NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — After serving the Northern Berkshire community for more than 60 years as its own nonprofit organization, the Northern Berkshire Santa Fund will be merging into the Northern Berkshire United Way after this holiday season.
The decision was made to enable the organization to continue its mission of providing toys for Northern Berkshire youths in need in a more fiscally and structurally sound way, said board President Tammy Daniels.
"The Santa Fund has sought partners over the last few years who can provide a sustainable foundation for the program to continue," Daniels said. "The Northern Berkshire United Way has offered to give the nonprofit the needed administrative support it requires so our small volunteer board can concentrate on its most important mission -- ensuring a happy Christmas for children in our area."
This move will put the Santa Fund under the operational umbrella of the Northern Berkshire United Way. Donations still will be able to be funneled to the Santa Fund through the United Way, and applications will be taken by those who are applying for the Elf Program at Berkshire Community Action Council. The Santa Fund worked with both organizations last year.
For this year, donations can still be sent through the secure online portal at http://www.iberkshires.com/NBSantaFund/ or by mail to Northern Berkshire Santa Fund, PO Box 1724, North Adams, MA 01247. However, because this is a transition year, the fund will only be able to take in a limited number of applications.
Daniels and other staff at iBerkshires.com took over operation of the Santa Fund several years ago after the closure of the North Adams Transcript, which had run the program for many years. At that time, Santa Fund recipients could pick out their own toys at the Cariddi Toys store on State Road. When Cariddi Toys closed, Santa Fund organizers worked with the North Adams WalMart for a couple years; while WalMart was extremely generous with its time and money in helping with the transition, the logistics there didn't work out as well as hoped.
So last year, the Santa Fund teamed up with BCAC, with BCAC accepting applications and Santa Fund volunteers buying toys to accompany the clothing donations BCAC received during its Elf Program. Those toys were distributed with the Elf Program gifts.
This year, however, Santa Fund gifts will be distributed separately over two days at The Green at 85 Main St. in downtown North Adams. Parents who have signed up for a gift through the BCAC application process can pick up their gift from noon to 4 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, Dec. 21 and 22.
Applications can be filled out starting Monday, Oct. 15, at BCAC's North Adams office on the second floor of 85 Main St. Santa Fund applications are limited to the first 250 children this year.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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