'Food Truck Rodeo' On Tap For Pittsfield Downtown

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
10:28AM / Tuesday, April 22, 2014Print Story | Email Story

Kathy Lloyd of How We Roll is organizing the city of Pittsfield's first Food Truck Rodeo.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Food. Beer. Music. Children's games. Giving to charity.

What more do you need for a good ole' fashioned Food Truck Rodeo?

Next month, the city will host its first Food Truck Rodeo, an event showcasing area food trucks, local breweries, a local band and children's games. The event on Sunday, May 4, will give the proceeds to Moments House.

"It's the first one in Pittsfield. We went to a few food truck rodeos in other places and they are a huge blast," said organizer Kathy Lloyd, who operates the local How We Roll food truck.

Starting at 11 a.m., five food trucks will open their doors at Palace Park on North Street. Beer will be served by local breweries Wandering Star and Big Elm. At noon, the Jill Gallagher Band will take the stage.

"These are all our food truck buddies that we've met at festivals," Lloyd said. "We're all very food passionate."

How We Roll has a focus on comfort food using local and organic ingredients and wrapping them in egg rolls. Black Forest Flammkuchen, from New York's Hudson Valley carries a wood, fire-brick oven around for pizzas. Chanterelle, from Northampton features a wide menu of items made form local and organic products. Gunther's Sausage Wagon of West Stockbridge sells authentic German bratwurst. Aurora's Gypsy Cafe of Danbury, Conn., features cuisine from all over the world.

Meanwhile, craft brewers Wandering Star and Big Elm will featuring some of their award-winning brews.

Admission to the event is free, but the booze and food will cost money.

"All of the food is for sale; otherwise, we would have to charge admission," Lloyd said.

Each vendor is paying a fee to be part of the event. After covering the expenses to put it on, the rest of the funds will go to Moments House.

"We really like what they do and who they do it for," Lloyd said of the Moments House, which helps patients and families who are coping with cancer. "It's just such a great resource."

Tags: cancer support, food truck, fundraiser,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

View Full Story