image description — Elks Trustee David Sacco, left, North Adams Ocean State store leader Jeff Gammel, and Elks Veterans Officer Tony Sacco Elks with the donation made to the Elks coat program.

Elks, Ocean State Donate 22 Coats to Local Veterans

Community submission10:43AM / Tuesday, November 25, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Elks Lodge 487 teamed up with Ocean State Job Lots for a second year to provide winter coats to veterans in need.

A total of 44 coats were purchased, with half of those being distributed through the Veterans Services Office at City Hall.

First, the Elks purchased $1,000 worth of coats at the discount store; they were then donated back to the store and sent to a distribution center to be donated to veterans. The store reimbursed the Elks with gift cards worth the same value as the coats, which were then used to buy 22 more coats for local veterans.

This is part of Ocean State's 10th annual "Buy, Give, Get" coats program. Anyone in the Job Lot Insider program who buys a warm winter coat for $45 (retail value $200 or greater) at any of the retail chain's 176 stores and donates it back will get a $45 gift card.

The discount retailer has provided nearly 380,000 coats to people in need, including veterans, since 2016. It anticipates having some 80,000 winter coats for purchase and donation in partnership with more than 50 support organizations and programs.

Elks Trustee David Sacco said a woman was at the store when they were getting the coat donations and also purchased a coat to donate and gave the Elks her gift card to purchase another one for a local veteran.

Those donating coats through program can let the cashier know to give the gift card to the Elks, who will then get the coat to City Hall.

North Adams Elks 487 are wishing everyone happy holidays.

Tags: donations, elks club, ocean state, veterans,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Save & Earn with Greylock

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

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

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

www.rkmiles.com

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

First Responders Respond to Two Recent Accidents in North Adams

Staff Reports10:31AM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — First responders in North Adams were called to two separate vehicle crashes in recent days, resulting in four hospitalizations.

According to North Adams 911, on Saturday, Oct. 10, around 2:30 p.m., there was a head-on collision between a car and a pickup truck on Curran Highway in front of Duke's Lumber.

Both vehicles were traveling northbound when one vehicle departed from its travel lane, clipping the rear of the other and causing it to roll over.

Four people were transported to the emergency department (ED), and both vehicles were towed from the scene.

The North Adams Fire Department, North Adams Police Department, and Northern Berkshire EMS were on the scene. A State Police officer was also on the scene.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, around 6:25 a.m., there was a two-car motor vehicle accident between a pickup truck and an SUV on West Main Street.

North Adams 911 reported that the SUV was traveling west and the pickup was traveling east when the SUV left its travel lane and struck the rear of the truck, spinning it 180 degrees to face the opposite direction.

No one was transported to the hospital. Firefighters shielded the SUV window to make sure a dog in the passenger seat could not jump out and run away.

View Full Story