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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.
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Spectrum Health Systems also presented a $5,000 check to the program on Monday.
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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.
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Wheat, on the left, has been involved with the program for over ten years.

Thanksgiving Angels Feeds Nearly 2,000 County Families

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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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 Celebrates Arbor Day at Taconic

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Mayor Peter Marchetti presented the framed original cover art for the day's program. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Generations of Taconic students will pass the tree planted on Arbor Day 2026 as they enter school. 

Pittsfield's decades-long annual celebration was held at a city school for the first time. Different vocational trades at Taconic High School worked together to plant the Amelanchier, or flowering serviceberry, mark it with a plaque, record the ceremony, create artwork for the program's cover, and feed guests. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said the students' participation reflects the spirit of Arbor Day perfectly: learning by doing, serving the community, and helping Pittsfield grow greener for generations to come.

"It's not unknown that trees help shade our homes, help clean our air and water, they support wildlife, and make our neighborhoods and public spaces more beautiful and resilient," he said. 

"And Arbor Day is our chance annually to honor that gift and to remember that when we plant something today, we are investing in the future of our green world."

The holiday was established 154 years ago by J. Sterling Morton and was first observed in Nebraska with the planting of more than a million trees.

CTE environmental science and technology teacher Morgan Lindemayer-Finck detailed the many skilled students who worked on the event: the sign commemorating this Arbor Day was made by the carpentry and advanced manufacturing program, specifically students Ronan MacDonald and Patrick Winn; the multimedia production program recorded the event, and the culinary department provided refreshments. 

The program's cover art was created by students Brigitte Quintana-Tenorio and Austin Sayers. The framed original was presented to Mayor Peter Marchetti. 

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