This year's honorees Sky Goodrich and BJ's Wholesale and BCAC representatives pose with Mayor Linda Tyer, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and RSVP Director Lisa Torrey at Friday's recognition luncheon.
Sky Goodrich, center, with the supervisors of each of the stations he's volunteered at during his time with RSVP.
In 2022, the 268 RSVP volunteers collectively donated 32,701 hours of their time to the community.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Retired Senior Volunteer Program held its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Friday afternoon at Country Club of Pittsfield to honor volunteers and staff who helped make an impact to the community.
RSVP provides individuals 55 and older who live in Berkshire County the opportunity to use their time and skills to make a difference in the community while meeting new people
RSVP Director Lisa Torrey took the podium to commend the work the programs volunteers and staff have done this past year.
"They are the unsung heroes of Berkshire County. Day after day, they give up their time generously. They do so for no recognition. They do the work because they truly care," she said.
"Look around you. You are surrounded by the greatest people today. These are the best people to be around in life. They are the people that want to make a difference in the community. They inspire me every day."
Torrey also recognized Mayor Linda Tyer for her continued support and belief in RSVP during her tenure.
The organization awarded the Volunteer of the Year award to Schuyler "Sky" Goodrich for the work he has done with RSVP.
"I'm very honored that everybody came and you guys have done an amazing job. I just did a small part of it," Goodrich said.
Since October 2018, Goodrich has donated 3,377 hours at various stations, including Barrington Stage, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, and more.
"I think that might be record setting," Tyer said. "He is also known as a very kind-hearted, friendly and a true gentleman. [Goodrich] exemplifies the definition of a volunteer."
State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier echoed these remarks adding that his accomplishments over his many years of volunteerism is inspirational and that he represents all of the RSVP volunteers.
One of the first assignments Farley-Bouvier received 20 years ago when elected to the Pittsfield City Council was to serve on RSVP's board.
"It's really remarkable and it takes a lot of work over many months. So we appreciate all this work and Sky with your resume and volunteering. I think to myself, I want to be like [Goodrich] when I grow up," Farley-Bouvier said.
Berkshire Community Action Council was awarded this year's Station of the Year award. RSVP could not run its Wheels for Wellness without BCAC's continued support, Torrey said.
"[BCAC] is a pillar of community based programming. They truly get what it means to start a program from the ground up and make it successful by helping those in Berkshire County that need it the most," Torrey said.
"RSVP has been providing volunteers for many years to Berkshire Community Action Council. Our Wheels for Wellness program, like all of the programs that BCAC is a part of, is extremely successful in meeting the unmet community needs of Berkshire County residents."
In 2022, the Wheels for Wellness program completed its first full year of service, and 29 RSVP volunteers have given 584 BCAC clients 1,733 rides to medical appointments.
Tyer commended Torrey for her work establishing the Wheels for Wellness program despite the obstacles she faced along the way.
The Wheels for Wellness program is important to the Pittsfield and Berkshire County community, Tyer said. "You stayed with it, you found your partner with BCAC and we are now able to serve this very, very important purpose."
The state works very closely with BCAC on all things related to poverty and community service, Farley-Bouvier said. The Wheels for Wellness is just one of their programs. They offer programs to aid in heating costs, weatherization, rides, clothing, and more.
"You need to know that BCAC is a resource for all of you and the people that you know that need the services and so I really want the phones to keep ringing off the hook…This is what they're there for," Farley-Bouvier said.
RSVP recognized BJ's Wholesale Club as its Business Partner of the Year. This year RSVP was able to resume its in-office events including its quarterly birthday party, special gatherings, and some classes.
"We could not have done them without the support of this year's business partner BJs Wholesale Club of Pittsfield," Torrey said.
It is a privilege to acknowledge and celebrate one of the area's business leaders, Tyer said.
"We would like to thank you for your generosity in providing the birthday cakes for the RSVP quarterly birthday parties celebrating all of its volunteers, and that includes the volunteers that sit at City Hall," the mayor said.
BJ's front-end manager Becky Tobler attended the luncheon to accept the award on behalf of the membership-only warehouse club chain.
"I think [Tobler] being here has actually taught me a lesson. And that is, we of course really think about supporting local businesses and sometimes we forget that at big-box stores, its local people who are working there and the local connections that they have are important," Farley-Bouvier said.
In 2022, the 268 RSVP volunteers collectively donated 32,701 hours of their time to the community.
RSVP offers a variety of volunteer opportunities to enrich people's lives, including some that can be done from the comfort of their own home.
Volunteers receive a variety of perks that include networking and social contacts, monthly newsletters, mileage reimbursement or van transportation to assignments, annual volunteer recognition luncheon, bi-monthly birthday parties, volunteer insurance and, on occasion, free theater tickets.
Although many places conduct their own background check prior to volunteering, RSVP also conducts background checks and training to all the new volunteers for safety and efficiency.
RSVP is a national organization funded in part by AmeriCorps Seniors. It is sponsored locally by the city of Pittsfield.
More information on Pittsfield RSVP here. Check out the photos from the event here.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
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Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better Wages
By Katherine von Haefen Guest Column
As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners.
Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families.
Berkshire United Way has invested in improving early childhood development opportunities in the Berkshires for decades. We fund high-quality nonprofit child-care centers that provide slots for income-constrained families. We also support the sector by co-hosting monthly child-care director meetings to work on shared challenges and collectively propose solutions. We advocate for early childhood education and have a great partner in this work, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier.
Staffing is a key component of high-quality care. The research shows that skilled and consistent educators in a classroom create long-lasting change for children. However, wages are stagnant and frequently do not provide educators with basic financial stability. We often hear that educators have left the field because they are unable to make their finances work. Wages need to improve to better reflect the expertise and indelible impact teachers have in the field.
When we look specifically at our region, our data is concerning.
As Berkshire County emerges from the pandemic, we are struggling with transportation, affordable housing and lack of mental health resources, much like the rest of the state. We are also seeing a rise in economically challenged households.
After nearly 10 years of decline, Berkshire County has experienced a significant jump in income inequality, now exceeding the state and national trends and far above comparable counties, according to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Over half of our population are "economically challenged," meaning they are working but struggling to make ends meet. A single parent with a school-aged child needs between $70,000 and $80,000 in income and public benefits just to meet their basic needs.
A large limb from a 32-foot sugar maple in the park fell next to the fountain area over the weekend. Caution tape and traffic barrels now surround the aftermath.
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The last estimate for construction was overly optimistic because, at the time, it was unclear how long obtaining the two easements would take, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson said.
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Full cost estimates have not been completed but based on recent repairs made to the Clapp Park splash pad, it is estimated to cost between $350,000 and $450,000.
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King Kone had a soft opening at the end of the week, offering the frozen treats on a "pay what you will" basis while employees perfected the craft.
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