RSVP of Berkshire County celebrates 50 years of Service

12:21PM / Tuesday, April 04, 2023Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city of Pittsfield's Retired Senior Volunteer Program of Berkshire County (RSVP) will mark 50 years of service throughout the county with the event, “50 Years and Counting,” on Wednesday, April 12, in the auditorium at the Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave.

The event, which will be held from 1-3 p.m., is free and open to the public. It will feature close to 30 volunteer stations representing organizations who are partners with RSVP throughout the county. The celebration also aligns with the recognition of National Volunteer Month which occurs in April.

“It is an honor for me to serve my community and steward such an amazing and important human service organization. I really believe in RSVP and the work that we do in Berkshire County,” said Director Lisa Torrey, of RSVP. “I can think of no better way to celebrate our 50th anniversary than during National Volunteer Month. It is my intention to continue the good work we do in the community for many years to come.”

Currently, RSVP partners with almost 50 volunteer sites throughout the Berkshires. RSVP has 265 active volunteers who donated almost 33,000 hours of time in 2022, said Torrey.

RSVP, a national program since 1971, is funded in part by AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP. It is considered one of the largest volunteer efforts in the country for people 55 and older, providing recruitment, training, and placement. There are currently 5,000 host agencies in 50 states, with more than 400,000 volunteers.

Since 1973, the city of Pittsfield has served as the local sponsor of RSVP, supporting and promoting the volunteer opportunities available through the program. The first RSVP office was located at the Senior Center formerly located on Bradford Street, and headed by Courtney Flanders, the program's first executive director. RSVP

Some past and present volunteer stations include the athenaeum, Berkshire Community College, Berkshire Medical Center, City Hall, Pittsfield Public Schools, RSVP Transportation Program, and former Information Booth in downtown Pittsfield.

Sheila Marinaro, who now serves on the RSVP board, became acquainted with the organization as an employee in December 2003. Her start date coincided with the loss of her husband of 39 years.

“The people welcomed, guided, and taught me how to be strong, accepting my new chapter ahead of me,” said Marinaro. Shortly after, we moved to Bartlett Avenue, making the RSVP office our home for the volunteers to be comfortable.

RSVP is the place to look into if you feel alone, are 55 and over, or don't quite know what to do after retirement or the loss of a family member. Our motto, then and now, is: If you want to feel good, help someone else feel good. I am proud to stand by that.”

RSVP is located at 16 Bartlett Ave., adjacent to the athenaeum. For more information about RSVP, please call 413-499-9345.

Tags: RSVP,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

View Full Story