image description — Elks Trustee David Sacco, left, North Adams Ocean State store leader Jeff Gammel, and Elks Veterans Officer Tony Sacco Elks with the donation made to the Elks coat program.

Elks, Ocean State Donate 22 Coats to Local Veterans

Community submission10:43AM / Tuesday, November 25, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Elks Lodge 487 teamed up with Ocean State Job Lots for a second year to provide winter coats to veterans in need.

A total of 44 coats were purchased, with half of those being distributed through the Veterans Services Office at City Hall.

First, the Elks purchased $1,000 worth of coats at the discount store; they were then donated back to the store and sent to a distribution center to be donated to veterans. The store reimbursed the Elks with gift cards worth the same value as the coats, which were then used to buy 22 more coats for local veterans.

This is part of Ocean State's 10th annual "Buy, Give, Get" coats program. Anyone in the Job Lot Insider program who buys a warm winter coat for $45 (retail value $200 or greater) at any of the retail chain's 176 stores and donates it back will get a $45 gift card.

The discount retailer has provided nearly 380,000 coats to people in need, including veterans, since 2016. It anticipates having some 80,000 winter coats for purchase and donation in partnership with more than 50 support organizations and programs.

Elks Trustee David Sacco said a woman was at the store when they were getting the coat donations and also purchased a coat to donate and gave the Elks her gift card to purchase another one for a local veteran.

Those donating coats through program can let the cashier know to give the gift card to the Elks, who will then get the coat to City Hall.

North Adams Elks 487 are wishing everyone happy holidays.

Tags: donations, elks club, ocean state, veterans,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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."

View Full Story