Zonta Period Project Collection

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Zonta Club of Berkshire County, a nonprofit organization, will begin its 7th spring Period Project collection for women in need.
 
This fund and supply raising program purchases and collects women's hygiene supplies for packaging and distribution to schools, service centers, food pantries, and organizations serving women and teens in need.
 
For women living in poverty or experiencing homelessness, having a period is a significant financial burden. It is challenging for women and teens to maintain proper hygiene and dignity when basic menstrual hygiene products are so costly. Additionally, pads and tampons are considered "non-essential" by the federal government, so they are not covered by SNAP and WIC programs. Many women and teens in the community often lack consistent access to hygiene products and safe sanitary spaces. 
 
All are encouraged to send or drop items to help Zonta create monthly menstrual kits for local schools, shelters, and human service centers. 
 
Donations Needed: Sealed Boxes of individually wrapped Pads and Tampons, Cleansing Wipes, Hand Sanitizers or Soap, Panty Liners, and New Pairs of Underwear (Any Size).
 
Assembly of the Period Projects kits has been scheduled for Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 9 AM at the TD Bank building, West St on the second floor. A product donation box will be at that location for drop-offs or call Vickie at 413 281-6083 for pick-ups.
 
Direct links for the Period Project and donations can be found here .

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Pittsfield School Committee OKs $82M Budget, $1.5M Cuts

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school budget is less grim than the original proposal but still requires more than $1.5 million in cuts.

On Thursday, the School Committee approved an $82.8 million spending plan for fiscal year 2025, including a city appropriation of $80.4 million and $2.4 million in Chapter 70 funds.

The cuts made to balance the budget include about 50 staff reductions — some due to the sunsetting of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds.

"The final version does not answer all needs. It will be unacceptable to some or to many but I must say that tonight's final proposal is very different than where we started when we believed we would have a $3,600,000 reduction. I want to assure everyone that every effort has been made to minimize the impact on both students, families, and staff members while also ensuring that our district has the necessary resources to progress forward," Superintendent Joseph Curtis said.

"Nevertheless, there are incredibly passionate, dedicated staff members who will not be with us next year. This pains me as I've been a part of this organization for now 30 years so I want to assure everyone that our team, this has weighed very heavily in our hearts, this entire process. This is not a group of people that is looking at a spreadsheet saying ‘Well that can go and this can go’ and take that lightly."

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Kristen Behnke and other officials worked with the state Department of Secondary and Elementary Education to rectify an error in the Chapter 70 funding formula, recognized 11 more low-income students in the district, and added an additional $2.4 million to the FY25 budget.

Curtis commented that when he first saw the governor’s FY25 budget, he was "rather stunned."

"The extraordinary circumstances we face this budget season by the conclusion of the substantial ESSER federal grant and a significant reduction in Chapter 70 allotment caused challenges for this team and our school principals and our educators and our staff that have been nothing short of all-consuming," he said.

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