GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The CHP Berkshires Mobile Health Team is bringing more health care and food security to Berkshires with the addition of two new mobile health vehicles.
A third, a mobile dental clinic, is on the way.
These new rolling health care vehicles and their clinical staff were introduced on Thursday, Aug. 10, 5-7 p.m., at the Southern Berkshire Chamber After Hours Event at Crissey Farm, hosted by CHP Berkshires. Guests toured the vans, talked with staff, and learned about the importance of mobile health.
This year, CHP's old 2002 mobile health van was finally retired. In 2019, CHP partnered with Berkshire-Fallon (the Berkshires' MassHealth program) to bring a large mobile health van.
These additional new vehicles are owned by CHP, and they are smaller and more agile for out-of-the-way destinations and winter roads.
CHP's mobile health units are among 5,000 on the road throughout the U.S. CHP has been on the road since 1975 caring for adults and children in more remote regions of the Berkshires. In the spring, CHP's Mobile Health team received a leadership award from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Association.
The three new mobile units were funded with federal and state grants; the new "mobile farm stand" van operates in partnership with Berkshire Bounty, the state Department of Agriculture and MassHealth.
"Our Mobile Health units are essentially one of CHP's many practice locations – but they go places where people work, play and gather," said Michelle Derr, CHP's senior VP of Family Services and Mobile Health. "The logistics are complex, but we have just the right mix of staff to make an impact on wheels."
For this program, MassHealth pays Berkshire region farmers to grow food; CHP collects and delivers the bounty each week to its five practice lobbies between North Adams and Great Barrington. Patients are free to grab a bag of fresh food, no questions asked, when they show up for a medical or dental appointment.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, CHP's mobile health operation was on the road continuously with vaccines, boosters and other health services. This work of providing vaccines, boosters and other preventive care will carry on, along with minor sick visits.
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Berkshire Waldorf High School Secures $4M Donation
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Waldorf High School announced that it has received $4 million from an anonymous donor toward renovation of Procter Hall, the Old Town Hall at 6 Main Street.
The school has completed the architectural phase of the project design and construction is now underway. Pamela Sandler, AIA, is the lead architect on the project, and Marois Construction is on-site doing the actual renovation. The project includes remediation of asbestos and lead paint, the addition of an elevator and sprinkler system, a redesign of the interior, and preservation of the upstairs meeting room and other historical features.
Berkshire Waldorf High School Executive Director Stephen Sagarin said he is thrilled and grateful for the gift, saying that that capital campaign donations earmarked to fund the renovation will enable the school "to double our current square footage, including creation of more and larger classrooms and science labs, while allowing us to remain in Stockbridge within walking distance of the town center. The construction should be complete by summer 2025."
"The Town of Stockbridge is well on its way of realizing its two–decades-old dream of finding a permanent use for this early 19th century historic structure," added Teresa O'Brient, chair of the board of trustees of Berkshire Waldorf High School, a longtime Stockbridge resident, and owner of the Stockbridge Country Store. "The community really stepped up to help us realize this dream."
The First Congregational Church, UCC, Stockbridge, voted last year to sell the building to Berkshire Waldorf High School. The Town of Stockbridge Selectboard and Planning Board approved the zoning variances this past winter. The sale closed in February 2024 and the school has been working closely with both the Church and the Stockbridge Golf Club to ensure that all parties' parking needs are met during construction.
Berkshire Waldorf High School CFO Patrick White observed that with this donation, funding for more than 80 percent of the anticipated construction budget is now in place.
"We've already seen a significant need to tap into contingency funds, specifically related to availability of electrical services and the need to reinforce beams in both the front and the back of the building," he said. "We are confident the community will support this capital campaign and get us over the finish line."
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