Berkshire Bounty Fundraiser Responds to Community Need

11:10AM / Thursday, April 24, 2025Print Story | Email Story

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Bounty, a 501(c)(3) food recovery organization, will conduct a crowdfunding campaign from April 22 through April 29 to raise funds to address growing community need regarding food insecurity.

"Like many nonprofits in our community, Berkshire Bounty has been affected by cuts and fluctuations in federal funding," said Morgan Ovitsky, Executive Director of Berkshire Bounty. "We're also closely watching potential cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP]. If enacted, the most vulnerable Berkshire County residents will be heavily impacted."

"Spring Into Action" will raise $75,000 for Berkshire Bounty. The Crowdfunding Campaign is the public facing portion in which Berkshire Bounty reaches out to supporters and asks for help in reaching that goal.

The Greater Boston Food Bank report indicated that the food insecurity rate in Berkshire County was at 45 percent. Berkshire Bounty has data from partner emergency food sites about increased use, particularly among people who are "working poor" and the immigrant community. Reporting data collected quarterly in 2024 from emergency food sites show a 30 percent increase in people accessing food assistance over the year. Projections and trends indicate the increase in food insecurity will continue to climb.

"Food pantries are serving more people than ever and struggling to procure enough to satisfy the demand. Berkshire Bounty receives calls daily for more food," stated Mark Lefenfeld and Jay Weintraub, Board members and co-founders of Berkshire Bounty. "We are so grateful to our community for their support."

Spring Into Action is aided by the Donald C. McGraw and Black Rock Foundations, offering a $20,000 dollar-to-dollar match.

"Our foundation and family are proud to support Berkshire Bounty as they prepare to provide extra support to our neighbors in a time of need," said Robin McGraw, Director of the Foundations.

Donations to the Crowdfunding Campaign can be made online on this dedicated page. For more information, or to inquire about making an online or offline donation, please contact Sara Haimowitz, Berkshire Bounty Director of Development, at sara@berkshirebounty.org.

Tags: food insecurity,

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Berkshire South Sees $1M Earmark for Expansion

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48PM / Thursday, August 06, 2026

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.— The Berkshire South Regional Community Center was earmarked for more than $1 million to expand its north wing.

On Thursday, Congressman Richard Neal sat with Executive Director Jenise Lucey, board members, and other staff at the center to see how those dollars will help expand childcare, among other areas. He announced a $1,015,000 earmark for the project.

"As you can see, we are really, really busy and really busting at the seams," Lucey said while showing the congressman plans.

"So your advocacy to make this happen, so that we can really move on to the next steps and serve our community, couldn't be better timed, and we're just so grateful for your support."

The 6,000-square-foot addition will add about 20 spaces for infant and toddler care and increase the 40,000-square-foot building by about 15 percent. It will also allow BCRCC to expand its fitness center, upgrade its HVAC system, and relocate administrative offices.

BCRCC sees about 200,000 visitors per year and is licensed to welcome 100 summer campers, running a nine-week program during working hours. Childcare programming runs year-round, with the center serving about 240 youth annually.

Open since 2002, the community center will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary. The allocation was made through Congressionally Directed Spending from the Rural Housing Service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Neal said that childcare was one of the biggest issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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