Big Y Donates 1 Million Meals to Regional Food Banks

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Big Y's annual Sack Hunger campaign has provided funding for four regional food banks, resulting in the donation of 1 million meals to those in need.
 
The campaign supports local soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs, and other organizations that assist communities in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
 
During the past holiday season, Big Y customers and employees contributed to the campaign through $5 donations, with each donation supplying 10 meals. Additional contributions came from proceeds in the Produce, Floral, and Meat departments, as well as sales from Big Y's private label brands. Since its inception in 2010, the Sack Hunger campaign has grown significantly, beginning with just 740 meals donated in its first year.
 
Big Y also provides ongoing support to regional food banks throughout the year, donating fresh produce, meat, bakery goods, and other essential food items. The four food banks benefiting from the campaign are The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Worcester County Food Bank, The Greater Boston Food Bank, and Connecticut Foodshare.
 
"Each year, our customers and employees come together to support families across Massachusetts and Connecticut impacted by food insecurity," said Michael P. D'Amour, President and CEO of Big Y. "We are thankful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need and appreciate everyone involved in spreading hope throughout our communities."

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Pittsfield School Committee Votes to Close Morningside

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There were tears as the School Committee on Wednesday voted to close Morningside Community School at the end of the school year. 

Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said the purpose of considering the closure is to fulfill the district's obligation to ensure every student has access to a learning environment that best supports academic growth and achievement, school climate, equitable access to resources, and long-term success. 

"While fiscal implications are included, the7 closure of the school is fundamentally driven by the student performance, their learning conditions, the building inadequacy, and equitable student access, rather than the district's budget," she said. 

"…The goal is not to save money. The goal is to reinvest that money to make change, specifically for our Morningside students, and then for the whole school building, as a whole." 

Over the last month or so, the district has considered whether to retire the open concept, community school at the end of the school year. 

Morningside, built in the 1970s, currently serves 374 students in grades prekindergarten through Grade 5, including a student population with 88.2 percent high-needs, 80.5 percent low-income, and 24.3 percent English learners.  Its students will be reassigned to Allendale, Capeless, Egremont, and Williams elementary schools.

The school is designated as "Requiring Assistance or Intervention," with a 2025 accountability percentile of seventh, despite moderate progress over the past three years, and benchmark data continues to show urgent literacy concerns in several grades. 

School Committee member and former Morningside student Sarah Muil, through tears, made the motion to approve the school's retirement at the end of this school year.  

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