Pittsfield Community Food Pantry Benefit Concert

08:51AM / Tuesday, September 16, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Food Pantry (formerly South Community Food Pantry) announced its first-ever benefit concert, celebrating the musical talent of the Berkshires while raising support for those in need.

The stage will feature: The Wanda Houston Band, Billy Keane, Jackson DuCharme, Natalia Bernal and Jason Ennis.

The concert will be held at 7:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 at the Colonial Theater at 111 South Street, Pittsfield. Tickets are $40, and $60 (plus ticketing fees).

Ticket proceeds will go directly to the Food Pantry.

"We are incredibly grateful to Berkshire Theater Group for providing the Colonial Theater for our event," said Mary Spina, event chairperson. "We are so excited to hold our first concert in this beautiful theater.""

Operating from United Church of Christ Pittsfield at 110 South Street, the Pantry is a lifeline for over 1,000 households every week. The pantry is run entirely by volunteers, so more of the money raised can go directly towards serving these families. With recent cuts to SNAP and a decrease in USDA and MEFAP food supplies, this concert will allow the pantry to continue to purchase food to meet an increasing demand.

To purchase tickets, call the Colonial Box Office at 413-997-4444, or visit their website at www.berkshiretheatergroup.org/event/rock-the-pantry

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Save & Earn with Greylock

3.30% APY 6-month certificate. Click to learn more! Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

View Full Story