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A truckload of nonperishable food and personal care items is delivered to the Al Nelson Food Pantry on Monday morning. Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan, left, helps with the boxes.
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The food pantry on Eagle Street can always use donations. The article has a list of products the pantry always needs.

North Adams Delivers Donations from Annual Food Drive

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
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Collection boxes are put out in municipal buildings and facilities each year to gather goods for the annual holiday food drive.  Assistant to the Superintendent Bobbi Tassone, Assistant Superintendent Timothy Callahan and school facilities manager Robert Flaherty helped with the delivery. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city delivered several boxes filled with food, personal care and other essential items to Eagle Street on Monday, all of which were donated as part of this year's annual food drive

 

This year's drive worked to re-stock the shelves of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative's Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry, located at 43 Eagle St. City workers, as well as Timothy Callahan, assistant superintendent of North Adams Public Schools, came to deliver the items. 

 

Rich Davis, the food coordinator for the pantry, thanked the city and the community for helping to keep the pantry filled. 

 

"It's just nice to see the community out there helping to support those who are not as fortunate," he said. "... we certainly appreciate the support of the community. Not just at this time, but all year round." 

 

The Food Pantry is encouraging donations such as: tuna; peanut butter; brown rice; whole wheat pasta; pasta sauce; low sodium canned vegetables (e.g. potatoes, green beans, carrots); low sodium soups; whole grain cereals (low sugar) and/or oatmeal; canned fruits (no sugar added); and beans (e.g. kidney beans and garbanzo beans). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo were also included.

 

"Some of the items that we will get in today is stuff that we may carry on a regular basis, but a lot of items are not," 'Davis said. "So that gives us a little variety for us to offer to our friends, too." 

 

The annual food drive is one way items come to the food bank, in addition to contributions from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, individuals, local supermarkets and businesses. Drop-off boxes were available throughout the city for residents to donate and collections were taken up in city departments, which Davis said helps the pantry get donations it may not have otherwise received. 

 

This year's donations weighed in at 525 pounds, Davis said later. 

 

"This here gives a greater number of individuals, who may not have time to do it, just on their own, but they can bring it to their work and have the city bring it into us," he said.


Tags: food drive,   food pantry,   

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Saboteurs Earn Narrow Win in Northern Berkshire Fall Hoop League

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- Jake Hall had a double-double to lead the Saboteurs to a one-point win in the Northern Berkshire Sports Academy fall league B Division on Sunday.
 
Hall scored 18 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a 66-65 win over Adelson and Company at the Armory.
 
Dave Crtielli scored 13 points, and Sam Larabee finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
 
For Adelson, Jon Gregory scored a game-high 29 points and collected 12 rebounds. Nick Lewis scored 12 points.
 
Workaholics 60, Elegant Stiches 40
Amont David scored 16 points, and Darian Vidal finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Dave Vidal scored 12 for Workaholics.
 
Shamar Ringgold led Elegang Stiches with a game-high 23 points.
 
Ioka Valley/Original Seed Cigar 65, Northern Berkshire Sports Academy 59
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