing."

There were about 600 home deliveries over the weekend for the elderly, those with disabilities, and those without a vehicle.

"People have been generous with in-kind donations and with money," co-Chair Hope Amandos said.

"I think we will be able to cover our expenses. I think we did well with donations."

Every year, more than 20 religious and community organizations work together to create free meal kits for people who would otherwise go without. These include everything needed for a Thanksgiving spread — even the turkey.

Berkshire United Way, one of the official partner organizations, took over volunteer recruitment and management last year.

"It's such an amazing way for people to give back if it's two hours or multiple shifts," Director of Volunteer Engagement Brenda Petell said.

"We've had so many organizations step up this year, new organizations, new individuals, and my most favorite part of this is getting youth involved."


While schools were out on Veterans Day, around 40 kids from Nessacus Middle School, Pittsfield High School, Taconic High School, Lenox Memorial High School, and Congregation Knesset Israel were packing boxes.

Petell said parents will also bring their children along for the charitable work. The youngest volunteer was only 3 years old and stocked shelves with freshly baked bread.

State Rep. Tricia Farley Bouvier was among the volunteers, with tasks ranging from packing food to directing traffic. She finds Thanksgiving Angels is "one of the very best things that shows what our community is made of," pointing to the year of planning and months of active work needed to prepare.

"I'm really happy to play any small part in the response from the community. The number of volunteers who are here, some of them doing small jobs, some of them doing big jobs, is just really gratifying," she said.

"But I don't think we can ever forget that the need is growing. People are hungry in this community. Those things have to be addressed systemically."

On Tuesday, the Thanksgiving Angels will be at the church for a few hours in the morning to hand out any leftovers. Board member Grace Walton estimated that they may reach 3,000 families after this.

"This year is wonderful," she said. "It's so good to see so many people now that really want to give back to the community."

She is glad to see the donation grow each year.

Longtime coordinator Mary Wheat, who also founded the South Community Food Pantry, has guided the effort into the future. This year, she worked remotely while recovering from an injury.

It began when various organizations doing similar Thanksgiving meal programs decided to consolidate their efforts and resources into one coordinated and more efficient program.

Amandos and DeBartolo were selected as iBerkshires' October Community Heroes of the Month.

The Community Hero of the Month series recognizes individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community. This month's nomination concludes the series, which is in partnership with Haddad Auto.


Tags: food drive,   thanksgiving,   

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Final Summary of PHS Investigation Released

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A School Committee-initiated investigation into allegations of misconduct by Pittsfield High School staff members was unable to conclude that an administrator shared a nude image with students on social media.

On Thursday, the final executive summary was released. It is focused on administrator 2, who is alleged to have shared a photograph of female genitalia on her Snapchat account.

"During this investigation, we sought to determine the validity of allegations about PHS Administrator #2 sharing a photograph of female genitalia with PHS students on her Snapchat account," the 11-page report reads.

"Notwithstanding the information we obtained from persons we interviewed and the documents and materials we reviewed, we are unable to conclude with confidence that on her Snapchat account (or possibly through her other social media accounts), PHS Administrator #2 knowingly or intentionally sent to or knowingly or intentionally shared with minors or students a picture of female genitalia."

The investigation was based largely on second- and third-hand accounts. The report states, "It appears that what has circulated in the community may be a screenshot of a photograph allegedly posted by PHS Administrator #2 on her Snapchat account."

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Pittsfield High's former dean of students, Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

The report states that the Pittsfield Public Schools' investigation into allegations regarding the photograph was complicated by another set of pictures that "confused" the allegations.

"In early March 2023, PHS administrators conducted a preliminary inquiry of two photographs of PHS Administrator #2 wearing a shirt with a low-cut neckline while at her home, which a student related to her through marriage had posted on his own Snapchat account. PPS administrators spoke with PHS Administrator #2 about the photographs but did not consider these photographs as warranting a report to DCF," it reads, explaining that on viewing the photographs, the firm agrees.

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