Great Barrington — For Joan Peters, director of Great Barrington’s Claire Teague Senior Center, the facility has seen extra activity over the last 48 hours. A call to the public for gift cards, water, sports drinks, fruit and packaged foods went out on November 19, with those goods to be delivered to crews fighting the Butternut Fire.
“It’s been nonstop, nonstop the amount of people coming in and out,” Peters said of the delivered donations. “I’ve been in this community a long time. I’ve seen the outpouring that we are always so blessed to receive. People are shining.”
The water and sports drinks are dropped off immediately at the former Great Barrington Fairground, the command center for the wildfire, which is where it is needed most, she said. According to Peters, staff made six round trips of goods on November 20 and, by 10 a.m. on November 21, had already sent over two cars full.
Although the Senior Center has received requested fruit, Peters is asking that donors consider dropping off gift cards that can be used without an expiration date as much of the fruit already received is perishable.
“It’s amazing to me how, in times like this, we just see the beauty of the community that we live in,” Peters said.
Food and monetary donations for firefighters can be brought to the Claire Teague Senior Center at 917 Main Street in Great Barrington. The center is accepting water, fruit, sports drinks, cash, gift cards, and packaged foods only. Homemade and prepared foods will not be accepted. For more information, call (413) 528-1881.
Bottled water for active firefighters can be dropped off at the former Great Barrington Fairgrounds on 684 South Main Street.
