Dear Northern Berkshire,

The weekly e-zine offers updates about our upcoming programming, local events of interest, and area agencies and resources

IN THIS EDITION

1. Events for today through next Wednesday
2. Save the Date: Upcoming Events
3. New Resources & Agency Updates
4. Food Access & Distribution Sites
5. Additional resources and resource updates

For a more comprehensive guide to ongoing area resources, please download the nbCC's Community Resource Guide. The guide can be found in both English and Spanish versions on our site and linked in the section below.

Do you have an event or resource you'd like to see included? Send an email to phzine@nbccoalition.org.

Want to read this email in your browser? View this as a web page.

NOTE: Remember to click on the "[Message clipped]  View entire message" link at the bottom of the page to read the entire newsletter.

nbCC's Community Resource Guide is out now in English 2022 Edition and Spanish 2022 Edition is available for download below.

It's a FREE, comprehensive, 44-page booklet that can help you find the right community resource to help yourself or your neighbor, whether it's food access, legal services, elder services, veterans services, immigrant support services, health care, substance use, or youth programming (just to name a few).

Call us at 413-663-7588 to pick up a copy (or multiple copies), or download the PDF of the English version here, and the Spanish version here.

11:30 AM | Chair Yoga | 60+ Years

Chair yoga; Thursdays at 11:30 for everyone 60 and over. 712 West Cross Road, Clarksburg. Work at your own level and pace. Donation.The class is free and open to everyone age 60 and over.

7:30AM | Eagle Street Coffee Date

It's that time of year again, when we get to come together, make new friends, caffeinate ourselves, and appreciate the warm months in our NAMAzing City at our favorite little downtown community location.

We are excited to kick off the 5th season of this loved community event.

These events are FREE and open to the public, so come on by, and bring a friend!

10AM | Adams Free Library Storytime | Preschoolers

Every Friday at 10AM in the Lower Annex Meeting RoomTalk, sing, read, write, and play with us! Preschoolers and their caregivers are invited to join us for fun songs, rhymes, stories, finger plays, and crafts all designed to build early literacy skills.This is a free program hosted by the Adams Free Library

5-8 PM | First Friday: Community Picnic | Everyone

Grab some takeout from a local establishment, or bring your own food and eat and drink with your community! 

Tables will line Eagle Street to create a Community Picnic! 

Plus street games, live music, face painting, a bouncy house for kids, gallery openings, and downtown shop specials and events! 

In addition to local restaurant offerings:

North Adams based Migration Taco Truck will be sell vegan Mexican food and Mr. Ding-A-Ling will be serving up ice cream on Eagle Street.  

Village Pizza and Jack’s Hot Dog’s will provide outdoor seating.

The Eagle Street Lounge will serve beer and wine. (Alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed outside of the Eagle Street closure.

Free music performance by Five Pound Horse

6-6:30PM | Downtown Bike Around | Everyone

Downtown Bike Around * NEW DAY/TIME* 

1st Friday of the month, 6:00- 6:30 pm, Meeting on Eagle Street, North Adams (check FB for weather cancellations)

Join us for the return of the Downtown Bike Around, a free, monthly, community group bike ride, suitable for all ages. Meeting on Eagle Street during First Friday. Weather permitting. Bikes available if needed. Call us at 413-663-7588 or jbyrne@nbccoalition.org

9AM - 1PM | North Adams Farmers Market

The market is BACK in our summer home at the St. Anthony parking lot (corner of St. Anthony Dr./ Marshall St.)

Join us every Saturday through October, rain or shine, to shop local farms and food producers for fresh local veggies, fruits, eggs, breads, baked goods, meats, honey, syrup, jams, jellies, pickles and more, plus a rotating variety of local crafters.

The market PROUDLY accepts HIP, Wic & Senior Coupons, and SNAP and we DOUBLE SNAP up to $30! https://www.facebook.com/NorthAdamsFarmersMarket

9AM - 1PM | Williamstown Farmers Market

The market is BACK in its summer home at the parking lot by Lickety Split at the bottom of Spring Street in Williamstown.

Join us every Saturday , rain or shine, to shop local farms and food producers for fresh local veggies, fruits, eggs, breads, baked goods, meats, honey, syrup, jams, jellies, pickles and more, plus a rotating variety of local crafters. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamstownFarmersMarket

9:30-11AM | Growing Healthy Gardens Community Gardening

Join other gardening enthusiasts in caring for and enjoying the many community garden beds near the UNO Community Center and River Street. The group meets every Saturday. For more information call: 413-663-8131

9:30AM - 1:30PM | Mini Makers Market

Greylock WORKS' mini maker market returns to the Berkshires! Find a synergetic group of local artisan vendors set up inside the doors of our 135+ year old, stunningly renovated mill building.

Held every Sunday from 9:30am - 1:30pm. Enjoy thoughtfully inspiring food from The Break Room alongside this uniquely intimate shopping experience.

1-2 PM | Pups At the Park | Dogs and their Humans

Berkshire Pup People, we love to play and meet other pups (and humans) who feel the same. That’s why we’re headed to the North Adams dog park every Sunday from 1 - 2pm (ish)! Why don’t you meet us there?

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Please check with individual agencies to see if regular programming is being held today.

10-11 AM | Busy Bees Playgroup Drop-In Playgroup At broad brook playground, Harrison ave. Williamstown

Activities for ages infant-8, siblings always welcome. (cancelled if raining). Join us for play in the gym, activities, story time and songs. Free drop In playgroup. Call 413-664-4821 with any questions.

12:30PM | Balance Class | 60+ Years

Balance Class at the 60+Center (712 West Cross Road) in Clarksburg on Mondays at 12:30.

The class is free and open to everyone age 60 and over.

10-11 AM | Nurturing Families: Positive Discipline

Nurturing Families Parenting Workshops

Registration required. Workshops can be taken separately or consecutively.

Tuesdays, Starting July 11, 10:00-11:00 am, UNO Center, 157 River Street, North Adams.

Registration required. Workshops can be taken separately or consecutively. Space is limited. Contact us at 413-663-7588 or nkennedy@nbccoalition.org

10AM-12PM | Berkshire Nursing Families Baby Group | Breast Feeding Families

free breastfeeding support - hosted by Berkshire Nursing Families Staff in Family Center playroom at 210 State Street North Adams - Call (413) 344-2800 For more information.

2-4PM | Knot Only Knitters Group at the North Adams Public Library located at 74 Church Street. All ages and abilities welcome! Love to crochet or needlepoint? No problem. You do you. Whatever fiber craft you can do from an easy chair, you're welcome to join in! 

4-6 PM | nbCC Bike Collective Open Hours

The Bike Collective is BACK to a weekly schedule!

Located at the Armory, 206 Ashland St., North Adams.

Bring your own bike or work on a bike at the bike collective. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from other community members on basic bike fixes, or team up with more experienced bike mechanics to rebuild a bike. Tools and stands are provided. All NB residents are welcome! For more info, call us at 413-663-7588.

4-5:30PM | Bee Friendly Williamstown Weekly Meet-up | is now hosting a weekly opportunity to learn about caring for pollinators and growing pollinator-friendly plants, while working in the pollinator garden at the Spruces: Wednesdays, 4–5:30pm. Please join us for any amount of time to learn about gardening with pollinators in mind. Heavy rain postpones to Thursdays, same time. Questions? beefriendlywilliamstown@gmail.com. To sign up for Bee Friendly Williamstown's newsletter, visit beefriendlywilliamstown.org.

1st & 3rd Fridays in Adams: Movies Under the Stars

Tuesdays in Adams: Live Music at the Visitors Center

Wednesday in North Adams: Live Music at Windsor Lake

New Resources & Agency Updates

North Adams COA August Newsletter

Adams COA August Newsletter

Williamstown COA Facebook Page for Calendar & Updates

Child Care of the Berkshires August Calendar

North Adams Public Library Calendar

Milne Library Calendar



There will be a standout from 5-6:30pm at City Hall to observe International Overdose Awareness Day (8/31/23). A flyer with additional information is attached. 

Northern Berkshire Transport is able to provide free rides to appointments for medication assisted treatment, for medications for opioid use disorder, harm reduction services and more. Flyer with additional information and contacts for scheduling rides is attached. 

Resharing~ NB EMS has a partnership with Berkshire Post Overdose Program (BPOP) to send teams out and provide outreach to those who have recently experienced an overdose and/or are at risk for future overdose. 

 Outreach:

• Wellness checks
• Overdose education and Narcan leave behind
• Linkage to recovery supports
• Harm Reduction
• Treatment resources
• Linkage to additional community resources

Services to be offered in the field include, but are not limited to:

• Naloxone leave-behind/ training

• Provide a written resource guide such as the BOAPC palm card

• Provide a wellness check, including wound care and other health needs that can be addressed in the field by EMTs and Paramedics

• Check-in on current use / recovery. This could include offering harm reduction supplies, such as clean needles or safer smoking supplies, and a “warm hand-off” to a treatment/ recovery provider if the person is interested.

• Create an “Overdose Safety Plan” for the person, potentially involving family, friends and/or others in the building

• For those who voluntarily disclose they are in treatment, discuss challenges they may be facing and provide direct support to help overcome them (ie connection to transportation, assistance with forms,

etc) as well as additional options to consider (ie other recovery options, connection to Sublocade, etc)

• Linkage for other needs, such as social workers, housing agencies, mental health services and/or domestic violence resources, along with other ways to get them out into the community

Communities serviced at this time: North Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, Williamstown, Hancock, New Ashford, Monroe and Rowe. Please return any referrals directly to aoneil@northadamsambulance.com or they can be dropped off at 10 Harris St North Adams Ma. 

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED:

The Mass Department of Public Health’s Community Health Equity Survey (CHES) has just been launched. We need to make sure we have rural voices and experiences in the survey results too! We sincerely hope you will take the survey, and that as a trusted partner in public health, that you will help us spread the word about it.

Some ways you can help: 

• Send a link to family, friends, and colleagues in Massachusetts 
• Promote the survey on organizational mailing lists 
• Post about survey on social media  
• Post flyers about the survey in places like beauty/barber shops, food pantries, grocery stores 
• Use staff or volunteers to identify and support survey takers 
• Promote the survey in your email signature. Just add “Take the Community Health Equity Survey: mass.gov/HealthSurvey” to your email signature. 



Call for Public Comment: DESE’s Draft Health and Physical Education Framework.

Please support the life skills of walking and biking by sharing your opinion in the education of our student commuters.

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has published their draft health and physical education framework for public comment, the next step in updating guidelines that have been in place since 1999. https://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/health/2023-07-health-draft.pdf

Interested educators, parents, students, and members of the public can submit comments on the draft via this survey https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6646350/Comprehensive-Health-and-Physical-Education-Framework-Public-Comment or by emailing chpef@mass.gov . Public comment ends August 28.

Join the Family Center for a FREE 6-week playgroup to play and learn together. Ages 3-5 and their adults. Tuesdays, Sept. 5-Oct. 10, 3:30-4:30pm in the Family Center Playroom at 210 State Street, North Adams. Please register at 413-664-4821.

The Greylock Hillclimb is happening on September 9th and they are looking for volunteers! Please consider donating your Saturday morning to this endeavor. It's a great spectator event, and there's no better way to spectate than to be a part of the event! Plus you will receive a post-race lunch provided by Freight Yard Pub, an event t-shirt and more.

Please take a moment to grab one of the available volunteer spots here:

https://volunteersignup.org/KQWMK



Berkshire United Way is collecting a list of opportunities that are teen friendly.

https://www.volunteerberkshireuw.org/manager/need/edit/?need_id=821940

To add to the list contact Brenda Petell (she/her/hers)

Director of Volunteer Engagement, M: 413-212-1431

Message from NB EMS: Know someone who recently overdosed? Have you overdosed recently? We can help! NB EMS, in partnership with the Berkshire Post Overdose Program, will outreach to anyone who has recently experienced an overdose and/or is at risk for future overdose. We can provide wellness checks, overdose education and naloxone kits, links to recovery support, harm reduction (including supplies), treatment resource, community engagement outlets, overdose safety plans.. Find out more: 413-398-9155 or aoneil@northadamsambulance.com

The Adams Theater is offering FREE student tickets and community passes to their 2023 season. Available upon request at info@adamstheater.org

Welcome North County Residents!

Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont would love to meet you. Our career center is open on Thursday from 9:00-4:00 p.m.

 Drop in and meet Kelly Brennan, Director of Mission Services and learn how she can

help you get ready for a job, build your resume or coach you for your interview.

 (You can also call 413-442-0061 x35 to arrange an appointment on another day)

Is there room in your home and heart for a foster child? There are over 7,000 children in the MA foster care system. The Department of Children and Families is actively recruiting foster parents for children in your community.  We are searching for individuals or families with the love and patience to help foster children. You can be single, married, partnered, divorced or widowed. You can own your home or rent.

Our goal is to provide our foster children with a supportive and healing environment in a home in their own community until they can be reunited with their families or another plan can be made on their behalf. The rewards of providing daily care, guidance and acceptance are immeasurable.

If you are thinking about becoming a foster parent, we urge you to call us today! Your local recruiter can be reached at

(413)387-7192

1800-KIDS-508/ mass.gov/dcf

BCAC has also launched a community needs survey to get feedback to inform their program planning for the next three years.

Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) would like your input.  

Your responses will help us to design or modify our programs to better meet your needs and the needs of our community. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. The information you provide will be confidential and you will/cannot be identified. Your input will help us with our program planning for the next three years. To take the survey, please go to the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T6K8G9N.

MassHire is now hosted in a satellite office in North Adams every Tuesday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at 85 Main Street, Suite 2, North Adams, MA (within the BCAC Office) to offer nearby support to residents of North County by appointment. The following services are available:

·         Career Planning

• Employment Counseling
• Local Job Listings – Updated Daily
• Job Search Assistance
• Online Job Application Assistance
• Labor Market Information
• Occupational Skills Training Information (Eligibility Applies)

And if a customer contacts us needing something that is not listed, we are more than happy to discuss accommodations.CALL TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME TODAY! REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Call MassHire Berkshire Career Center at (413) 499-2220 Ext. 110 to book an appointment time. Appointment duration: 30 Minutes

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development understands that our schools are often called upon to assist in connecting families to key resources such as housing, health services and access to food. To assist in helping to connect you with these resources I wanted to share the links to our Massachusetts Housing Resource Guide that is available in both English and Spanish. This guide is also available in hard copy by emailing ma_webmanager@hud.gov. The guide includes information on a number of different housing and homeless services that are available to assist families. All of this information and a fillable online form to request housing support is also available on the BCRHA website: https://bcrha.com

Housing Navigator MA,Inc. is a tech nonprofit that aims to connect housing, tech, and design. Working with owners and public sector partners, we’ve built a database of income-restricted rentals from all over the state. Our work aims to connect people to a place called home by expanding access to affordable rental housing in MA through our work with 40+ owners who list their properties with us.For more information or to explore the site please visit https://housingnavigatorma.org. 

Mass Health has launched a new program called Mitigating the Cost of Housing Program (MATCH).The program will allow clients to receive funds to support moving into a new apartment. This would include all managed care plans (Berkshire Fallon, Tufts Together, CommonWealth Care Alliance, MBHP). 

• Eligible families can receive up to $5500 per member in their family. This means a family of four could get as much as $22,000
• To qualify you must be entering the community:
• Renting an apartment that is not currently in your name (just moving in/new lease)
• This could include new members to the community
• People house sharing
• People just getting out of Rehab, Prison or a Psychiatric Hospitalization
• Homeless and moving into an apartment

For more information and to review eligibility criteria please visit Masshealth's MATCH website. 

North Adams Public Schools is establishing a roster of volunteers for a variety of opportunities in grades PK-12. Volunteer opportunities will vary with regard to time commitment and age groups of students that volunteers will work with. Opportunities can be tailored to meet all interests of all parties and can be short-term or longer-term commitments. Even if you are only available for only a few hours a year, opportunities that are low-commitment but high-impact arise all the time! We will reach out as matching volunteer positions become available. We ask any interested parties to complete this form. If you have questions about the questionnaire or volunteering with NAPS, please email familysupports@napsk12.org.

Berkshire Bounty is a food rescue organization dedicated to collecting, purchasing and delivering nutritious food to emergency food distribution programs countywide. We build capacity, close gaps and improve the quality of food for the food insecure population.

We are seeking volunteers to pick up food from retailers and deliver to food access sites in North County. Volunteers use their own vehicles and commit to a specific day/time and route. See website for more information and to register: https://www.berkshirebounty.org/volunteer

Northern Berkshire Adult Education, located at Drury High School, has openings for adult education, GED preparation, and college and career support classes. Offering morning, afternoon, evening, and remote class options. Prepare to take and pass your GED tests, and get ready to enroll in post-secondary education or career development. Contact our Program Director, Annie Pecor at (413) 412 - 1118 or apecor@napsk12.org and visit us online at https://www.napsk12.org/page/adult-basic-education.

The Massachusetts telehealth service for COVID-19 treatment can now be accessed by a telephone number (833-273-6330) in addition to the website below. The telehealth service can tell you if the COVID-19 pill is right for you, and the pills can be sent to your pharmacy or to your home for free.Please see this new flyer and share this new resource with your residents. Translated versions will be ready soon.

Easy, free care for COVID-19 (color.com)

COVID-19 In-Home Vaccination Program (info link below). This is for anyone who has difficulty getting to,or using a community vaccination location, for whatever reason. This program is available statewide, including the Islands. Ages 6 months and up. (What a great way to get an entire busy family with young kids vaccinated – or folks who have transportation issues- or homebound elders!) More Information. All vaccine types (Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, and J&J) and boosters are available. You can sign up for an appointment by phone at (833) 983-0485 or online. 

 COVID-19 In-Home Vaccination Program | Mass.gov

MassHire is now sitting at the BCAC office every Tuesdays (9am-3pm). They are offering help with job searches (not unemployment). People can make an appointment by calling 413-499-2220. They do also accept walk-ins. Masks are required.

DTA North Adams Satellite Office located at 45 Main Street in North Adams. Effective October 1, the North Adams Satellite Office will be open for business on Tuesdays from 8:45am – 5:00pm; the office will no longer be open on Thursdays, after October 1. The agency will have signs on the door to notify clients and will be updating the mass.gov website.Clients can continue to use the DTA Assistance line 877-382-2363, DTA Connect mobile app and DTAConnect.com for their DTA needs.

BCAC is seeking volunteer van drivers! For those interest in learning more of applying please contact Michelle Sylvester at (413) 418-3675 or email: msylvester@bcacinc.org

FOOD PANTRIES & MEAL SITES

Download a PDF of county-wide food pantry and meal site resources here. (Updated August 7, 2023)

En Espanol

Link to Kids Eat Free Summer 2023 pick-up locations

ADAMS

• 2nd & 4th TUESDAYS, 10-11 AM: The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Mobile Food Bank PANTRY, Adams: Adams Council on Aging/Adams Visitors’ Center, 3 Hoosac Street 413-247-9738, ext. 121; No proof of eligibility required. Must be Berkshire County resident. One distribution per household.
• MON. - THURS. Congregate meals MEAL SITE at 11:30AM. FRI. GRAB & GO MEALS: Adams COA, 3 Hoosac Street, Adams 413-743-8333. Mondays thru Fridays. Congregate meals available for grab & go. Must call Adams COA 24 hours prior.

CHESHIRE

• 1st SATURDAYS, 11AM-Noon: Cheshire Food PANTRY at the Cheshire Community Center, 119 School Street, Cheshire 413-743-9719. Available to all Cheshire residents with proof of residency. Emergency food is also available.
• MON. thru FRI., 10:15AM-Noon: GRAB & GO MEAL SITE: Cheshire COA Cheshire Community Center, 119 School Street, Cheshire 413-743-9719. Congregate meals available for grab & go. Must call Cheshire COA.

NORTH ADAMS

• TUESDAY, Noon-3 PM for In-Person / (*WEDNESDAYS, Noon-2 PM for delivery) | PANTRY The Salvation Army Gateway New Life Center 393 River Street, North Adams. For Emergency Pantry please call 413-663-7987. Deliveries on Wednesdays.*Call 413-663-7987 on Tuesdays 10:00am-noon to schedule a delivery. For North County residents only.
• WEDNESDAYS, 10 AM - 2 PM for In-Person / *THURSDAYS, 9:30AM -Noon for Delivery | PANTRY Al Nelson Friendship Center 45 Eagle Street, North Adams, 413-664-0123. Go to the First Baptist Church (Eagles St. entrance) for intake and menu completion. *Those who cannot physically come to the pantry may call 413-664-0123 on Wednesday from 9:30am-2:00pm to set up a delivery for Thursday between 9:30am-Noon. Boxes are pre-packaged based on household size for Thursday deliveries. Please specify cans or no cans. Due to COVID rates we can no longer offer rides home. We will post updates on FACEBOOK. IF UNVACCINATED, PLEASE WEAR A MASK.
• 4th WEDNESDAYS, 5 - 6:30 PM (multiple locations) | PANTRY Berkshire Dream Center Mobile Food 413-522-3495. North Adams Locations: Mohawk Forest at 5:00pm, Brayton Hill at 5:45pm, Greylock at 6:30pm. No requirements.
• 1st & 3rd FRIDAYS, 10-11 AM | PANTRY The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Mobile Food Bank Brien Center Lot, 124 American Legion Drive, North Adams 413-247-9738, ext. 121; No proof of eligibility required. One distribution per household.
• Berkshire Food Project MEAL SITE | MON./WED./THURS./FRI. 11:30 AM - 1 PM: First Congregational Church of N. Adams, 134 Main Street, North Adams 413-664-7378. * Now returned to in-house seated dining.
• First Baptist Church Community Soup Kitchen MEAL SITE | SATURDAY, 11 AM - 12:30 PM: Eagle Street Entrance, 131 Main St., North Adams, 413-652-7619.
• North Adams COA Congregate meals are Monday through Friday starting at 11:30am.
• North Adams COA Brown Bag distribution will be at the Spitzer Center at 116 Ashland Street on 4th Fridays from 12:30-1:30PM..

WILLIAMSTOWN

• Williamstown Food PANTRY | 1st & 3rd WEDNESDAYS, 9AM-Noon: at St. Patrick & St. Raphael Parish, 53 Southworth Street, Williamstown, 413-458-4946, x11 or 413-458-3149. Drive or walk-thru. Assistance to residents of Hancock, New Ashford, Williamstown, and Pownal, VT.
• Community Bible Church PANTRY. 3rd WEDNESDAYS, Noon-2 PM: 160 Bridges Road, Williamstown, 413-458-5556. Must be a Mass. residents.

OTHER FOOD PROGRAMS

Brown Bag Program: Supplemental monthly food program for eligible 55+ yr. olds, free or for a small donation. For income eligibility requirements or more information, call your Council on Aging.

Elder Services’ Elder Nutrition Program: Noontime meals for those 60+ years of age at several senior centers throughout the County.Call Elder Services of Berkshire County for details and locations at 413-499-0524 or 1-800-981-5201.

Elder Services’ Meals on Wheels Program: Nutritious, hot noontime meals offered Monday - Friday to homebound Berkshire seniors, 60 years of age or older. A suggested donation of $2.00 is requested to help cover the cost of food preparation and delivery. There are eligibility requirements. Please call Elder Services of Berkshire County at 413-499-0524 to make a referral for yourself, family member or friend.

Take and Eat Program: For homebound individuals 60+ years of age, unable to prepare meals, shop, or get out. Meals are delivered on Sundays and are provided for weekends and three-day holiday weekends. More info.: Kathleen Ryan at 413-672-1404 or 413-664-1041

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

• The Massachusetts telehealth service for COVID-19 treatment can now be accessed by a telephone number (833-273-6330) in addition to the website below. The telehealth service can tell you if the COVID-19 pill is right for you, and the pills can be sent to your pharmacy or to your home for free.Please see this new flyer and share this new resource with your residents. Translated versions will be ready soon.Easy, free care for COVID-19 (color.com)
• The Ecu-Health Care office doors are open.If you or someone you know is looking for public health insurance options such as coverage through MassHealth of Massachusetts Health Connector we may be able to help. MassHealth not only provides health insurance coverage but may also provide “Premium Assistance” to qualifying individuals who are enrolled in employer plans. Ecu-Health Care provides a free public service and is available to assist with applications, annual reviews and renewals, plan selection and enrollment, submission of requests for information or just general information. Give us a call at 663-8711 to schedule an appointment with one of our Health Coverage Counselors. The Ecu-Health Care staff wishes you and your families all the best during this difficult time.”
• MassHealth has expanded eligibility and coverage in response to COVID19. See the MassHealth website for more information. 
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Berkshire County Warm Line, 413-445-1136 Call center accepts calls until 8PM. If operators are not available, callers will receive a callback within 24 hrs. Information is confidential.
• SafeLink is Massachusetts's statewide 24/7 toll-free domestic violence hotline. Confidential and anonymous. 1-877-785-2020. For more resources, visit here.
• Elizabeth Freeman Domestic Violence Prevention Center: (866) 401-2425; website
• Department of Children and Families: (413) 236-1800; website
• Al-Anon meetings are being held virtually. Visit the Berkshire Al-Anon website .
• The Massachusetts Smokers' Helpline Receive up to $50(total) of gift cards for completing coaching call series. More info. or call 1-800-Quit-Now to enroll.
• For more info. on nicotine addiction email Joyce Brewer jbrewer@berkshireahec.org. 
• MA residents who believe they are victims of fraud or other criminal activity related to the pandemic should contact the United States Attorney's Office at USAMA.victimassistance@usdoj.gov or 888-221-6023. Members of the public can also contact the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) by visiting www.IC3.gov The Consumer Protection Hotline: (617) 727-8400
• Wheels for Wellness - 413-395-0109 Free rides for the elderly, prioritizing health-related activities. For more info., visit the website or call 413-395-0109.

• Funds available for funeral expenses for COVID-19 related deaths. Applications for the benefit begin by calling FEMA's hotline.
• Digital Vaccination Records: Check out MyVaxRecords.Mass.Gov.
• The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone. Register yourself or your child at maimmunizations.org. Download this list of vaccination locations and opportunities.
• CDC COVID Data Tracker: Visit the CDC website for national-, state-, and county-level data on COVID-19.
• Need free transportation to get a vaccine? AdLib, Inc. and County Rainbow Taxi (CRT), offer no-cost transportation to vaccine appointments for Berk. County residents with disabilities. If interested, please call AdLib at 413-442-7047 and leave a message.

YOUTH

• ROOTS Youth Board is looking for new members to join! Participants need to be between 15 and 21 years old. If you have any questions or are interested in joining, contact Youth Board president Alexa Macdonald at rootsybpresident@gmail.com
• Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP): The program is an emergency preparedness module designed to empower youth to prepare for disasters and to train them to become leaders in family preparedness. The program is geared for youth or students in the 4th and 5th grade but can be adapted for other age groups. Materials are available for download here. For further information contact Arlene.magoon@fema.dhs.gov or Jedidiah.fiato@associates.fema.dhs.gov.

FOOD ACCESS

• The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is issuing emergency SNAP (food stamp) supplements to many SNAP households to help buy food during the pandemic crisis. Click here to see if you will get extra SNAP benefits.
• If you are in need of or would like to check on your eligibility for SNAP, please call 413-992-6204. Visit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts website for more information.

FAMILY SUPPORT

• The nbCC Family Resource Center is open! Give us a call at 413-663-7588 if you'd like to learn more about the services we provide, or stop in during our office hours.
• The Family Center, a program of Child Care of the Berkshires, is offering virtual and in-person parent and child groups. Open to the public. Families can call The Family Center to access our FREE Children's Clothing Exchange with sizes 0-10. We can still provide diapers or formula through contactless pick up. Please contact the office by calling 413-664-4821. Visit the Family Center's Facebook page and Instagram page for updates on programming. FREE and open to northern Berkshire families with children under age 8.
• Want to learn more about your child’s development and different activities to help your child learn? Take our free Ages and Stages Questionnaire! Answer questions about your child’s development here: ASQ Online . One of our team members will follow up with your child’s results and different activities you can do to keep your child learning while playing! Questions? Email mbelanger@ccberkshire.org
• Berkshire Community Diaper Project: We would be willing to bring diapers to sites for families who need them. Please contact us by email (daltreyt@gmail.com) or call me at 413-446-5038 
• Berkshire Nursing Families: 413-743 5338, www.berkshirenursingfamilies.org
• Childcare Vouchers are available from Seven Hills Foundation by calling 413-236-5890; or contacting Jean at 508-796-0270, jburris@sevenhills.org, or Mabel at 508-796-0271, mcimini@sevehills.org.
• Department of Early Education and Care: (413) 788-8401
• WIC: 510 North Street & North Adams WIC sites are currently closed until further notice, but we are serving our Participants over the phone. If you do not have a scheduled appointment or if you have questions, please call our Pittsfield office at (413) 447-3495 - if we are unable to answer, please leave a voicemail. We will call you back as soon as possible and apologize for the delay. Find the income eligibility guidelines here. Available in Spanish
• Parents Helping Parents Massachusetts is offering online support groups for parents. Visit the Parents Helping Parents website for more information.
• Parental Stress Line. 24-7, free and confidential. CALL: 800-632-8188. 
• Child Mind Institute: Will My Child Bounce Back From the Coronavirus Crisis? Trauma, resilience and how parents can help. [En Español.]

Adult Education, Job Readiness, Housing and Other Assistance

• Northern Berkshire Adult Education, located at Drury High School, has openings for adult education, GED preparation, and college and career support classes. Offering morning, afternoon, evening, and remote class options. Prepare to take and pass your GED tests, and get ready to enroll in post-secondary education or career development. Contact our Program Director, Annie Pecor at (413) 412 - 1118 or apecor@napsk12.org and visit us online at https://www.napsk12.org/page/adult-basic-education.
• The Department of Unemployment Assistance can be reached at (877) 626-6800. Please reach out if you need assistance. You should apply for unemployment benefits during your first week of total or partial unemployment. Most claims are processed within 21-28 days after filing
• HOUSING
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development understands that our schools are often called upon to assist in connecting families to key resources such as housing, health services and access to food. To assist in helping to connect you with these resources I wanted to share the links to our Massachusetts Housing Resource Guide that is available in both English and Spanish. This guide is also available in hard copy by emailing ma_webmanager@hud.gov. The guide includes information on a number of different housing and homeless services that are available to assist families.
• Attached is the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority scope of services and HCEC intake forms. All of this information and a fillable online form to request housing support is also available on the BCRHA website: https://bcrha.com
• Mass Health has launched a new program called Mitigating the Cost of Housing Program (MATCH).The program will allow clients to receive funds to support moving into a new apartment. This would include all managed care plans (Berkshire Fallon, Tufts Together, CommonWealth Care Alliance, MBHP). 
• Eligible families can receive up to $5500 per member in their family. This means a family of four could get as much as $22,000
• To qualify you must be entering the community:
• Renting an apartment that is not currently in your name (just moving in/new lease)
• This could include new members to the community
• People house sharing
• People just getting out of Rehab, Prison or a Psychiatric Hospitalization
• Homeless and moving into an apartment

For more information and to review eligibility criteria please visit Masshealth's MATCH website. 

• Housing Navigator website: This newly launched website offers information on 2000+ affordable properties across Massachusetts.
• End-of-Eviction-Moratorium Resources: There are resources that can be accessed to support individuals and families that are facing eviction or already in the eviction process. The Housing Consumer Education Center intake forms [PDF] are the entry point for the suite of programs offered through Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority. This is an outline of the various programs that are offered [PDF], including Tenancy Preservation Programs (which can be particularly helpful in cases where there is an eviction due to condemnation by the Board of Health) and the Dispute Resolution Program/Mediation Center. For more information or to access the forms online please visit www.bcrha.com. Folks can call Community Legal Aid staff specializing in housing related issues, toll free (855-252-5342), and can apply online to access services. nbCC's Family Resource Center (FRC) can support families with filing for housing support, housing search and programs that might be helpful through their Family Support Workers. Download their referral form here.
• Community Legal Aid’s CORI and Re-Entry Project of Berkshire County: Having trouble finding or keeping housing or employment because of your Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI)? We may be able to help by assisting you with: sealing and expungement of CORI, public and subsidized housing denials, public and subsidized housing terminations, employment denials, and/or housing discrimination based on substance and alcohol use disorder issues. Contact us at 413-499-1950 or apply online www.communitylegal.org. Download a flyer here.
• Louison House, Inc. For all Housing needs contact Louison House at 413-663-6323, ext. 3 during regular hours. Ext 4 has staff on duty 24/7 for after hours. Louison House provides assistance for individuals for their immediate housing needs in order to support them in obtaining and/or maintaining safe affordable housing.  Email kkeeser@louisonhouse.org to be added to our newsletter list.  
• St Joe’s (Pittsfield Emergency Shelter) Pittsfield, 413-320-6550, website
• Our Friend's House (Shelter for Families) 292 West Street, Pittsfield (413) 499-2877
• The HomeBase Program is a new program designed to provide a housing solution to families who are at serious risk of homelessness, and provide an alternative to going to a family shelter or motel. IF YOU KNOW OF A FAMILY IN A HOUSING CRISIS WHO NEEDS HELP, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE HOMEBASE PROGRAM, YOU CAN CONTACT BCRHA: 1-800-248-9002.
• UTILITY & TAX ASSISTANCE
• The Neighbor to Neighbor Grant is available to assist with unforeseen costs. Individuals work with partner agencies to address costs associated with housing, medical bills, utilities and more.
• Dial 211 for general information about programs that may be available, or visit www.mass211help.org.