Berkshire Bounty Receives Grants from Local Organizations

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. – Berkshire Bounty has announced the receipt of several grants from local organizations, including Fallon Health’s Community Impact Grants program, the Mabel Louise Riley Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and the Josephine and Louise Crane Family Foundation.

The funding will support Berkshire Bounty’s operations and its Food Purchase Program, aimed at addressing food insecurity in the region. Greylock Federal Credit Union’s Senior Vice President, JamieEllen Moncecchi, expressed pride in supporting the organization, highlighting its efforts to improve food access through partnerships with emergency food sites and the Berkshire Mobile Farmers Market.

Cheryl Schmaltz, Community Engagement Manager at Fallon Health, emphasized the importance of the grant in expanding access to healthy and culturally inclusive food, especially in rural areas like the Berkshires.

Berkshire Bounty co-founders Mark Lefenfeld and Jay Weintraub thanked the supporters for the critical funding, which will aid both daily operations and the Food Purchase Program, enabling the distribution of more food to local emergency food sites.

Greenagers Founder Will Conklin Honored as Business Person of the Year

By Breanna Steele12:17PM / Saturday, October 03, 2026

Casey Pease of state Sen. Paul Mark's office presents William Conklin, right, with a state Senate proclamation.

EGREMONT, Mass. — The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce honored a local businessman and nonprofit leader on Sept. 24 at Catamount Mountain Resort.

 

William Conklin was this year's Business Person of the Year, recognizing his work as founder and executive director of Greenagers, a nonprofit that helps youth and children engage in work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, natural resource management, and vocational skills building. 

 

Conklin and his family also run Sky View Farm and he is a managing partner of Konkapot Tree and Timber, a small-scale forest products business.

 

"If you spent any amount of time in Southern Berkshire, chances are you've heard his name, whether you realize the connection at the time or not," said board member Sierra King Watson, who emceed the event. "You might be having a conversation about farming, a new barn or structure that was built, students learning hands-on skills in sustainable agriculture, or a family that receives donated firewood to help keep their home warm through a cold Berkshire winter, or maybe you're simply talking about one of those community leaders who somehow manages to show up, support everyone, and seemingly be everywhere all at once.

 

"Well, one name has a way of continuously popping up, and that is Will Conklin."

 

Board President Mark Rulison said the region has more than 1,200 nonprofits. One in four jobs in the county is in the nonprofit sector, which ranks 27th nationally for nonprofit employment. He said the economic impact on the community is huge, thanking those who help.

 

For the event on Thursday, Conklin requested that as much of the food as possible was sourced locally. Most of it came from Greenagers, Sky View Farm, Indian Line Farm and Fancy Feast Supper Club, creative dinner series.