PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A number of local cannabis dispensaries are supporting the Berkshire Humane Society with volunteer work and donations.

 

Last month, Temescal Wellness donated $1,700 to the shelter, its largest donation yet.

 

"The staff here at Temescal are all animal lovers," dispensary manager Megan Wendling-Kane said. "We allow guests to bring their dogs inside instead of leaving them in the car, we know many of them by name and enjoy seeing them on a regular basis so when it came to volunteering, Berkshire Humane was a logical choice.  

 

"Many staff members have adopted great pets at the shelter, and we have always felt appreciated and welcome there."

 

The dispensary began volunteering at Berkshire Humane in December 2019.  Executive Director John Perreault said a Temescal staff member would come at least once a month to assist with shelter cleaning, a job that most people don't want.

 

"They do a great job when they're here, too," he added. "They come in, they're excited. They're quiet. They know they're making a difference."

 

Perreault said this trend first began around two years ago with Canna Provisions in Lee, which raised money with a donation canister in the facility and did a volunteer day at the shelter before its grand opening.

 

"I think we had over 30 of them here. We did a major cleaning project around the shelter," he said. "And it was fabulous to have that many hands and they were young, strong hands, most of them, so there were a lot of things we normally wouldn't get done we got done."

 

Berkshire Humane Society also has a great relationship with Bloom Brothers, Perreault reported and has received volunteer interest from Canna Corner in Becket and food donation inquiries from Theory Wellness in Great Barrington.

 

"They want to help out and they're certainly, certainly great volunteers doing really good things," he said.

 

Temescal is all about funding the community, Wendling-Kane explained. Each month, the dispensary has raised money for a different local organization including Thanksgiving Angels, ServiceNet, Berkshire Humane, and the local chapter of the NAACP.

 

This month, it is accepting donations for the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

 

"We have taken in-kind donations for the Berkshire Dream Center, and Project Just Because. We have also shown our support in person, helping out in local soup kitchens, Berkshire Humane, and offering cannabis community outreach to anyone who asks," Wendling-Kane said.

 

"Temescal Wellness is involved in giving at the corporate level, but as individual stores, we like to choose organizations that are near and dear to our hearts and ones that will benefit the community that we live and work in. 

 

"At Temescal Wellness we do not accept tips, instead, customers may donate change or give tips for great service to the organizations we love to support, it is a great way for us to positively impact the community."