Berkshire Bank Completes Company-wide Week of Service

PITTSFIELD — Nearly 350 Berkshire Bank employees completed more than 20 community-service projects as part of the bank’s company-wide week of service June 8-12.

The week of service is an expansion of the bank’s successful day of service that took place in previous years. The 2015 week of service represented the highest number of employee participants and most projects undertaken during a single week in the company’s history.

The series of projects benefitted nonprofit organizations and communities across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. Local Berkshire Bank employees, who serve as leaders of the company’s XTEAM volunteer program, selected and organized the projects in their markets. This year’s activities in Western Mass. included:

• Great Barrington: 15 employees undertook a series of improvement projects alongside the Trustees of Reservations at Monument Mountain. Projects included mulching the trailheads, painting the visitor kiosk, and painting the new visitor hut.

• Pittsfield: 40 employees undertook a series of projects at Hancock Shaker Village to assist in public-access, public-safety, and visitor-experience improvements throughout the property, which included repairing and repainting the iconic white fence, painting the historic woodshed, and rebuilding the boardwalk.

• South Hadley: five employees helped organize the Birthday Wishes supply room, making it easier for volunteers to locate needed items. Birthday Wishes provides birthday parties to children living in transitional housing.

• Springfield: 20 employees helped with a series of beautification projects at the Zoo at Forest Park to improve the ascetic appearance for visitors. Projects included planting flowers, weeding, and mulching throughout the zoo.

• Springfield: 15 employees helped construct a new home for a local family in need in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Springfield. Employees also presented Habitat with a check for the funds raised through Berkshire Bank Foundation’s Hockey 4 Housing campaign with NESN.

“We were so pleased to give back in this meaningful way through our company-wide effort,” said Lori Gazzillo, vice president and director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. “We’re proud of our employees’ involvement and the growth of our volunteer day into a week dedicated to service, which speaks to our values as a company and commitment to making a difference in our community.”