PITTSFIELD, Mass.—In two years, nine-year-old Elliot Mack raised about $800 with his lemonade stand for local organizations, but this year he set out on a mission to raise $1,000 for the nonprofit Strong Little Souls Foundation.
And the community has gone above and beyond, doubling his original goal.
This year Elliot raised $2,020 in donations and sales for the organization dedicated to "brightening the lives of children battling cancer, and their families."
"It's so cool to see people so young give back, especially because I started Strong Little Souls when I was only 13," said Strong Little Souls Foundation founder Madison Quinn.
Elliot said he enjoys running the lemonade stand so decided to use it as an opportunity to give back to the community. He said this year he decided to raise funds for the nonprofit because he knows a few kids that have faced pediatric cancer.
Strong Little Souls Foundation was founded in 2014 and it helps families affected by pediatric cancer. Strong Little Souls sends care packages, offer financial assistance, and grant wishes for children battling cancer.
"I've been running Strong Little Souls for about nine years now. We work with families locally across the [United States] Right now. I feel like every day I come across a new family locally which is so unfortunate," Quinn said. "But we have so much need in this community to support these families, whether it's financially or sometimes I pick up kids from school while their parents are at the hospital just doing whatever I can to support our families locally,"
Quinn said when Elliot's mom Danielle Mack reached out to her she said the goal of raising $1,000 felt "crazy" but Quinn reassured her that is not the case.
Quinn said when she first started her nonprofit a lot of people thought she was "crazy" but young people should never be underestimated.
Quinn said her favorite messages she receives are from parents expressing that their children are interested in doing a school project on her nonprofit or would like to put together a fundraiser.
And she said they will take all the help they can get. Childhood cancer is severely underfunded despite how common it is, Quinn said.
"Adult cancers receive 92 percent of all cancer research funding which is so unfortunate because children are our future and they have so much life to live," Quinn said.
"The average life loss of a child with cancer is seven years when it's an adult with cancer, the average lifespan loss is seven. So children are just missing out on so much and they really should be our priority. So it's so important for me just to continue supporting kids with cancer and increasing funding and advocating for these kids."
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization cancer is the number 1 cause of death by disease for children in America.
Each year an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 are diagnosed with cancer.
The stand became a community effort this year with Elliot receiving food donations from residents Janet and Bob Kent, Karen McHugh, Debbie Southard, and Maureen Daniels and Shire Donuts, that donated a dozen donuts.
The first year he held his lemonade stand he wanted to help kids get memberships to the Boys and Girls Club who couldn't afford one.
Last year he chose Soldier On & Operation Bridges because his grandfather is a veteran. Also Elliot is a fan of Officer Derby who runs Copsicle, funded by the nonprofit, Mack said.
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Ten Arrested in Berkshire County Child Exploitation Sting
PITTSFIELD, MASS — Ten have been arrested on charges related to child exploitation following a two-week operation in Berkshire County.
The Berkshire State Police Detective Unit, assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, and the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force conducted the operation. According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, the operation involved law enforcement officers posing as 14 and 15-year-old girls on various online platforms.
The individuals allegedly communicated with these online personas and traveled to pre-arranged locations within Berkshire County, intending to exchange money for sexual activity with individuals under the age of 16, according to authorities.
"The utilization of grant funding and the dedicated work of our Law Enforcement Task Force allowed us to apprehend those looking to abuse our most vulnerable population, children. I want to especially thank the North Adams Police Department and Chief Bailey for their commitment to this operation," stated District Attorney Shugrue, "I also would like to recognize and thank Governor Healey in awarding grant funds that allowed our office to conduct investigations into human trafficking in our county. Sex trafficking is far more prevalent than most people realize. Through the Governor's support, we are able to devote resources to disrupt and apprehend criminals looking to exploit victims of human trafficking."
The following individuals have been arraigned in either Central Berkshire District Court or Great Barrington District Court:
Sydney Brodrick, 21 of Pittsfield, arraigned on April 1, 2025, faces the following charges:
Possession of Obscene Material
Distribution of Obscene Material
Brodrick is being held pending evaluation.
Ted Crosby, 56 of Pittsfield, was arraigned on April 7, 2025, and charged with:
Sexual Conduct for a Fee
Enticing a Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime
Pose/Exhibit a Child in a Sexual Act
Bail was set at $5,000.
Roger Prell, 67 of Pittsfield, was arraigned on April 10, 2025, and charged with:
Pay for Sexual Conduct with a Child Under 18
Obscene Matter to a Minor
Entice Child Under 16
Attempt to Commit a Crime
Prell was released on personal recognizance.
Dana Brookman, 31 of Pittsfield, was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:
Entice Child Under 16
Obscene Matter to a Minor
Attempt to Commit a Crime
Bail was set at $7,000.
Eduardo/Kevin Miranda Hernandez was arraigned on April 14, 2025, and charged with:
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