North Adams Share the Love Campaign Surpasses Fundraising Goal

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — First Congregational Church of North Adams' fourth annual "Share the Love" campaign concluded with over $9,000 raised to support local organizations serving individuals in need.

"Share the Love is catching on; people are familiar with it and wish to support the organizations that we have identified," Lois Daunis of the the church's Missions Team said. 

The initiative raised more than $6,000, primarily from North County residents, with additional contributions from church members as far away as Indiana.

The campaign's initial goal was set at $5,000, with a planned 50 percent matching contribution from the church's Missions budget. Because the community exceeded the fundraising goal, the church was able to distribute a total of $9,075.

Each of the designated beneficiary organizations — Berkshire Food Project, Louison House, and Greenagers at Many Forks Farm — received unrestricted gifts of $3,025.

Representatives from the beneficiary organizations received their donations at a presentation held at the church on Friday afternoon.

Daunis said a key factor in this year's success was the implementation of new fundraising strategies and increased participation.

"We tried additional strategies. We did some on-site fundraising. Plus, I think we have more people on missions, so there are just more people to get the word out," she said.

The fundraising efforts included direct solicitation events organized by Heidi Peterson, with events held at Stop & Shop and at Aubuchon in Williamstown. Additionally, a raffle was conducted, featuring contributions from 18 local businesses and 60 individuals contributed to the campaign.

Participating businesses included: Aubuchon, Big Y, Clark Art Institute, Berkshire Emporium, Freight Yard Pub, Images, Limited Editions, M&J's Taste of Home, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Meraki Salon, Nature's Closet, Plant Connector, Provisions, Public, Roam, Stop & Shop, Unlimited Nutrition, Where'd You Get That, Wild Oats, and the Williams Shop.

Daunis emphasized the increasing need for support within the community.

"There's more food and housing insecurity right now than there was in the last three years, and certainly, you know, with the SNAP and WIC cuts coming, I imagine Berkshire Food Project, Louison House, and the pantry are going to get hit harder with folks in need," she said. "Certainly, Louison House and Berkshire Food Project have seen an increase in their numbers."

Daunis added that Greenagers and Many Forks Farm are new beneficiaries of the program.  

"We just wanted to identify a youth-serving organization in Northern Berkshires that's doing good things. And Many Forks Farm, they provide [food] shares," she said.

North Adams Updated on Schools, Council President Honored With 'Distinction'

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
12:31PM / Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Superintendent Timothy Callahan gives a presentation on the school system at Tuesday's City Council meeting. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council got an update on what's up in the school system and its president was inducted into the mayor's Women's Leadership Hall of Fame.

 

Mayor Jennifer Macksey, as the city's first woman mayor, established the Hall of Fame in 2022, during March, Women's History Month, to recognize local women who have had a positive impact on the city. Past inductees have included the council's first woman president Fran Buckley, Gov. Jane Swift and boxing pioneer Gail Grandchamp. 

 

She described President Ashley Shade as a colleague and a friend and a former student. 

 

"Ashley is known not just for her leadership, but for her compassion, her ability to listen, to understand and to stand up for those whose voices are often gone unheard," the mayor said. "She has been a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ plus community and marginalized communities at both the local and national level here in North Adams."

 

Elected in 2021, Shade is the first openly transgender person to hold the role of council president in Massachusetts. She also leads the first-ever woman majority council in the city's history. 

 

The McCann Technical School graduate also has served on boards and commissions, "always working to make our city more inclusive, equitable and welcoming," said the mayor. "Ashley not leads not only with strength, but with a heart, and our community is a much stronger place because of it."

 

Shade, wearing her signature pink suit, was presented with a plaque from the mayor designating her a "woman of distinction."