NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Food Project serves more than meals: it serves community. 

 

Michael and Lyn Robertson love volunteering and have been with the Food Project for six years.

 

"I like it because you get to know some of the folks," Mike Robertson said. "You'll see Ella and say, 'Hey, Ella, how you doing? Give me a fist bump.' And you know you made that connection with them. And so that's great to see the same folks who came in again and welcome them."

 

The nonprofit organization on Tuesday celebrated its more than 60 volunteers who spent more than 8,500 hours last year feeding the community.

 

The project saw a 16 percent growth in participation in the weekday free meal program, to about 29,000 total visits. The organization served almost 45,000 meals in 2025 and saw about 400 new people come to appreciate its service. It's also seen record donations, pulling in double the amount at $100,000.

 

"You give us the courage to continue on," Executive Director Matthew Alcombright told them. "I can't say that more heartfelt, and any more appreciative. ... The things you say, the things you do, the just the kind of growth you come in with gives us the courage to keep doing what we're doing.

 

So thank you for that, because these are incredible numbers, and it's because of you. It's not because of one person or a board of directors who are great, too, and wonderful. It's because of you."