Where to Find a Thanksgiving Meal

As Thanksgiving approaches, many community organizations are serving dinner for the public. Let us know if we've missed one by emailing us a info@iberkshires.com.

Sunday, Nov. 24

* The Salvation Army on River Street in North Adams is offering a takeout Thanksgiving meal available for pickup between 4 and 5 p.m. Call the office at 413-663-7987 and leave your name and the number of people to be fed.

Monday, Nov. 25

* The Berkshire Food Project will host its annual free Thanksgiving meal for the community with two seatings: from 1 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. There are no reservations; meals are served on a first come, first serve basis. This is a traditional holiday meal including turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and all the side dishes. The Berkshire Food Project is located inside First Congregational Church in downtown North Adams; enter from Main Street or Summer Street between Ashland and Church streets. For those wishing to attend from Williamstown, free rides are available thanks to a grant from the Fund for Williamstown of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation. The round-trip transportation is free but must be reserved in advance; call 413-458-9831.

Thursday, Nov. 28

* All Saints Berkshire Episcopal Church in North Adams will be delivering meals to local seniors, 60 and older, who are alone on Thanksgiving and have no way of having a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The program is provided and organized by local volunteers from the Northern Berkshire community and by All Saints Weekend Meal Ministry.  The meal will be a traditional meal of turkey, stuffing, vegetable, gravy, cranberry sauce roll and pumpkin pie. All Saints will be delivering the meals to seniors that live in North Adams, Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida Mountain, and Williamstown between 11 a.m. and noon. This is a free meal and reservations for a meal is required. All seniors who wish to receive a meal must make a reservation by calling 413-664-9656. Volunteers are also sought to deliver the meals on Thanksgiving Day.

* The Berkshire Vegan Network will host its 15th annual "Living Thanksgiving" vegan potluck Thanksgiving gathering from 1 to 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Lenox at 6 Holmes Road in Lenox. All seats must have a reservation; call 413-442-3749. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 to 12. Each person is asked to bring a dish that will serve eight hungry vegans. Please bring a vegan dish that is free of all animal products; please, no soups or stews). Attach a recipe card with ingredients. Also bring your own place setting and utensils. Hot and cold water will be available for drinks, teas and coffee should anyone want them. After the dinner there will be a voluntary share time for people to read a poem, tell a short story or tell why they are thankful. We will immensely appreciate anyone who can stay after the dinner to help clean up, and re-organize the hall.

* The Christian Center on Robbins Avenue in Pittsfield will again provide Thanksgiving dinner to hundreds of local residents this year, continuing the annual tradition established by the late Rev. Willard H. Durant in the 1980s. Home delivery of Thanksgiving dinners will be offered for the homebound on Thanksgiving Day as well as a shared Thanksgiving dinner at noon. Residents of the following places can sign up for a delivered meal at your residence: Epworth Arms, Columbia Arms, Providence Court, Capital Square, Berkshire Town, Francis Plaza, Rose Manor, Wahconah Heights, Central Annex and the YMCA. Other residents in Pittsfield, Lee, Lenox, Dalton and Lanesborough can register for a delivered meal by calling the Christian Center at 413-443-2828. Registration is not required for those looking to have dinner at the center at noon. Food and monetary donations can be dropped off at the center from  9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays. Those looking to volunteer, both onsite and as drivers to deliver meals can call the Christian Center at 413-443-2828.

North Adams Jewelry Store Has New Owner

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
05:34PM / Thursday, December 18, 2025

Cheryl Coppens put out a call for someone to take over the jewelry business she began last spring  — jewelry maker Alexandra Padilla answered the call.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Artful Jeweler has a new owner who is looking to expand its offerings.

Cheryl Coppens opened the jewelry store in May, showcasing local artists, offering fine jewelry, and jewelry repair.

But a new grandson in Texas, and the difficulties in flying back and forth to see him, had her looking to move closer to him.

Last month, she posted on the business's Facebook that she wanted someone to take over the space and continue the venture. Alexandra Padilla reached out to her and Coppens said she met all her criteria she was looking for in anew owner.

"You have to really want to be in retail. You have to want to be in this community, priced where people can afford it. Alex is native to North Adams. Her husband, she's got two great kids, so it just felt like they would be able to continue the store," Coppens said. "So the criteria really was somebody that would work the store, not somebody that would just come in and hire employees. I didn't want that."

Padilla started taking over the store in the beginning of December. She has been selling jewelry for about three years, and has an online shop, and has worked in wholesale jewelry for about 15 years.

"I always wanted to have my own thing on it, and I wanted to bring something new, and I want to involve my family, my kids do something, and I want to be independent," she said.

Now Padilla showcases her jewelry in the Ashland Street store and plans to keep some of the local artists' items, like stained glass made by Coppens' mother.

Padilla customizes jewelry and tailors pieces to her customers.

She plans to work around her job at Berkshire County Head Start so she can open store for more hours. 

She also plans to redesign the store a little bit and bring in a couple more lines, like more rings and pearls. 

The store is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays 9 to 2, Fridays 9 to 6, and Sundays 9 to 3. The store has also been open on Mondays 10  to 5 and Tuesdays 10  to 3 for the holidays. 

Padilla thanks Coppens for trusting her and hopes customers continue to support the Artful Jeweler.

"Thank you for trusting me. I'm going to try and do my best and work hard to make it happen," she said. "This is our first time selling retail, so we hope the community supports us in here."

Coppens will be helping Padilla until she is comfortable operating the store on her own. She said it will continue to be a space of community support.