Nonprofits invited to table at Volunteer Fair in April

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GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire United Way and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires are holding an in-person Volunteer Fair in partnership with Elder Services noon to 3 p.m. April 21 at Crissey Farm, 426 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington.
 
Sponsored by Berkshire Bank, the fair will feature 30 diverse organizations sharing information about their mission, programs and volunteer needs with the public at-large.
 
"National Volunteer Month begins on April 17, so the fair is our way of recognizing the need for and importance of volunteers in our community," said Brenda Petell, director of volunteer engagement at Berkshire United Way. 
 
Liana Toscanini, executive director of Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, shared that while there is no central volunteer organization in Berkshire County, there are several nonprofits facilitating volunteerism, including RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, civic groups, leadership programs and more.
 
The cost for nonprofits to participate is $50, which includes a table and two chairs. The event is free to the public; registration is strongly encouraged, but walk-ins welcome. Nonprofit and community registration can be found at https://www.berkshireunitedway.org/spring-volunteer-fair.

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MA Health Connector Open Enrollment Starts Nov. 1

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Open Enrollment season begins Nov. 1 for customers of the Massachusetts Health Connector, which administers subsidized ACA health plans. 
 
CHP Berkshires is now scheduling appointments to assist area residents with finding new coverage or updating their current plan. 
 
The income limits for Health Connector subsidized plans are now $69,400 for an individual and $155,000 for a family of four. As a result, many more individuals and families now qualify for these subsidized Health Connector plans.  
 
Current customers of MA Health Connector, or people seeking to enroll for the first time, can visit https://www.mahix.org to get started. However, CHP welcomes appointments from Health Connector customers who may need help finding the best plan for themselves and their families.  
 
"Health Connector plans are now accessible for more and more people, and we're here to help," said William Cruz, certified lead patient navigator for CHP Berkshires. "Shopping for health plans can be confusing, but we can help guide this process." 
 
Many state residents are either self-employed or do not have insurance through an employer. They often depend on subsidized plans to meet the state law requiring everyone to have health insurance.  
 
Cruz said MA Health Connector customers are now receiving snail-mail from the state program reminding them to observe the Nov. 1 deadline. Open Enrollment lasts through Jan. 23, 2025.  
 
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