Berkshire Bounty Conducts Crowdfunding Campaign

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Bounty, a 501(c)(3) food recovery organization, will conduct a crowdfunding campaign­ from Dec. 2 through Dec. 16 to raise funds to address an urgent and growing community need.

"Food pantries are serving more people than ever. Berkshire Bounty receives calls daily for more food," said Morgan Ovitsky, Executive Director of Berkshire Bounty. "Our goal is to raise $175,000 by the end of 2025 in order to ensure that we can serve Berkshire County through 2026."

Despite considerable challenges, Berkshire Bounty continues to make strides in mitigating food insecurity. In 2025, the organization:

• Presented in November at a meeting with the Secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services and several county leaders to help coordinate action steps for the food insecurity crisis caused by the cessation of SNAP benefits.
• Maintained communication with organizations across the emergency food network to strategically and effectively serve people who are food insecure
• To date in 2025, distributed 575,000 lbs. of food to 32 emergency food sites, serving 21,000 individuals per week.

Berkshire Bounty will be raising the needed funds with the help of a challenge grant from 3BL, Berkshire Money Management, the Neil & Kathleen Chrisman Fund, John W. Field Tree Service, Inc., community members Eric and Laura Jordahl, and the Buchwald Family Foundation.

"We are so pleased to be able to give back to our community! Berkshire Money Management is proud to support Berkshire Bounty as they help our neighbors in a time of need," said Lusha Martin, Client Growth Strategist with Berkshire Money Management.

"Donations from individuals and local businesses comprise a huge portion of our support. Our community really pulls together, and we are grateful," said Mark Lefenfeld and Jay Weintraub, co-founders and Board members.

Donations for Berkshire Bounty’s end-of-year campaign can be made online on this dedicated page. For more information or to inquire about making an online or offline donation, contact Sara Haimowitz, Berkshire Bounty Director of Development, at sara@berkshirebounty.org.

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.