Voices in Food Equity Event at BCC

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will host its third Voices in Food Equity event on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Berkshire Community College. 
 
The panel discussion brings together community leaders and residents to discuss school-and college-age food insecurity in the region.  The event is sponsored by Adams Community Bank, Berkshire Community College, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, Stone House, and Wheeler & Taylor.
 
Voices in Food Equity will feature a panel discussion with prominent voices in food equity who will share their insights and experiences specifically addressing food insecurity for children, youth, and college- students.
 
"I am excited to moderate the Voices in Food Equity, together we can brainstorm solutions addressing food insecurity and food inequity in our most vulnerable population," said Mary Feuer, Director of WIC and Family Services at Community Health Programs Inc, Berkshires, and member of the Food Bank Board of Directors. "Everyone deserves to have access to and to eat healthy nutritious, culturally diverse foods of their choosing."
 
The event will be held in the Connector, located between Hawthorne and Melville Halls.
 
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Please visit foodbankwma.org to reserve a spot.
 
Panelists include:
  • Lois Daunis - President of the Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry Board of Directors
  • Aaron Oster - Instructional Program Manager for Food, Culture, and the Local Community at BCC
  • Jenny Schwartz - Operations Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at Berkshire Bounty
  • Jess Vecchia - Executive Director and Co-Founder at Roots Rising
 
A Q&A session will follow the discussion.
 
"We invite everyone who is concerned or passionate about food equity to join us for an evening of thoughtful dialogue and networking," said Andrew Morehouse Food Bank Executive Director. "Together, we can create a Western Massachusetts where no one faces food insecurity, and everyone always has access to nutritious food."

Tags: BCC,   food pantry,   

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Big Lots to Close Pittsfield Store

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Two major chains are closing storefronts in the Berkshires in the coming year.
 
Big Lots announced on Thursday it would liquidate its assets after a purchase agreement with a competitor fell through. 
 
"We all have worked extremely hard and have taken every step to complete a going concern sale," Bruce Thorn, Big Lots' president and CEO, said in the announcement. "While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB process."
 
The closeout retailer moved into the former Price Rite Marketplace on Dalton Avenue in 2021. The grocery had been in what was originally the Big N for 14 years before closing eight months after a million-dollar remodel. Big Lots had previously been in the Allendale Shopping Center.
 
Big Lots filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. It operated nearly 1,400 stores nationwide but began closing more than 300 by August with plans for another 250 by January. The Pittsfield location had not been amount the early closures. 
 
Its website puts the current list of stores at 960 with 17 in Massachusetts. Most are in the eastern part of the state with the closest in Pittsfield and Springfield. 
 
Advanced Auto Parts, with three locations in the Berkshires, is closing 500 stores and 200 independently owned locations by about June. 
 
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