The Berkshire Community Action Council will be handing out hamburgers and hot dogs on the Common on Thursday.
PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts – Hundreds of local residents gathered on Pittsfield Common Thursday for free food and valuable information.
The Berkshire Community Action Council hosted a community day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and invited young and old to enjoy games, bouncy castles, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and cotton candy.
Participants also had the opportunity to meet with representatives from several dozen local service agencies, including the BCAC, whose goal is to “find creative and sustainable solutions that promote economic stability and alleviate the destabilizing effects of poverty on our neighbors.”
Along with the agency, nonprofit organizations such as the Elizabeth Freeman Center, the Food Bank of Western Mass, the United Way and Elder Services, as well as state agencies such as MassHire and the Department of Children and Families also offered solutions on Thursday.
“We wanted to connect people with the community and give them a good overview of all the services available to them, while also providing free food and fun so we could make this a real community event,” said BCAC Executive Director Deborah Leonczyk after making a late morning stop at the store to buy more burgers to feed the hordes of visitors.
“People come here for the food and the fun and they bring their kids. And we meet people who wouldn’t normally come through our doors, who may not even know we’re here. This is a way for us to connect with the community we already know and those we may not know.”
Thursday marked the return of an event BCAC hadn’t held since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Community Day was held in an expanded format, and community members responded with much higher participation.
“We were in the office at 1531 East Street and that’s not as big as this one,” said Michelle Sylvester, director of community programs and partnerships. “So we were limited and it was difficult for people who didn’t have transportation to get there.”
“We have a new (satellite) office on Maplewood Avenue … so we thought, these are the people we serve in this area, so it would be easier for them to walk here. And then if we could bring everyone here, it would be almost like a one-stop shop.
“And we realize that many of the people who are here today have never needed help because of the economic situation. So the goal was to let the community know what Berkshire County has to offer.”
Sylvester said BCAC has asked presenting agencies and companies to offer games and giveaways to entertain children and attract families.
“We tried to cover everything,” Sylvester said of the various social services. “We have housing. If you’re unemployed, we have two agencies. Domestic violence and drug addiction. We have fuel. And then the banks have a lot of financial literacy programs and loans.”
“So we wanted to make sure we covered everything. … There are so many you could list.”
BCAC took the opportunity to register families for its “Elf Warm Clothing Program” for children under 12 years of age.
“They get a brand new coat, hat, boots, gloves and an outfit or pajamas,” Sylvester said. “If (families) receive heating subsidies or Head Start, they are automatically eligible. We’re trying to help everyone stay warm this winter.”
The city’s fire department joined in Thursday’s festivities by bringing a truck for the youth to try out, and the police sent out the Operation Copsicle police car.
The Community Health Program has sent its mobile health van.
“We have worked together to have the Lion’s Club do the eye exams for the children there, and again, everything is free,” Sylvester said.
“We try to appeal to every age group. … And everyone says they’re getting a lot of new information, so that’s the important part.”
