Berkshire United Way Seeks Volunteer Grant Reviewers

10:33AM / Wednesday, February 19, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire United Way (BUW) is seeking volunteers to assist in its two-year funding cycle grant review process.

Volunteers will participate in up to 25 hours of training, individual evaluations, and group meetings to make funding recommendations. These recommendations will be presented to the BUW Community Impact Committee and Board for final approval, with funding disbursed starting in mid-July.

BUW will host three training sessions for volunteer reviewers in March. Interested individuals can register and find more information at www.berkshireunitedway.org/funding-application.

Concurrently, BUW is accepting applications for funding from local non-profit organizations. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements and align their impact goals with one of BUW's updated priority areas: Household Stability, School and Career Readiness, and Mental Health. The application deadline is March 10 at midnight.

Application assistance and application materials are available on the BUW funding application webpage.

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ServiceNet Hopes to Open Pittsfield Warming Center in Nov.

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Thursday, October 15, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A warming center is again planned in the First United Methodist Church for the cold months.

During last week's Homelessness Advisory Committee meeting, Erin Forbush, director of shelter and housing at ServiceNet, reported that they hope to begin operating the nighttime center in mid-November.

It would operate from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. in the church, which abuts The Pearl shelter. Forbush said the warming center would be the same program as in the past.

"Again it's a warming center, so there's no cots or beds, but it is certainly a place to come in, and we'll have a hot coffee or cocoa ready for folks," she explained.

"It will be a place to be inside and warm."

This year, ServiceNet hopes to secure full funding from the state so the warming center can open on Sundays at 5 p.m. In years past, they found that Sunday is the most challenging day for unhoused individuals because many community spaces aren't open.

The First Housing Resource Center, managed by Hearthway, opened earlier this year as a low-barrier option for people to rest and access amenities. It is open seven days a week, and Forbush said if people could come to the warming center on Sundays at 5, there would be a fuller day of coverage.

"It does still leave a little gap for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, as spaces like the library close at five, but we know that Sundays were something that people were looking for," she said.

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