Berkshire United Way Awards Food Assistance Funds to 15 Organizations

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire United Way (BUW) has awarded $51,630 to 15 local organizations to strengthen food distribution efforts in response to rising food insecurity and recent disruptions in federal assistance programs such as SNAP. 
 
Following a thorough application and review process, BUW provided funding to: Berkshire Bounty, Berkshire Community College Foundation, Berkshire Dream Center, Berkshire Grown, Community Health Programs (CHP), First United Methodist Church, Friends of the Pittsfield Senior Center, Great Barrington Farmers Market, Pittsfield Community Food Pantry, seeing rainbows, Sonrisas, The Christian Center, The People's Pantry, Village Food Box, and Westside Legends. 
 
"We will absolutely put these funds to good use. Your efforts to raise funds and distribute them so quickly are incredible," said Bethany Kieley, chief executive officer of CHP. "This aid is exceptionally meaningful for our community at this time and is deeply appreciated," added maayan nuri héd, executive director of seeing rainbows. 
 
The funding combines local donations with support from the United Response Fund, which enabled all 13 United Ways in Massachusetts to expand and stabilize food access through increased pantry capacity, direct financial relief, and culturally appropriate food options. 
 
"None of our Berkshire neighbors should face hunger," said Katherine von Haefen, BUW president and CEO. "The quick and collaborative work of our local food organizations and the generosity of our community is a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can create lasting change."
 
Support BUW and food and emergency relief at www.berkshireunitedway.org/donate

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Companion Corner: Fox at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and energetic dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Fox is a 3-year-old Pomeranian who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox. 

"He's a bundle of joy. He would love a family who's home with him a lot, because he's just, he's very social and wants to be with his people a lot. And he would be fun to bring out and about, bring a lot of places, because he's very happy to go anywhere," she said.

When Fox enters the room he is immediately a puffball of energy that goes around and around the room.

He came to the shelter after his former owner could not take care of him anymore. 

"The owner was just not able to care for him anymore. Had he came in with another dog, Wolf, and she already did find her forever home just last week," said Olivieri. "The two of them were left with a friend of the original owner, and the owner did not come back to pick them up, and the friend had too many animals in the house, and too much going on, and she just couldn't continue to look after them, so they did end up coming to us."

Fox can go home with cats and children but is not recommended to go home with other dogs as he gets too excited.

"He would love a home where people are home quite a bit to give him all the attention that he so desires. He loves kids. He absolutely adores children. So he would like a home with kids to play with. He could live with cats. We are saying that he should not live with other dogs. The only reason is that he gets very humpy, and he does not leave the other dogs alone," she said.

With his energy it is recommended he goes to a home that can keep him active whether walks or hikes and even fetch in the yard.

Fox does need to learn more about walking on a leash and has a tendency to mark in the house but he was recently neutered. Olivieri said belly bands will be sent home with whoever adopts him to help prevent marking and managing it.

"He would like an active home. He really does like to go for walks daily. He likes to run around in the yard. He does need a little work on leash walking. He sometimes gets a little tangled still under your feet, and he's learning how to walk on a leash," she said. "So, someone who's got some patience and some time to work on some training with him."

"He also is not fully potty trained, so he does know to go potty outside. However, he will still mark, urinate in the house sometimes, and he might poop here and there in the house."

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