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Freedom Credit Union Urges Support for Bed Program

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is again inviting the community to support A Bed for Every Child by making cash donations at any of its branches throughout May. Donations will help provide beds to children in Massachusetts who do not have a bed of their own.

“Every child deserves a safe, comfortable place to sleep,” said Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch. “We’re proud to support A Bed for Every Child and invite our members and the community to join us in helping make a meaningful difference for children and families.”

A Bed for Every Child partners with schools, health care providers and community organizations to identify children in need and engage volunteers through its Build a Bed Project. As many families continue to face financial strain, essential household items such as beds can remain out of reach. The organization works to ensure more children have this basic necessity and the comfort that comes with it.

Freedom Credit Union’s support of A Bed for Every Child is part of its ongoing Month of Giving campaign, which raises donations for charitable organizations serving local communities. Funds collected through May 30 will support this effort and help provide beds for children who need them.

MountainOne Distributes $363,200 in Donations and Sponsorships During 3rd and 4th Quarters of 2025

By
Daily News

NORTH ADAMS —  MountainOne announced that in the third and fourth quarters of 2025, it distributed $363,200  in donations and sponsorships to not-for-profit organizations across the Berkshires, Pioneer Valley, and the South Shore.

Organizations supported by MountainOne during the second half of 2025 include, but are not limited to:

• The Brien Center — $10,000 to support in-school prevention programming, counseling services for middle and high school students in high-need districts, caregiver education events, and staff training to ensure equitable access across rural communities;

• The Berkshire Innovation Center — $10,000 to serve as the MountainOne Pavilion sponsor, supporting workforce development, innovation programming, and career pathways in advanced manufacturing and technology.

• Quincy College Foundation — $10,000 to expand access to higher education and invest in the next generation of leaders by supporting Quincy College students with financial need and demonstrated academic potential.

• ServiceNet, Inc. — $10,000 to support the launch of The First, a collaborative daytime community resource center in downtown Pittsfield providing meals, hygiene services, and personalized resource navigation to help individuals experiencing housing instability move toward long-term stability and independence.

• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Plymouth — $5,000 to support affordable housing development through its annual Gala, helping build energy-efficient homes for local families through volunteer-driven construction and community partnership.

• Williamstown Rural Lands — $5,000 as lead sponsor of the fall benefit and auction, supporting the organization’s 40th anniversary celebration and helping maximize funds raised for land conservation, stewardship, and community engagement in Williamstown.

• 1Berkshire — $5,000 to serve as lead sponsor of the annual Fall Foliage Parade in North Adams, fostering community connection, local pride, and vibrant downtown activity through a beloved seasonal event.

• Elizabeth Freeman Center — $2,500 to sponsor the Rise Together Walk and fundraiser, supporting critical survivor services including the 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, legal and housing advocacy, and economic empowerment programs serving Berkshire County.

• Friends of Marshfield Hockey — $1,000 to support Marshfield High School hockey by helping fund uniforms, ice time, and transportation for student athletes on teams not fully funded by the school.

• North Adams Veterans Services — $2,500 to cover the cost of engraving names of additional veterans to the Veterans’ Memorial Park. The park stands as a place of reflection and gratitude, reminding us of the sacrifices of our veterans.

• South Shore Peer Recovery, Inc. — $1,000 to sponsor the Recovery Rocks 2025 event, supporting free recovery support groups, coaching, and family services for individuals impacted by substance use disorder across the South Shore.

MountainOne also continued its support of key cultural and educational institutions within the Berkshires, including commitments to MASS MoCA and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. These contributions align with broader, multi-year capital campaign efforts and reflect MountainOne’s long-term investment in regional vitality. These ongoing partnerships build on prior years of support and help sustain institutions that play a critical role in the identity, economy, and future of the region.

“It is our privilege to support the work of organizations that uplift, empower, and enrich the communities we serve,” said Brenda Petell, vice president of Community Engagement. “These outstanding nonprofits represent just a portion of the many organizations we support throughout the year to help drive positive work in our communities.”

Picture This

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Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

 

Reaching the Summit

Tonia Butler Perez

The Community College National Legislative Summit on Feb. 5-8 offered Springfield Technical Community College President John Cook and STCC trustees Jynai McDonald and Tonia Butler Perez (pictured at top left) an opportunity to speak with lawmakers about federal priorities, including reducing barriers to receive Pell Grants that help low-income students access higher education. Massachusetts featured a delegation of close to 40 people, including other community-college presidents and trustees as well as staff from the Massachusetts Assoc. of Community Colleges. Pictured at top right, from left: Cook, Butler Perez, U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, and McDonald.

 

 

Brainstorming Visit

American International College (AIC) welcomed representatives from Holyoke Community College (HCC) to its Springfield campus on March 2 to celebrate a transfer agreement they signed last summer and brainstorm ideas for future partnerships. HCC President Christina Royal and AIC President Hubert Benitez (pictured at left) and a cadre of faculty and staff from both colleges toured the AIC campus and then sat down to talk over lunch. Last June, the two colleges signed an articulation agreement to make it easier and less expensive for HCC students to transfer to AIC through the latter’s Direct Connect program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closer to the Goal

Last week, Girls Inc. of the Valley hosted a milestone event to provide campaign fundraising updates for its new location at 480 Hampden St. in Holyoke. Mayor Joshua Garcia, state Rep. Patricia Duffy, and (pictured, from left) campaign co-chairs Bernadette Harrigan and Cynthia Medina-Carson made remarks, and the fundraising thermometer sign was updated as the campaign has now reached 90% of its $5 million goal. PeoplesBank will be financing the project through a loan to Girls Inc. of the Valley, in addition to a tax-exempt bond from MassDevelopment. This campaign launched in 2018 with a mission to expand the physical footprint of Girls Inc. of the Valley and establish a permanent headquarters in Holyoke, allowing it to serve a larger community. 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Basic Needs

In partnership with Holyoke Community College (HCC), United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) recently opened a pantry providing shelf-stable food for Holyoke residents in the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center (PAFEC) at 206 Maple St. The PAFEC Cupboard is open on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment. In a geographic area with significant need for food, this pantry opened just as extra COVID-19 SNAP benefits came to an end on March 2. UWPV also operates the Chicopee Cupboard at 226 Exchange St. in Chicopee, as well as the Springfield Cupboard at 1441 Main St. in Springfield.