Market 32, Price Chopper Announce Over $62K for Regional Food Banks

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32 and Price Chopper customers and teammates raised a total value of $62,959 for regional food banks across the company's six-state footprint during the annual Fill A Glass with Hope / Fill A Plate with Promise campaign, in partnership with American Dairy Association North East and Garelick Farms.
 
Earlier this summer, shoppers were invited to round up their change at checkout. With a $10,000 match from Market 32 and Price Chopper, the campaign generated critical funds to help regional food banks purchase milk and other nutritious food for families in need. Of the total raised, $48,459 was distributed across 11 food banks local to Market 32 and Price Chopper stores, while $14,500 funded 6,332 half-gallons of milk for children and families facing food insecurity. This adds to the total of more than 1 million servings of milk that have already been donated as part of the 11-year partnership with American Dairy Association North East
 
"These results show what's possible when the community comes together,” said Pam Cerrone, Market 32 and Price Chopper director of community relations. “For many, even basic staples like milk and the foods that fuel active, healthy days are missing. So, by working alongside American Dairy Association North East and Garelick Farms, we're making sure more families have access to the nutrients they deserve.”
 
This year's fundraising announcement comes during Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about food insecurity and inspire action to end hunger. The timing underscores the importance of community-driven programs like Fill a Glass with Hope / Fill a Plate with Promise, which help to close the nutrition gap and ensure families have access to nutritious foods.
 
Founded by the American Dairy Association North East, represents 9,000 dairy farm families across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and northern Virginia, Fill a Glass with Hope® ensures that every dollar raised stays local—delivering fresh milk and essential nutrition directly to neighbors in need.
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Toys for Tots Bringing Presents to Thousands of Kids This Year

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Volunteers organize toys by age and gender in the House of Corrections storage facility. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Plenty of toys are on their way to children this holiday season thanks to Toys for Tots.

Christopher Keegan has coordinated the local toy drive for the Berkshire Chapter of the Marine Corps Reserve since 2015 and said he has seen the need rise every year, last year helping more than 6,000 kids.

"This is 11 years I've been doing it, and the need has gone up every year. It's gone up every year, and I anticipate it going up even more this year," Keegan said.

On Thursday, the Berkshire County House of Corrections storage facility was overflowing with toys making it the county's very own Santa's workshop. 

Keegan said Berkshire County always shows up with toys or donations. 

"This county is outstanding when it comes to charity. They rally around stuff. They're very giving, they're very generous, and they've been tremendous in this effort, the toys for pride effort, since I've been doing it, our goal is to honor every request, and we've always reached that goal," he said.

Keegan's team is about 20 to 25 volunteers who sort out toys based on age and gender. This week, the crew started collecting from the 230 or so boxes set out around the county on Oct. 1.

"The two age groups that are probably more difficult — there's a newborn to 2s, boys and girls, and 11 to 14, boys and girls. Those are the two challenging ages where we need to focus our attention on a little bit more," he said.

Toys For Tots has about 30 participating schools and agencies that sign up families and individuals who need help putting gifts under the tree. Keegan takes requests right up until the last minute on Christmas.

"We can go out shopping for Christmas. I had sent my daughter out Christmas Eve morning. Hey, we need X amount of toys and stuff, but the requests are still rolling in from individuals, and I don't say no, we'll make it work however we can," he said.

Community members help to raise money or bring in unopened and unused toys. Capeless Elementary student Thomas St. John recently raised $1,000 selling hot chocolate and used the money to buy toys for the drive.

"It's amazing how much it's grown and how broad it is, how many people who were involved," Keegan said.

On Saturday, Live 95.9 personalities Bryan Slater and Marjo Catalano of "Slater and Marjo in the Morning" will host a Toys for Tots challenge at The Hot Dog Ranch and Proprietor's Lodge. Keegan said they have been very supportive of the drive and that they were able to collect more than 3,000 toys for the drive last year.

Volunteer Debbie Melle has been volunteering with Toys for Tots in the county for about five years and said people really showed up to give this year.

"I absolutely love it. It's what we always say. It's organized chaos, but it's rewarding. And what I actually this year, I'm so surprised, because the amount that the community has given us, and you can see that when you see these pictures, that you've taken, this is probably the most toys we've ever gotten," she said. "So I don't know if people just feel like this is a time to give and they're just going above and beyond, but I'm blown away. This year we can barely walk down the aisles for how much, how many toys are here. It's wonderful."

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