Mayor Daniel Bianchi honors third-grader Timothy Parsons for raising $150 and then buying 23 gifts to donate to Toys for Tots.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Five dollars may not seem like a lot. But Allendale School third-grader Timothy Parsons turned it into a lot.

 

Each pupil in Nina McDermitt's third-grade class was given $5 to make a difference in someone's life. While he could have dropped the bill in a donation jar, Timothy used his money on paper and ink to print donation letters.

 

He went to his family and neighbors and turned that initial $5 into $150. Timothy then used that money to buy 23 gifts, which he donated to Toys For Tots.

 

"I wanted to make less fortunate children's Christmas brighter," Timothy said on Thursday, when he and his parents delivered the gifts to Mayor Daniel Bianchi's office.

 

Accepting the gifts, the mayor presented the youngster with a certificate from the city honoring his work.

 

"It is great to see our teachers instilling the importance of charity and giving to other people. And I think Timothy's project was unique and wonderful. I am so proud of little guys like Tim and his family," Bianchi said.

 

Timothy's gifts were added to hundreds that have piled up in the mayor's office. Bianchi has been soliciting city workers and accepting the donations from residents. The toys overflowed the two boxes the mayor had and took up nearly an entire room.

 

"I think it is a reflection of the big hearts we have in Pittsfield. People are so generous and so kind," Bianchi said.

 

The mayor has been in a friendly competition with state Sen. Benjamin Downing to see who can collect the most toys. 

 

"I think Sen. Downing is in a race. I don't think he's going to win it. But it is great fun and I hope he does really well," Bianchi said.

 

However, across the street on Thursday, Downing was holding his annual holiday party and soliciting donations from officials and residents from across his entire district. Downing filled more than three boxes.

 

State Sen. Benjamin Downing collected more than three boxes of toys as well. See more photos from the senator's open house here.

"I think we all really know the winners are kids who otherwise would not have gotten gifts but it is kind of fun to win [the competition with Bianchi] every once in a while," Downing said.

 

Downing had his own certificate — his from the Legislature — to give out. This year, Downing held a greeting card contest for children in Grades 3 through 8. The winner's design was printed and sent as Downing's personal Christmas card, which goes to more than 3,500 people in the state.

 

The winner was 13-year-old Lizzie Paglier of Lanesborough, a student at Mount Greylock Middle and High School. She was presented with a gift and the certificate at Thursday's ceremony.

 

"I would have been proud to choose each and every one," Downing said.

 

More than 250 students entered the contest and one from each grade was chosen as a runner up. All of the submissions were on display Thursday as people roamed in and out of the North Street office.

 

No count was made to determine who had more presents — Downing or Bianchi. Downing's three boxes were tightly packed and some large gifts stood on the side. Meanwhile, Bianchi's collection filled two boxes but had many all over the office. 

 

Judging by the appearance, iBerkshires is calling Bianchi this year's winner, but only by a few.