Pittsfield, MA – PITTSFIELD, MA, November 14, 2016 – Berkshire Bank has launched its fifth "Season of Giving", the Bank's annual initiative to assist children and families in need during the holiday season. The campaign runs through the end of the holiday season and engages Bank employees in a variety of community service projects throughout the cities and towns that Berkshire Bank serves. These projects benefit nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, and the Mid-Atlantic region.
In addition to local volunteer efforts, Berkshire Bank is inviting the public to participate in the initiative through You Give Goods, an innovative virtual collection site. Individuals can purchase goods online for a selected nonprofit organization in their region through early December. Purchases are 100% tax deductible and items are shipped directly to the organizations. To participate, simply visit www.yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank. Berkshire Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of Berkshire Bank, also plans to contribute grants to local nonprofit organizations serving those in need this holiday season.
Local activities, organized by Bank employees in each of its geographic markets, include:
Berkshire County, MA – Bank offices are supporting local children in need this holiday season by collecting unwrapped new toys for the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots. Donations can be dropped off at any Berkshire Bank location in Berkshire County through December 16 or purchased online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 6. Additionally, Bank employees will help distribute Thanksgiving meals, assemble bikes for children in partnership with Berkshire Theatre Group, and take a turn ringing the bell for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign. Employees also plan to assist the Salvation Army in giving out Christmas gifts and food to families in need.
Pioneer Valley, MA – Bank employees have teamed up with the Department of Children & Families to collect gifts for local families in need. All community members are welcome to participate by stopping by their local Berkshire Bank office and choosing items from the Giving Tree. Donations can be dropped off at any Berkshire Bank location in the Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties through December 16, or purchased online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 6. Bank employees will also volunteer their time with a variety of local non-profit organizations during the holiday season, including Wreathes Across America and the Salvation Army.
Vermont – Bank employees and community members can donate non-perishable food to the Vermont Foodbank through You Give Goods, which Bank employees will then deliver to its three different locations. The online collection runs through December 9. Additionally, employees will volunteer with several local non-profit organizations including BROC- Community Action in Southwestern Vermont, where they will help cook, package and distribute meals as part of the Feed the Freezer initiative.
Capital District, New York – Bank employees are partnering with the Southern Saratoga Chamber Angels to collect unwrapped new toys for local children in need. The public can participate online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 6. Bank employees will also volunteer their time to help support the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York's Holiday Hunger Appeal, the Hudson Winter Walk and several other nonprofit organizations.
Central New York – Bank employees in the Mohawk Valley are collecting unwrapped new toys for Stuff the Bus, which distributes them to a variety of local non-profit organizations. Bank employees will help with these distribution efforts as part of their volunteer service. Donations can be dropped off at any Berkshire Bank location in the Mohawk Valley through December 16, or purchased online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 6. In East Syracuse, online collection efforts will focus on gathering items that benefit the local elderly population. The public can donate to this effort online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 9. In addition, Bank employees in this area will be sponsoring Thanksgiving meals for several families.
Connecticut – Berkshire Bank has teamed up with Foodshare, a food pantry serving all of Greater Hartford, to collect non-perishable food items. Donations can be dropped off at any Berkshire Bank location in Connecticut through December 16, or purchased online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 9. Bank employees will sort donated food items at the Glastonbury Food Pantry and help distribute turkeys at the Newington Food Pantry in addition to other service activities.
Central MA - Berkshire Bank is partnering with the Tri-County United Way and the Westborough Food Pantry to collect non-perishable food items for individuals throughout the region. Donations can be dropped off at any Berkshire Bank location in Central, MA through December 16, or purchased online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 9. Bank employees will volunteer at the Marlborough Community Cupboard and encourage children's literacy by participating in the Tri-County United Way's Ready to Read program.
Eastern MA - Berkshire Bank is teaming up with the Newton Food Pantry to collect non-perishable food for individuals throughout the region. The public can participate online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 9. In addition, Bank employees will help Lazarus House assemble and distribute Thanksgiving meals, and work on several projects benefiting other local non-profits during the holidays.
Mid-Atlantic Region - Employees at Berkshire Bank's partner, 44 Business Capital, will be collecting unwrapped new toys through You Give Goods to benefit the Drueding Center's holiday drive. The public can participate online at yougivegoods.com/berkshirebank through December 9. Employees also plan to complete several volunteer projects with non-profit organizations in the area.
About Berkshire Bank Foundation
Through foundation grants to non-profits, scholarships to students, environmental programs, and employee volunteerism, Berkshire Bank is making a difference. Each year the Foundation donates over $1.8 million to nonprofits in the Bank's footprint and employees provide over 40,000 hours of volunteer service. Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts Most Charitable Companies in 2016 by the Boston Business Journal. To learn more about Berkshire Bank Foundation, visit https://clicktime.cloud.postoffice.net/clicktime.php?X=XID272ukNPqJ0799Xd3&U=www.berkshirebank.com%2Fcommunity&T=
BERK&HV=X,U,T,S&H=1eb6bbe29ca82a7e314bc26fe56e53e61f72e9f4&S=Y
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank, America's Most Exciting Bank®. The Company, recognized for its entrepreneurial approach and distinctive culture, has $7.9 billion in assets and 91 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. The company has a pending agreement to acquire First Choice Bank, a $1.1 billion bank with eight branches in Princeton, New Jersey area and a national mortgage originations subsidiary. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Berkshire Bank is the official bank of NESN's Boston Bruins coverage.
Contact: Heidi Higgins
Berkshire Bank
Phone: (413) 236-3756
E-Mail: hhiggins@berkshirebank.com
Vanessa Pesa
Berkshire Bank
Phone: 413-447-1851
E-Mail: vpesa@berkshirebank.com