NBUW Urges Organizations to Submit Food and Shelter Program Applications

10:51AM / Monday, March 25, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board has awarded Berkshire County $46,359 in Phase 41 (FY23) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) assistance funding.

Northern Berkshire United Way, local administrator of the program, is urging qualifying organizations located throughout Berkshire County to submit an application for supplemental emergency food and shelter. Learn more and access the application at https://www.nbunitedway.org/emergencyfoodandshelterprogram.

Local organizations chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary nonprofits (with a voluntary board) or units of government; have an accounting system; practice non- discrimination; and have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs. Applicants must submit their application by email only with their financial audit by midnight April 15 to Patti Messina at pmessina@nbunitedway.org. Paper applications will not be accepted.

The funds are awarded through the Department of Homeland Security and the award is made by the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board, that consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, The Jewish Federations of North America, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way Worldwide. Funds pass directly from the Department of Homeland Security to the EFSP program and then to local agencies. A subcommittee of a local board made up of representatives of organizations that are not requesting or receiving funds determine the actual organizations that receive funding.

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North Adams Students Taste Test for Input on Lunches

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
08:00AM / Sunday, January 18, 2026

Chef Kyle Zegel talks to the children about the food they will be trying on Friday. He will be bringing recipes each month for them to try.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Pupils at Brayton Elementary got to taste test a new side dish as chef Kyle Zegel passed out cups cider-glazed carrots on Friday for the children to try.

Zegel, a food literacy facilitator, said his goal is teach children about farms and how to grow food, and to have a deeper relationship with their food system.

"There's this increasing separation between the natural world and ourselves, and there's this increasing separation between the food system and ourselves," he said. "And we really see that with our students, and with the increasing prevalence of technology and ways that just separate us from interacting with how our food grows. ...

"I think it's just really important to make sure that we're giving students accessible opportunities for experiential learning."

Zegel will be highlighting a "Harvest of the Month" in the North Adams Public Schools through the Massachusetts Farm to School program.

The district last year received a state-funded MA FRESH (Farming Reinforces Education and Student Health) grant toward scratch cooking with more local ingredients. A little less than $7,000 of the $30,000 grant the district received in December will go to Harvest of the Month program.

Director of Food Services Thomas Lark said it was important to connect the children to food that is grown locally. The district is sourcing through Marty's Local in Deerfield.

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