image description — BFAIR clients and employees deliver donated supplies to the Veterans Services Office in North Adams.

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BFAIR Supports North County Veterans With Donations

Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
12:09PM / Monday, September 08, 2025Print Story | Email Story

Donations were made through the month of August.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — BFAIR's Community Based Day Support (CBDS) program made a special delivery to City Hall on Friday and helped stock the Veterans Services Office's food pantry.

"I am totally overwhelmed. I was in awe when they said they were going to do this," said Tina Samson, office's administrative assistant. "BFAIR, they help in the community. This is wonderful, and this is always needed. 100 percent."

Kris Neep, director of the day program, said she saw one of Samson's call for donations posts on Facebook. She quickly got the BFAIR (Berkshire Family and Individual Resources) community behind the cause.

"We got all of our offices involved," she said. "I think this is great and says a lot about our community. Just look at all the stuff we got? We just like to give back."

BFAIR clients and employees heeded the call, donating hygienic supplies, non-perishable foods, and other items needed for the pantry during the August collection drive.

"There is everything in these bags, and people were very generous, especially nowadays when prices are so high," Neep said.

While she didn't have an exact count of donations, the donations filled the back of the van used for transport. She said everything was organized for easy storage.

CBDS employees and clients offloaded the supplies with the help of some veterans.

Tags: BFAIR, veterans services,

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Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."

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