Berkshire United Way Awards Food Assistance Funds to 15 Organizations

03:37PM / Friday, December 19, 2025Print Story | Email Story

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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15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports11:35AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive.

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour.

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children. The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation. One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue.

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out.

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release.

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