image description — On Monday, the South Community Food pantry on South Street was bustling with dozens of hands organizing ingredients, loading food into cars for drive-through pickup, and assisting in any way they can.

Thanksgiving Angels Feeds Nearly 2,000 County Families

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:03AM / Tuesday, November 22, 2022Print Story | Email Story

Carver said there is still a need and that the need has increased.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Nearly 1,800 families' tables will be set with a turkey and all of the fixings on Thursday thanks to the Thanksgiving Angels.

The program, now in its 15th year, addresses food insecurity by providing a meal kit to those in need so that everyone can enjoy a holiday feast.

The program has over 20 participating organizations, food pantries, and faith communities. This amounts to hundreds of volunteers.

"It's a great community effort," Program coordinator Mary Wheat said. "There are people from everywhere helping."

On Monday, the South Community Food pantry on South Street was bustling with dozens of hands organizing ingredients, loading food into cars for drive-through pickup, and assisting in any way they can.

Over the weekend, volunteers made home deliveries.

Berkshire Money Management (BMM) contributed its time and money to the cause, offering a $25,000 matching donation and volunteer work. It was believed that the match challenge has been met.

Last year, the investment advisory firm also donated $25,000 and unloaded two whole box trucks from Wohrle's full of food.

BMM Co-founder Stacey Carver said that the need is "really there."

"And the need was even bigger this year," she explained. "So we felt like we really had to step up again this year and try to get the rest of the community to step up and help."

Spectrum Health Systems also presented a $5,000 check to the program on Monday.

Wheat said that the large donations and the small donations are all important.

"Everybody gives what they can," she added.

Information about how to sign up, donate, or volunteer can be found on the Thanksgiving Angels website.

Tags: donations, food,

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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