Editor’s note: Last week we wrote about the great need for volunteer help, as reported to us by three important non-profits — Berkshire Bounty, Berkshire United Way, and the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. Today, we underscore that need with a more personal perspective from an active volunteer.
Now that Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow have ended their summer seasons, as have many other cultural institutions in the Berkshires, what’s there to do around here? I know many of my Florida snowbird friends have nested here for the long haul and are wondering the same thing. Well, wonder no more, since this article is full of suggestions on how to spend your time while giving back to the community we all love.
First, let’s start off with some general resources.
The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC), publishes the Giving Back Guide, an online resource that lists all the local organizations in the area with general information about their missions and needs. According to NPC’s founder, Liana Toscanini, “This online tool couldn’t come at a better time for Berkshire County, which has no county-wide volunteer service. People really want to help during this pandemic but they need information about volunteer opportunities, items needed, and the types of needs in our community.”
Berkshire United Way maintains an online volunteer center with a list of hundreds of agencies in the area that need volunteer assistance, ranging from tutoring and delivering food, to ushering and helping out with horse maintenance. Its website serves as a matching service; you can search opportunities and choose what best fits your interests and schedule. The United Way recently hired an enthusiastic volunteer director, Brenda Petell, who would be happy to assist you in your search.
As for some specific organizations, the Literacy Network of South Berkshire, or LitNet for short, is a great way you can help local residents who need to improve their English language skills. According to Leigh Doherty, executive director, the recent influx of non-native speakers into our area has increased the need for tutoring assistance, which can take place either in-person or remotely. No prior tutoring background is required, as LitNet will train you and connect you to experienced tutors for further mentoring.
LitNet volunteer Leslie Jameson echoed that when she said, “I was concerned at first since I have no background in ESOL, but the experienced tutors and the LitNet director have been a great resource to me.” I also volunteer for LitNet and look forward to talking with my student each week. She is a housekeeper at a hotel, trying to get a better job but held back by her limited English ability. Here is a quote from a LitNet success story: “LitNet was truly life-changing for me. When I first came to the U.S., my English ability was very poor. But with LitNet’s help, I was able to obtain employment and citizenship. Now I have worked my way up to being the senior general manager and regional captain for a senior living company. ”
Berkshire Bounty, located in Great Barrington, works to pick up food donations in the area and deliver them to neighborhood sites, such as The People’s Pantry at Saint James Place in Great Barrington, where they are distributed. Both organizations consistently need volunteers who can come in for a shift or commit to a more regular schedule. Jenny Schwartz, operations director for Berkshire Bounty, sends regular communications to volunteers with driving and packing needs for the week so it doesn’t require a regular commitment to volunteer with this organization. One fall, my husband and I participated in a “gleaning,” which involved picking apples from a local orchard to be baked into pies by a local church and then donated. This was a great fall activity I wouldn’t have normally participated in!
Another local organization in need of volunteers is Volunteers in Medicine, or VIM. It is estimated that 20 percent of Massachusetts residents are uninsured at least part of the year and VIM makes up that deficit by treating over 1,000 Berkshire county patients who need medical services. Although they routinely need volunteer medical professionals, they also are currently recruiting drivers to take clients to medical appointments, receptionists, and any bilingual individuals to help with their multi-cultural clientele. The need for their services has been especially important during COVID as they have been providing not just vaccines but also funding for rent, utilities, and childcare for their patients.
The Berkshire Center for Justice, established in 2006 by Great Barrington attorney Eve Schatz, serves those in need of low-cost and/or pro bono legal services. Schatz, the sole attorney in this organization, notes that the pandemic has heightened the need for her services in evictions, foreclosures, and bankruptcies. Recently, Schatz negotiated an agreement avoiding eviction on behalf of a client suffering from cancer. She welcomes any local attorneys who can assist to reach out, but also is in need of individuals with technical and financial expertise to continue to meet the growing needs of the community.
This is just a small sample of local organizations who serve so many in our community. If you are able to give a little of your time this fall, check out the resources listed above or one of the nonprofits mentioned. As volunteer Leslie Jameson said, “My time with my LitNet learner has been both enjoyable and rewarding to me as I get to know him better, and feel I am making a difference in his life.”
