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On Monday, the South Community Food pantry on South Street was bustling with dozens of hands organizing ingredients, loading food into cars for drive-through pickup, and assisting in any way they can.
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Spectrum Health Systems also presented a $5,000 check to the program on Monday.
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On Monday, the South Community Food pantry on South Street was bustling with dozens of hands organizing ingredients, loading food into cars for drive-through pickup, and assisting in any way they can.
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Wheat, on the left, has been involved with the program for over ten years.

Thanksgiving Angels Feeds Nearly 2,000 County Families

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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Carver said there is still a need and that the need has increased.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Nearly 1,800 families' tables will be set with a turkey and all of the fixings on Thursday thanks to the Thanksgiving Angels.

The program, now in its 15th year, addresses food insecurity by providing a meal kit to those in need so that everyone can enjoy a holiday feast.  

The program has over 20 participating organizations, food pantries, and faith communities.  This amounts to hundreds of volunteers.

"It's a great community effort," Program coordinator Mary Wheat said. "There are people from everywhere helping."

On Monday, the South Community Food pantry on South Street was bustling with dozens of hands organizing ingredients, loading food into cars for drive-through pickup, and assisting in any way they can.

Over the weekend, volunteers made home deliveries.

Berkshire Money Management (BMM) contributed its time and money to the cause, offering a $25,000 matching donation and volunteer work.  It was believed that the match challenge has been met.

Last year, the investment advisory firm also donated $25,000 and unloaded two whole box trucks from Wohrle's full of food


BMM Co-founder Stacey Carver said that the need is "really there."

"And the need was even bigger this year," she explained. "So we felt like we really had to step up again this year and try to get the rest of the community to step up and help."

Spectrum Health Systems also presented a $5,000 check to the program on Monday.

Wheat said that the large donations and the small donations are all important.

"Everybody gives what they can," she added.

Information about how to sign up, donate, or volunteer can be found on the Thanksgiving Angels website.
 


Tags: donations,   food,   

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

Dalton Water Crews Fixing Leak on North Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — It's been a busy couple of days for the Dalton Water Department's four-man crew who have been addressing a couple of water leaks. 
 
Drivers on North Street approaching the bridge will see the crew working with REWC Land Management, Inc. employees to locate a water main and repair the leak. 
 
Water Department Superintendent Bob Benlien emphasized that the leak is minor and does not affect any residents. He does not foresee having to turn the water off and expects it to be repaired by the end of the day. 
 
The leak was so minor that it did not appear in the department's flow chart, so it is less than 100 gallons a minute, he said. 
 
The likely cause is aging infrastructure as the pipe was installed in the 1930s, Benlien explained. 
 
The main thing is finding the pipe and the leak, which they are currently doing. The road has changed over time, and it looks like the pipe was moved when the bridge was built up so the department is searching for the pipe and leak now. 
 
The water main is located on a state road with a gas main within close proximity, so the department opted to contract  REWC because it has a vacuum excavation truck.
 
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