Habitat For Humanity Holiday Match Challenge

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity announced that a longtime supporter has once again stepped forward with a 1-to-1 Holiday Match Challenge, offering to match all donations made through Dec. 31, 2025, up to $7,000. 
 
Every gift made during this year's Home for the Holidays campaign will go twice as far in helping local families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable homeownership.
 
"We are incredibly grateful for this donor and his family, whose continued commitment to Habitat's mission has been essential to our work," said Habitat CEO Carolyn Valli. "This year has been especially challenging for nonprofits, but our community's need for affordable housing continues to grow. This match gives every donor the opportunity to make an even bigger impact at a time when it is needed most."
 
Donations made through the online match page at donorbox.org/home-for-the-holidays-match will be doubled automatically.
 
Despite financial and operational challenges faced by nonprofits across the region, Habitat has continued to accelerate its building efforts. Ten homes are currently underway across Central and Southern Berkshire County, including ongoing work in Pittsfield and progress on Phase One of the Prosperity Way community in Housatonic.
 
"Our team and volunteers are working harder than ever," added Valli. "This match challenge helps ensure we can complete the homes already under construction and keep our momentum strong. Every dollar raised directly supports local families and keeps these homes affordable for generations to come."

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Neal's Office Among Those Targeted by Suspicious Mailings

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was among congressmen apparently targeted by someone mailing suspicious envelopes. 
 
According to a report in The Berkshire Eagle, an envelope containing a powdery substance was discovered by postal inspectors before reaching Neal's Pittsfield office in the Silvio O. Conte Federal Building.
 
Nearly 40 members of Congress have received envelopes containing white powder, according to The Guardian. More than 100 letters are thought to be in the U.S. mail system and the FBI, Capitol Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were investigating the mailings that have also been sent to elections officials in various states. 
 
The mailings have been sent to both Republican and Democrat officeholders and several congressional district offices had to be evacuated in the last week or so after envelopes were opened in them. 
 

Earlier today, my Bronx district office received an envelope delivered by mail that contained a suspicious substance. Local law enforcement responded swiftly and, after investigating, determined the substance to be non-hazardous.

— Rep. Ritchie Torres (@repritchie.bsky.social) October 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The Guardian reported that the FBI is warning officials to look for envelopes processed through a north Texas center and that carry a postmark or stamp stating "Thinking of You."
 
The Eagle states that Neal's office was alerted on Saturday that it might be getting a suspicious package; inspectors seized the envelope at the Fenn Street post office on Monday.
 
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