BCC Foundation Awarded Stop & Shop Gift Cards to Stock Campus Pantry

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Community College (BCC) Foundation is the recipient of a donation of $7,500 in Stop & Shop gift cards as part of the grocery's School Food Pantry Program. 
 
The funding commitment for 2026, equal to the donation awarded in 2025, will continue to support the purchase of items to stock BCC's pantry, known as the Campus Cupboard, helping to ensure students have access to healthy foods.? 
 
"We are so incredibly grateful to Stop & Shop for their continued generosity," said Meghan Donnelly, BCC Essential Needs Coordinator – Community/Outreach Counselor. "Access to food and essential supplies is a critical part of the health and well-being of our students. Back in October, Stop & Shop donated an abundance of fresh and frozen food items for the inauguration of our brand-new refrigerator-freezers. These units were purchased through a generous grant provided to the Campus Cupboard from the Food Bank of Western MA. We depend on the immense support of our donors and community partners to keep the Campus Cupboard abundantly stocked." 
 
The Campus Cupboard is a resource for current students, faculty and staff who need assistance meeting their food needs. It offers a variety of fresh, frozen and canned goods, proteins and grain options, including items for those with dietary restrictions, as well as toiletries and household products. It also offers a variety of services, including SNAP assistance and additional workshop/programming opportunities. The Campus Cupboard partners with the Berkshire Community Diaper Project to provide diapers and wipes for students who may need help obtaining them for their children.  
 
For more information, or to make a donation to the Campus Cupboard, contact Meghan Donnelly at mdonnelly@berkshirecc.edu.  

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Dalton Prepares for Challenging Budget Season

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — As the town embarks on a challenging budget season, the new town manager has already put forth cost mitigation options. 
 
It has been demonstrated by both the Finance Committee and Town Manager Eric Anderson that this budget season will be full of obstacles and tough decisions. 
 
During the Select Board meeting on Monday night, Anderson explained that the town is going to be very close to its levy limit with the increases in the school district budget, health-care costs, and cost-of-living increase for employees.
 
Health insurance costs are projected to increase roughly 16 to 18 percent for next year, which will be a "big hit" to the town, he said. 
 
The town currently pays about $1.2 million total for employee health insurance. Employees are responsible for around 27 percent of the health-care costs, Anderson said. 
 
The board approved setting the cost of living adjustment for town employees to 3 percent for fiscal year 2027. 
 
The board felt that the 2 percent COLA combined with the 1.75 percent step or grade increase was in line with the consumer price index of about 2.7 percent. 
 
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