Toys For Tots Sparking Joy for Children in Need This Holiday

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Around 190 Toys For Tots boxes will be scattered around the county this holiday season to deliver joy to children in need.

The toy collection effort accepts new, unwrapped toys for ages newborn to 14 years old in the months of October, November, and December so that no kid goes without.

Berkshire County coordinator Christopher Keegan's yearly goal is to honor every request for toys.

"This is just a whole different area around the holidays where people need some help," he said. "This is what we're here to do and it's rewarding."

He works with around 10 nonprofit agencies in the area to determine the need for toys including the Pittsfield and North Adams Salvation Army, the Department of Children and Families, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, 18 Degrees, and the Brien Center. Local folks who register for the drive online are also forwarded to him.

Keegan, who is the former program director for the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsfield, saw the need for this service in Berkshire County firsthand through his work with local youth.

He now works in the maintenance department at the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office and in its newsletter "Beyond the Badge," Keegan explains that the number of children in need of toys has gone up by about 1,000 over the last three years.

During the thick of the pandemic last year, Toys For Tots provided to nearly 3,000 local kids.

Keegan anticipates about 190 collection boxes will be distributed around the county in about 150 locations this year.

The toy drive began in 1947 in Los Angeles. It was spearheaded by Marine Reserve Maj. William Hendricks and became a nationwide campaign in 1948.  

At this time, the Marine Corps League joined the effort and has been leading it since. The Toys For Tots Foundation was recognized as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) in 1991 and charitable donations were able to be accepted.

Keegan is in his seventh year as the Berkshire County coordinator after becoming a member of Marine Corps League Pittsfield Detachment 137 in 2015.  At his first meeting, he was ordered to take over the effort and has positively impacted it since.

This includes keeping the toys within Berkshire County to help tots in the donators' own back yard.

"When I took this over seven years ago, the toys used to all go to the Westover Air Base in Chicopee, that's where the active Marines are stationed," he explained.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.