Learning and growing The Berkshire Innovation Center’s Manufacturing Academy, which formed last year, graduates its first cohort of students. Page 5
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Berkshire Business Journal NOVEMBER 2023 I VOL. 2, NO. 11
Battling food insecurity
STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN
Karen Ryan, the food services director at The Christian Center in Pittsfield, asks Dionisio Kelly to load boxes of canned goods for another food pantry at The Christian Center in Pittsfield. The nonprofit organization is one of several entities that are focused on battling hunger throughout Berkshire County.
Groups of volunteers and staffers are addressing hunger in the Berkshires one meal at a time By Jim Therrien PITTSFIELD — They’re not always visible and they frequent places where lots of Berkshire residents never go. But this behind the scenes fair-sized army of volunteers and staffers, mainly from nonprofit organizations, is the driving force behind community meals and food pantries throughout Berkshire County. As we head into Thanksgiving, these are the people — the front line soldiers, if you will — that are helping the Berkshires combat the food insecurity that has become a such a devastating issue regionally and nationally. Countywide, there are dozens of nonprofits, church groups, farms, businesses and individuals involved in year-round operations to head off hunger and ensure good nutrition for those in need.
And many more individuals, groups and businesses donate or stand ready to raise money for financial support. According to the Berkshire United Way, there are at least 40 food pantries located in the Berkshires, along with 28 more sites were meals are served. Beyond the many small, local efforts there are a number of larger, regional entities involved as well, such as the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts; which operates in the state’s four western counties; the Berkshire Bounty program; and the meals and nutrition programs overseen by Elder Services of Berkshire County. “Berkshire Bounty is a food rescue organization,” said Morgan Ovitsky, the executive director of the countywide program, which is based in Great Barrington. “The primary aspect of what we do is collect donated food from
grocery stores and other retailers, and we distribute it to a network of food pantries and meal sites.” She added, “we deliver to 28 meal and pantry sites countywide and we collect from 21 retailers now.” The businesses contributing food to Berkshire Bounty include Big Y Foods four supermarkets in Berkshire County and Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, which has stores in Great Barrington and Pittsfield. Berkshire Bounty also collects food from farms. Sometimes when there is surplus produce, volunteers will be out in the fields harvesting the last of a crop. “And we put a portion of our fundraising to purchase food as well,” Ovitsky said, “which means on food not available from the [Western Mass.] food bank. Like fresh produce, dairy and eggs and meat.” Food generally is provided at cost, free
or at a discount by retailers, she said, and a lot of it is produce that will be past its prime if not used soon. Berkshire Bounty therefore has to inspect for over-ripeness and distribute the food quickly. But the organization knows how to “rescue” perishable food, she said, adding, “We have a pretty well-oiled machine of pick-up and drop off.” They are on track in 2023 to handle 400,000 pounds of food, working six days a week. “Volunteers generally use their own car,” she said. “We do have a van for larger pickups.” Berkshire Bounty operates throughout the county, Ovitsky said, but is “a very small organization staff wise, and all work remotely.” COLLABORATION In addition to working closely with FOOD PANTRIES, Page 7