'Choose Your Subaru' Raffle Benefiting Homeless Animals

05:25AM / Sunday, July 05, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Humane Society and Haddad Subaru have launched their 14th annual "Choose Your Subaru" car raffle.

One winner will have their choice of a 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Limited, Forester Premium or Outback Premium with an extended warranty and three years of free maintenance. Hybrid options are available for the Crosstrek and Forester.

Tickets are $40 each or three for $100. The winner will be drawn on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1pm at Berkshire Humane Society, 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Tickets are available in Pittsfield at Berkshire Humane Society's Dr. John Reynolds Adoption and Education Center (main shelter), Wellness Clinic and Haddad Subaru, in Williamstown at Nature's Closet, in North Adams at Roxie's Barkery and Boutique, in Lanesboro at Baker's Golf Center, in Richmond at Bartlett's Apple Orchard and Farm Market, in Lenox at Chez Pet and Catwalk Boutique and in Great Barrington at Catwalk Boutique and Purradise. They are also available by calling the shelter at 413-447-7878 extension 131.

The raffle is limited to 2,700 tickets. If at least 1,000 tickets are not sold, the raffle will convert to a 50/50 drawing. All tickets include a $20 discount for services at Haddad Subaru.

"Well, I said it last year, we will sell out," said Chris Kramek, General Manager and Vice President of Haddad Subaru. Guess what? We did. This year won't be any different. Supporting this cause is a Berkshire mainstay and an event everyone looks for annually. I believe this will be our best year ever! The vehicles are of the highest value, especially the hybrid models. Come support and give yourself a great chance to win the Berkshires' most popular vehicle, a new Subaru."

"We're excited to collaborate with Haddad Subaru again this year for this thrilling opportunity for the community and the animals," said John Perreault, Executive Director of Berkshire Humane Society. "People love this raffle. It's our biggest fundraiser and a great way of helping local animals and disadvantaged animal lovers while having the dream of scoring a brand-new Subaru. Last year's winner lived less than two miles from our shelter in Pittsfield."

Berkshire Humane Society has an annual budget of more than $3 million, touching the lives of approximately 16,500 animals each year through adoption and surrender, medical care, spay/neuters, vaccine clinics, a Wellness Center, Pet Food Bank and Family Dog School. The Society's education programs reach hundreds of school children annually and a SafePet Program provides free, temporary pet care for people in crisis.

"Companion animals and their people in our community depend on you," said Perreault. All proceeds benefit animal shelter services and programs.

For more information on the raffle, call 413-447-7878, extension 131. Follow the event on Facebook @BerkshireHumane or check the shelter's website, BerkshireHumane.org.

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Free Vaccinations Available Throughout Berkshire County

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
10:30AM / Saturday, October 10, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fall season is also the flu season, which means vaccine clinics are now available.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative will provide public vaccination clinics in Berkshire communities this fall, including the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. There are about 49 clinics.

The collaborative began during COVID-19 to help vaccinate people across Berkshire County. Berkshire Health Systems started the Get Vaccinated Berkshires website and still manages it. The group works with the Pittsfield Public Health Department, Community Health Programs, and the Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative.

"The majority of people will always get the flu [vaccine] because, as I said, if you've ever gotten the flu, you will always get a flu vaccine because it's so bad. And just so you know, the flu is already in Berkshire County. It's an early season this year," said Leslie Drager, who is the senior public health nurse at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission.

Drager said last year they issued 2,705 vaccines, with more than 1,100 of them being for COVID-19 and more than 1,500 being flu. In total, they were able to vaccinate 1,669 people in Central and North County, in addition to Pittsfield.

Drager also said she will be carrying three types of COVID vaccines this year, which is in high demand.

"We have a high demand of COVID vaccine, which is awesome," she said. "So we're doing a lot of COVID vaccines. Also, I provide Pfizer, and this year I have Moderna and the Novavax, which I think is real important to get out there because the Novavax, a lot of people want, people with long COVID. So I'm carrying all three vaccines this year, which I normally only carry the Pfizer."

Public health departments also can help people access other vaccines such as for measles or meningitis when they cannot get them through a pediatrician, she added.

Using the website, people are able to get vaccines even if they are homebound by filling out a form.

All public Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative clinics are free of charge, but registrants are asked to provide insurance information, when available, in order to defray costs. The clinics are open to anyone 6 months of age or older, the age group recommended to receive an annual flu vaccine and the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

"I always encourage everybody to wear a short sleeve shirt because it makes it a heck of a lot easier to get at," Drager said. "And children, we do carry the nasal flu, the live virus of nasal flu for kids that are afraid to get needles."

Registration is highly recommended for the clinics. Walk-ins may be accepted depending on the number of vaccine doses available at each clinic, with preference given to those who are registered.

"It's really important. I'm really encouraging vaccinations for the schools, because not only you know if the kids are vaccinated and the teachers are vaccinated, the schools won't have the flu go wild right through it," Drager said. "And of course, the best way to prevent infections: washing your hands. So don't touch your face, and wash your hands."

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