PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds of area residents Thursday converged on Pittsfield Common for free food and invaluable information.

 

The Berkshire Community Action Council hosted a Community Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., inviting the young and old to enjoy games, a bounce house and hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and cotton candy.

 

Attendees also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of a couple dozen local service agencies, including the BCAC, whose goal is, "to find creative and sustainable solutions that promote economic stability and alleviate the destabilizing effects of poverty on our neighbors."

 

Joining the agency in offering solutions on Thursday were non-profits ranging from the Elizabeth Freeman Center to the Food Bank of Western Mass to the United Way to Elder Services and state agencies like MassHire and the Department of Children and Families.

 

"What we were trying to do is connect folks with community and get them to have a good understanding of all the services that are available to them and, at the same time, provide them with free food and fun so that we can make it a real community event," BCAC Executive Director Deborah Leonczyk said just after making a late morning run to the store to buy more burgers to accommodate the throngs who turned out.

 

"People are coming here for the food and the fun, and they're bringing their children. And we get to see people who normally would not walk through our doors, who may not even know we're here. So this is a way where we can connect with the community who we already know and those who we may not know."

 

Thursday marked the return of an event that BCAC has not held since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Day returned with an expanded format, and community members responded with much higher turnout.

 

"We were at the 1531 East St. [office], and it's not as big as this," Community Programs and Partnerships Director Michelle Sylvester said. "So we were limited, and it was hard for people to get to if they didn't have transportation.

 

"We do have a new [satellite] office on Maplewood Avenue … so we thought, these are the people we serve in this area, so it would be easier for them to walk here. And then if we could get everybody here, it's almost like a one-stop shop.

 

"And we're finding, with the economy, a lot of the people that are here today have never needed assistance. So that was the goal, to let the community know what Berkshire County has to offer."

 

Sylvester said BCAC asked presenting agencies and businesses to offer games and giveaway items to entertain children and draw families.

 

"We tried to hit everything," Sylvester said of the array of social service groups. "We have housing. If you're unemployed, we have the two agencies. Domestic violence and substance disorders. We have us for fuel. And then the banks have a lot of financial literacy programs and loans.

 

"So we wanted to make sure everything was covered. … There are so many to name."

 

BCAC used the occasion to sign up families for its "Elf Warm Clothing Program" for children 12 and under.

 

"They get brand-new coat, hat, boots, gloves and an outfit or pajamas," Sylvester said. "If [families] receive fuel assistance or Head Start, they're automatically eligible. We're trying to help everybody stay warm this winter."

 

The city's Fire Department joined Thursday's festivities by bringing a truck for youngsters to check out, and the Police sent the Operation Copsicle truck.

 

Community Health Program sent its mobile health van.

 

"We collaborated to get the Lion's Club to do the eye screening for children there and, again, everything is free," Sylvester said.

 

"We're trying to hit every age bracket. … And everybody's been saying that they're getting a lot of new information, so that as the important part."