Berkshire Bounty Receives Challenge Grant From Warrior Trading

Print Story | Email Story
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Bounty, a 501(c)3 food rescue organization, received a challenge grant –a dollar to dollar match--of $10,000 from Warrior Trading. 
 
Berkshire Bounty's goal is to raise $100,000 by the end of 2024. Berkshire Bounty will be fundraising on GivingTuesday. The organization will then follow up with a crowdfunding campaign between Dec. 10 and Dec. 20, in which it will reach out to supporters to complete that goal.
 
 
"We are seeing a pressing demand for fresh, nutritious food for people who are food insecure. End-of-year fundraising allows us to meet our community's needs. This match for our campaign is essential to helping us reach our goals, and we're incredibly grateful to Warrior Trading," said Morgan Ovitsky, Berkshire Bounty's Executive Director.
 
The company was founded in 2012 by Ross Cameron. Warrior Trading, an online educational platform that offers a wide range of courses, training programs, and software for individuals interested in day trading, is providing the grant to inspire donors to give on #GivingTuesday and for Berkshire Bounty's end of year crowdfunding campaign.
 
The size of the food-insecure population in Berkshire County continues to grow, and Berkshire Bounty has dedicated itself to meeting a need by growing both functionally and geographically.  In 2024, Berkshire Bounty:
  • provided nutritious food for 16,000 individuals weekly
  • implemented a state-funded initiative to purchase locally grown foods for the food-insecure population
  • delivered 400,000+ lbs. of food to 31 emergency food sites through the efforts of a network of 130+ volunteers
 
"We are so pleased to be able to give back to our community. Warrior Trading is proud to support Berkshire Bounty as they help our neighbors in a time of need," said Ross Cameron, CEO and Lauren Cameron, Dir. of Human Resources.
 
"Donations from individuals and local businesses like Warrior Trading comprise a huge portion of our support. Our community really pulls together, and we are grateful," stated Mark Lefenfeld and Jay Weintraub, co-founders and Board members of Berkshire Bounty.
 
Donations for Berkshire Bounty's end-of-year campaign can be made online on this dedicated page. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond. 
 
According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond. 
 
The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million. 
 
"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.
 
The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
 
The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.
 
The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here
View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories