Carr Hardware Customers Raise Money for Thanksgiving Angels

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. Carr Hardware announce that its customers in Lenox and Pittsfield have raised a total of $2,486.99 through the company's round-up initiative, directly benefiting the local Thanksgiving Angels program. 
 
This generosity helped provide Thanksgiving meals for over 2,500 families in Berkshire County who signed up to receive a traditional holiday dinner through the program.
 
Throughout the month of October, Carr Hardware hosted a round-up campaign at its Lenox and Pittsfield locations, encouraging customers to round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar. The funds collected through this initiative were donated to the South Congregational Church's Thanksgiving Angels program.
 
Carr's customers stepped up even more this year, beating last year's round-up total of $1,856.35.
 
On Monday, Nov. 24, Carr employees were greeted by Pittsfield mayor, Peter M. Marchetti, at the Thanksgiving Angels' check presentation. Numerous employees then volunteered handing out meals and supplies to local families. Last year, Thanksgiving Angels had more than 350 volunteers from local businesses and groups assist with the annual
distributions.
 
"A special thank you to our Berkshire county customers, who stepped up again this year and donated even more than in years past," said Bart Raser, President at Carr Hardware. "Your generosity helped us feed our neighbors and build a stronger, more caring community. We donated our time and money to help nourish those in need."
 
The Thanksgiving Angels program serves as an essential resource to families throughout the county, providing meals and a sense of connection and community.
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Celebrates Arbor Day at Taconic

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Mayor Peter Marchetti presented the framed original cover art for the day's program. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Generations of Taconic students will pass the tree planted on Arbor Day 2026 as they enter school. 

Pittsfield's decades-long annual celebration was held at a city school for the first time. Different vocational trades at Taconic High School worked together to plant the Amelanchier, or flowering serviceberry, mark it with a plaque, record the ceremony, create artwork for the program's cover, and feed guests. 

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Resources Manager James McGrath said the students' participation reflects the spirit of Arbor Day perfectly: learning by doing, serving the community, and helping Pittsfield grow greener for generations to come.

"It's not unknown that trees help shade our homes, help clean our air and water, they support wildlife, and make our neighborhoods and public spaces more beautiful and resilient," he said. 

"And Arbor Day is our chance annually to honor that gift and to remember that when we plant something today, we are investing in the future of our green world."

The holiday was established 154 years ago by J. Sterling Morton and was first observed in Nebraska with the planting of more than a million trees.

CTE environmental science and technology teacher Morgan Lindemayer-Finck detailed the many skilled students who worked on the event: the sign commemorating this Arbor Day was made by the carpentry and advanced manufacturing program, specifically students Ronan MacDonald and Patrick Winn; the multimedia production program recorded the event, and the culinary department provided refreshments. 

The program's cover art was created by students Brigitte Quintana-Tenorio and Austin Sayers. The framed original was presented to Mayor Peter Marchetti. 

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