BHS Partners with Local Lions Clubs to Launch 'Recycle for Sight' Eyeglass Donation Program

Staff Reports 10:20AM / Monday, August 17, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) is partnering with eight local Lions Clubs of District 33-Y to launch an eyeglass donation drive that will give a second life to gently used glasses.

The initiative, which is part of the Lions Clubs' long-running "Recycle for Sight" program, invites BHS employees, patients, and visitors to donate gently used eyeglasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses which will be cleaned, sorted, and distributed to people in need around the world through their internationally recognized eyeglass recycling program.

The initiative is rooted in BHS's CARE values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. Donation boxes are now in place in the cafeteria and main lobby of all four BHS hospital campuses — Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington, North Adams Regional Hospital, and the Hillcrest Campus of Berkshire Medical Center.

"CARE isn't just a value we talk about internally — it's a promise about how we show up for our neighbors," said Darlene Rodowicz, CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. "Recycle for Sight is a simple, tangible way for our employees and our community to extend that promise well beyond Berkshire County. A pair of glasses sitting in a drawer at home could be the thing that helps someone else see clearly for the very first time."

Lions Clubs International has operated eyeglass recycling programs for decades, collecting millions of pairs of glasses annually and channeling them to Lions-sponsored vision clinics and missions in underserved communities worldwide. Locally, the eight Lions Clubs of District 33-Y have long supported vision screening, vision health education and access to eye care across Berkshire County.

"We're grateful to partner with an organization as trusted and visible in this community as Berkshire Health Systems," said Mary Swift, District Governor of Lions Clubs of District 33-Y. "Hospitals see people every day who understand the value of good health – including good vision. Having collection boxes in their lobbies means we can reach far more donors than we ever could on our own."

BHS is accepting donations of used eyeglasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses (both prescription and non-prescription). Glasses with loose or broken lenses or broken frames and eyeglass cases cannot be recycled and should not be placed in the collection boxes.

Community members who are not BHS employees or patients are also welcome to drop off donations at any of the four collection sites during regular business hours.

Tags: BHS, BMC,

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Pittsfield Outreach Program Sees Manager

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:29AM / Monday, August 17, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Health Department's outreach program has a manager and is seeking two outreach workers.

Earlier this month, Director of Public Health Andy Cambi updated the Board of Health on the creation of a new initiative that connects individuals on the streets with needed services.

He reported that Community Health Worker Gabrielle DiMassimo was tapped as the Community Health Program Manager a couple of weeks prior after it was posted internally. DiMassimo has been reaching out to unhoused people in encampments with the Parks Department and co-responders, and other staff this summer.

"She's been with the department for a couple years, holds a bachelor's degree in public health, and has been doing a lot of this work," Cambi said.

"Even in her college years, she was doing encampments and outreach with Worcester Public Health Department, so she really fit the bill for this position."

The position oversees Pittsfield's peer outreach initiative while advancing the long-term vision for the health department to be a more proactive, community-centered public health agency, as well as the health department's evolving responsibility to address prevention, access to services, social determinants of health, and community well-being through coordinated outreach and engagement.

Last year's controversial camping ordinance was sent to the Board of Health, and they determined it is not the best approach for Pittsfield. It was officially scrapped by the City Council earlier this year and replaced with a peer outreach program that provides harm reduction support services, navigation, and relationship-building with vulnerable residents.

The program director and outreach worker positions were approved by the City Council earlier this season. The outreach worker positions were posted internally, received applicants, and will soon go external to expand the candidate pool.

Cambi reported that the encampment group has been conducting outreach with DiMassimo. Workers speak with people at the encampments, tag the equipment, give the people an opportunity to relocate, and connect them with available resources.

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