Juneteenth Eve Concert
Save the Date! June 18, 2023, 12-3:00 p.m.
A FREE concert open to all.
Food Pantries and Meal Sites
Our local food pantries need your support. The pantries have shared lists of necessities that are not available through other sources. The list includes food items, paper products, personal care items, cleaning products, and baby care items including diapers and baby food. (See the list below for specific items.)
FOOD PANTRIES & MEAL SITES
Download a PDF of county-wide food pantry and meal site resources here. (Updated February 23, 2023) En Espanol
WILLIAMSTOWN
- Williamstown Food PANTRY | 1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 9AM-Noon: at St. Patrick & St. Raphael Parish, 53 Southworth Street, Williamstown, 413-458-4946, x11 or 413-458-3149. Drive or walk-thru. Assistance to residents of Hancock, New Ashford, Williamstown, and Pownal, VT.
- Community Bible Church PANTRY. 3rd WEDNESDAYS, Noon-2 PM:160 Bridges Road, Williamstown, 413-458-5556. Must be a Mass. residents
ADAMS
- 2nd & 4th TUESDAYS,10-11 AM: The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Mobile Food Bank PANTRY, Adams: Adams Council on Aging/Adams Visitors’ Center, 3 Hoosac Street 413-247-9738, ext. 121; No proof of eligibility required. Must be Berkshire County resident. One distribution per household.
- WEDNESDAYS, 11AM – 1PM: St. John Paul II Charity Center PANTRY, Rte. 8 across from Walgreens, Adams, 413-743-0577. Assistance to residents of Adams, Cheshire, and Savoy.
- MON. thru FRI. GRAB & GO MEAL SITE: Adams COA, 3 Hoosac Street, Adams 413-743-8333. Mondays thru Fridays. Congregate meals available for grab & go. Must call Adams COA 24 hours prior.
CHESHIRE
- 1st SATURDAYS, 11AM-Noon: Cheshire Food PANTRYat the Cheshire Community Center, 119 School Street, Cheshire 413-743-9719. Available to all Cheshire residents with proof of residency. Emergency food is also available.
- MON. thru FRI., 10:15AM-Noon: GRAB & GO MEAL SITE: Cheshire COA Cheshire Community Center, 119 School Street, Cheshire 413-743-9719. Congregate meals available for grab & go. Must call Cheshire COA.
NORTH ADAMS
- The Salvation Army Gateway New Life Center PANTRY|TUESDAY, Noon-3 PM for In-Person / (*WEDNESDAYS, Noon-2 PM for delivery) 393 River Street, North Adams. For Emergency Pantry please call 413-663-7987. Deliveries on Wednesdays.*Call 413-663-7987 on Tuesdays 10:00am-noon to schedule a delivery. For North County residents only.
- Al Nelson Friendship Center PANTRY | WEDNESDAYS, 10 AM – 2 PM for In-Person / *THURSDAYS, 9:30AM -Noon for Delivery: 45 Eagle Street, North Adams, 413-664-0123. Go to the First Baptist Church (Eagles St. entrance) for intake and menu completion. *Those who cannot physically come to the pantry may call 413-664-0123 on Wednesday from 9:30am-2:00pm to set up a delivery for Thursday between 9:30am-Noon. Boxes are pre-packaged based on household size for Thursday deliveries. Please specify cans or no cans. Due to COVID rates we can no longer offer rides home. We will post updates on FACEBOOK. IF UNVACCINATED, PLEASE WEAR A MASK.
- Berkshire Dream Center Mobile Food PANTRY| 4th WEDNESDAYS, 5 – 6:30 PM (multiple locations): 413-522-3495. North Adams Locations: Mohawk Forest at 5:00pm, Brayton Hill at 5:45pm, Greylock at 6:30pm. No requirements.
- The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Mobile Food Bank PANTRY North Adams | 1st & 3rd FRIDAYS, 10-11 AM: Brien Center Lot, 124 American Legion Drive, North Adams 413-247-9738, ext. 121; No proof of eligibility required. One distribution per household.
- Berkshire Food Project GRAB & GO MEAL SITE | MON./WED./FRI. 11:30 AM – 1 PM: First Congregational Church of N. Adams, 134 Main Street, North Adams 413-664-7378.
- North Adams COA GRAB & GO MEAL SITE| MON. thru FRI., 11:30 AM-Noon, at Mary Spitzer Center, 116 Ashland Street North Adams 413-662-3125, Congregate meals available for 60+ for pick-up only – Must call one day in advance to reserve meal. Please call 413-664-9826.
- First Baptist Church Community Soup Kitchen MEAL SITE|SATURDAY, 11 AM – 12:30 PM: Eagle Street Entrance, 131 Main Street, North Adams, 413-652-7619.
Berkshire County statistics: 15% of the population or 19,300 individuals face food insecurity with poverty as the largest contributing factor. Learn more at Feeding America.org
Personal Care
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Feminine products
- Shaving cream (men)
- Disposable razors (men)
- Bar soap (all kinds)
- Toilet paper
- Adult Depends ( size M & L)
Household
- Towels (all sizes)
- Wash cloths (new)
- Dish towels
- Paper napkins
- Laundry soap
- Ziploc bags
- Potholders
- Dish detergent
Staples
- Rice
- Pasta (all kinds)
- Baked beans
- Canned peas, corn
- Kidney beans
- Peanut butter
- Canned tuna, chicken
- Crackers (all kinds)
- Coffee
- Soup
- Oatmeal
- Jelly
- Breakfast cereal
- Pre-made pudding
- Cereal bars
- Hot chocolate
- Snacks, chips (sm pkgs)
- Applesauce cups
Babies/Toddlers
- Diapers (open pkgs okay)
- Pull-Ups (open pkgs okay)
- Baby food
Miscellaneous
- Gift cards (Walmart,Target)
- Clean, new socks (all sizes)
Mental Health Awareness Month
“Community Conversations: The Effects of the Pandemic on Mental Health and How to Manage Moving Forward”. Events are scheduled at the Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield on May 10, Lenox Library on May 24, North Adams Library on May 31, and Berkshire South Regional Community Center on June 7.
Brien Center President and CEO, Christine Macbeth will give an overview of the services and a snapshot of the history of the organization. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of what the Brien Center does and why their history is important. Medical Director Dr. Jennifer Michaels, will show evidence that the pandemic was an accelerant to mental health and substance use disorders. More importantly, the room will feel hopeful for themselves or loved ones when Dr. Michaels gives them tools to help manage mental health. The session will complete with a Q & A. Participation of any kind is encouraged! The goal of these events is to bring the Brien Center closer to the community and provide people with a toolkit to help them be successful with mental health management.
All of the events are open to the public and begin at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
Berkshire Babypalooza 2023
Berkshire Babypalooza 2023 is focused on providing information that is geared towards those contemplating pregnancy, pregnant individuals and their partners, as well as parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers.
The FREE event takes place on Saturday, April 15, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Greylock Works, North Adams
Presented by Berkshire Area Health Education Center’s Tobacco Free Community Partnership Program and the Berkshire Babypalooza 2023 Planning Committee Members from:
Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, North Adams Public Schools, Berkshire Bounty, WIC and Child Care of the Berkshires.
Help fill Veterans’ Food Pantry
Please help us fill the Veterans’ Food Pantry located in Town Hall in North Adams. March 1 – March 31, 2023
Items can be dropped off at : Veteran Services, 10 Main St., Suite 101, North Adams, MA 01247 or at Williamstown Community Chest, 84 Spring St., Williamstown, MA 01267
For more information regarding Veteran Services in north Berkshire County contact:
Tina Samson
Administrative Assistant
413-662-3040
FREE community movie is back!
Won’t you join us at Images Cinema on Saturday, March 18, 2:00 p.m. for a showing of The Sea Beast. This free community movie is brought to you by Williamstown Community Chest and generously underwritten by Donovan O’Connor & Dodig, LLP.
Community partner – Wild Oats Market
Wild Oats Market is a local, organic, & specialty community-owned co-op grocery store! Everyone can shop & Anyone can join.
The business contributes regularly to non-profit organizations serving our community, with a focus on those groups helping in areas central to their mission and ends policy. Williamstown Community Chest was the 12th and final Round Up for Change partner organization in 2022.
Wild Oats Market began as a buying club in 1975 organized by a small group of motivated people who wanted unrefined, additive-free foods and products with minimum packaging.
In 1982, the storefront operation started with only 100 members and $5,000. As the years passed, the market attracted a growing number of individuals interested in health and the environment, as well as organic and natural foods, and supporting the efforts of local farmers and artisans.
Because they’re a co-op, Wild Oats’ member-owners have always been able to make sure that its actions reflected their commitment to local and organic food, sustainable living, social responsibility and related concerns. Wild Oats’ Cooperative Principles and Ends Policy continue to guide the organization nearly 40 years later.
Their present location at 320 Main Street was expanded in 2005, giving more space to offer a wider selection of options. Today the market has more than 1600 member-owners and specializes in local and organic produce, fair-trade and allergen-free grocery items, artisan cheese, locally and sustainably raised meats, regional craft beer and organic wines and all the amazing house-made items from thier kitchen and bakery.
CONTACT WILD OATS MARKET:
Netse Lytle, General Manager
WildOats.coop
413-458-5317 x13
To Wild Oats and our community – Thank you!
Cold weather and snow did not stop the check delivery by Netse, General Manager of Wild Oats Market, for the donations generated from the Round Up For Change December 2022 program for Williamstown Community Chest.
Netse was happy to get a picture with Anna, Mary, Tom, Matt, and Margo, by the snowy sign. This past December, shoppers at Wild Oats rounded up and generated $2,614.67! These funds will be used to help the Community Chest fulfill our mission in the community.
The Community Chest helps many people in times of need as Netse personally shared, “Utilizing Williamstown Community Chest resources, we were able to assist a neighbor in need last month. Helping someone during a time of need comes with its own challenges. Fortunately, the Community Chest was there for support.”
We thank you for all your support and for making your spare change count! It really does make a difference in our community when you #shopthecoop!
PEOPLE IN PHOTO (left to right)
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Netse Lytle, General Manager, Wild Oats Market Co-op
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Margo Neely, Williamstown Community Chest, Board of Directors
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Mary Strout, Office Coordinator, Williamstown Community Chest
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Tom Sheldon, President, Williamstown Community Chest, Board of Directors
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Matt Carter, Williamstown Community Chest, Board of Directors
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Anna Singleton, Executive Director, Williamstown Community Chest
96th Annual Meeting
Please join us at The Williams Inn for our 96th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 9. The program begins at 8:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served.
Did you know a gift to the Annual Campaign means you are eligible to vote at the Community Chest’s annual meeting. Hope to see you there!
RSVP by May 1st to MStrout@WilliamstownCommunityChest.org or call 413.458.2443
Deadline for Flynt Grants is October 3, 2022
A very generous bequest from the estate of Mary and Henry Flynt, longtime residents of Williamstown and devoted supporters of the community, create an endowment fund with a specified portion to be distributed annually as grants, by means of a competitive process.
“…persons or entities (including the Town of Williamstown) that provide services to the town or its residents (although not necessarily exclusively)” are welcome to apply. The criteria for reviewing applications will “…relate to the maintenance or improvement of the quality of life of the residents of Williamstown, defined broadly.”
The application deadline for the next round of Flynt Grants is October 3, 2022. Click here to apply: Flynt Grant Application 2022
