Daily News

Berkshire Bank Is Taking the Afternoon Off on June 5 to Give Back

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank will once again close all locations at noon on Tuesday, June 5 for its third annual Xtraordinary Day.

Xtraordinary Day provides all Berkshire Bank employees the opportunity to volunteer in communities the bank and its affiliates serve. This year’s Xtraordinary Day is set to focus on more than 70 community projects with approximately 90% employee participation across the country. Last year, employees helped 75 different nonprofit organizations through 65 service projects and directly impacted more than 400,000 individuals.

In Berkshire County, projects include a Habitat for Humanity multi-site build in partnership with Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity; assembling of teacher-appreciation kits at Farmington River Elementary; landscaping and painting with Hillcrest Educational Centers; and cleanups with Housatonic River Walk, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires’ Camp Russell, and the West Stockbridge Historical Society.

In the Pioneer Valley, projects include tree planting and park improvements with ReGreen Springfield; painting and landscaping of the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Girls Club of Greenfield, YMCA of Springfield, and Lupa Zoo; painting the West Springfield Boys & Girls Club; gift wrapping at Birthday Wishes; and shelving books and landscaping at the Westfield Anthaneum.

Xtraordinary Day is fueled by the XTEAM, the bank’s employee volunteer program. The XTEAM provides employees paid time off to volunteer during regular business hours. In addition to volunteer service, Berkshire Bank and its foundation provide more than $2 million annually to support nonprofit organizations in the communities the bank serves.