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The Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry will continue to operate to help those in need.

Food Services Continue to Adjust; Fundraiser Set for Williamstown Pantry

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry will continue to operate during the COVID-19 emergency, officials announced Thursday, a day after changing its pickup procedures for the first time as a result of the pandemic.

"We as a group are committed, in the time-honored fashion of North Adams and Northern Berkshire pulling together, to do our part to take care of each other," Mark Rondeau, co-founder and board president, said in a statement. "We have hope that after this crisis much better days are coming. Stay tuned."

The next pickup is Wednesday, March 25, from the center's 45 Eagle Street location. Social distancing procedures will be followed strictly. Updates will be posted to the group's website and Facebook page

In addition, the Berkshire Food Project — which typically serves lunch every day from the First Congregational Church on Main Street — is altering its procedures and will serve pre-packed meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Staff is prepping meals and packaging them for distribution, two meals at a time since they will not be there on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Friday's meal will consist of pasta with roasted vegetables, mac and cheese with a side of mixed vegetables, and ham on the side.

No seating will be allowed inside the church.

"The meals will be handed out at the breezeway entrance," the group's Facebook post reads. "Please do not go to the kitchen door — the meals at the breezeway will be accessible without stairs."

Updates will be posted on the organization's Facebook page.

"We have a conference call of board members and staff on Sunday afternoon to assess next week," Executive Director Kim McMann said Thursday. "We are taking it week by week. … Everything is changing so much so quickly."

And in an effort to bolster the stock of necessities available at the Williamstown Food Pantry, a "Drive for Change" will take place in a drive-through lane at the Williamstown Youth Center, 66 School St., on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, March 21-23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drivers will deposit their loose change (ideally, without getting out of their vehicles) into five-gallon collection buckets and circle back out of the parking lot.

All of funds raised will be distributed as donations of food and emergency supplies by the Williamstown Food Pantry to those most in need. Precautions are being taken to maintain social distancing.

People can also drop off donations anytime to the shelves in the front foyer of the Sts. Patrick and Raphael Parish Center.

The food pantry in Adams remains closed. The Mobile Food Bank operated by Food Bank of Western Massachusetts suspended its schedule but hopes to resume on Monday, March 23. 


Tags: COVID-19,   food pantry,   


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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.

They are hoping their display carries on the tradition of the Arnold Family Christmas Lights Display that retired in 2022.

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. 

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