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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BCC Sees $1M in Federal Funds for Trades Academy

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal secured $995,000 to begin design and construction of the academy. The congressman had earlier attended the Norman Rockwell Museum business breakfast, which celebrated Laurie Norton Moffatt's 49 years leading the institution.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College was awarded nearly $1 million in federal funds to support a Trades Academy. 

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal visited the college to highlight the $995,000 he secured through congressionally directed spending. Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont said BCC can be a destination for adults who want to learn a skilled trade. 

"I want to join up with the amazing work that Taconic and McCann (vocational high schools) are doing to prepare people for these really specific skills, helping people become confident professionals with a direct path to high-wage, high-demand jobs," she explained. 

"And we're also addressing the labor shortage that exists in this county, around the state, and around the country, in the skilled trades." 

The federal funding will support a feasibility study of an existing vacant building on campus, as well as the evaluation and abatement of any hazardous materials at the location, because it was once a power plant. 

BCC will dip its toe into the skilled trades with its first HVAC training program, for which it received $1.2 million from the state in support. The $995,000 in federal funds will go toward creating the academy in a building located on the main campus, and the HVAC heat pump training program will be funded by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. 

The $1 million in federal monies will get the college to construction documents, maybe fund some construction, and help identify the necessary equipment and other learning space needs for a skilled trade, Clairmont reported. 

The funding is part of more than $14 million in congressionally directed spending secured by the congressman to support economic development, workforce training, and community infrastructure across the Berkshires.

Neal said there are about 6.5 million jobs in the United States that go unanswered every day.

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