Great Barrington — National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 by President Richard Nixon in order to urge people to volunteer their time to community outreach organizations across the country.
Every year since 1974, the sitting president has issued a proclamation declaring and celebrating the work of volunteers. “Volunteering defines America,” President Joseph R. Biden wrote in this year’s proclamation. “Our Nation is a place where light triumphs over darkness, where we seek to lift everyone up, and where we lead not by the example of our power but by the power of our example. Volunteering brings people together, uniting us around our common belief in the dignity and equality of every person and giving us a chance to learn from others we might otherwise never meet.”
To coincide with this year’s National Volunteer Week, the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and Berkshire United Way co-organized its annual Volunteer Fair, which was held on Friday, April 21 at Crissey Farm. Over 30 nonprofit organizations took part in the event, which was held in order to promote volunteerism and to connect potential volunteers to local organizations. “Every nonprofit needs volunteers and every municipality needs volunteers,” Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires founder and Executive Director Liana Toscanini said. “Volunteerism is down nationwide, which is due to the pandemic. We want people to know that volunteering is a really good way to [build] community both for yourself and others.”
“There are never enough volunteers for all of the organizations that we have in the Berkshires,” Berkshire United Way Director of Volunteer Engagement Brenda Petell said. “It’s really important to connect individuals with nonprofit organizations that need help. There are so many reasons that volunteerism is good. Science has proven that volunteering is good for your health because it makes you and others feel good.”
Tom Bernard, President and CEO of the Berkshire United Way, said that volunteers “are the heartbeat” of their communities.
“You may not have the dollars to give to nonprofits, but if you have the time and the talent, there is no shortage of organizations that you can help,” Bernard said. “I believe that the work that nonprofits do in the Berkshires is part of the economic development in the area. These organizations create a stable foundation for everyone to thrive in this area.”
Organizations from all across the Berkshires took part in the April 21 event, including Blue Rider Stables. “We are always looking for help,” organization board member Don Chester said. “We can’t live without volunteers. Everything we do is based on contributions, whether it’s monetary, labor, or participation.”
“A fair like this is a fantastic way for us to get the word out about the programs that we offer,” 18 Degrees Mentor Coordinator Gail Krumpholz said. “Our volunteer rate is slowly coming up for us. We are happy that we are seeing people coming back out and volunteering for great causes.”
“Volunteers are hugely important to our agency,” Hospice Care in the Berkshires Social Worker Lori Johnson said. “I do think it’s nice to see all of these organizations here together after the pandemic that provide all these wonderful different types of services.”
“The Berkshires are able to function all because of nonprofit organizations,” Construct Inc. board member Betty Farbman said. “Even at our organization, if people call us for things that have nothing to do with shelter, we have a list of resources that we refer people to. There are so many great organizations that we refer people to.”
“Volunteers are amazingly important to our organization and all organizations,” Literacy Network of South Berkshire Executive Director Leigh Doherty said. “Volunteering is awesome, and in the Berkshires we are lucky because there are tons of different opportunities in our community, so people can choose the way they want to volunteer.”
Director of Operations and Finance for Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires Michele McAuley said that her organization would not be able to operate without the work of its volunteers. “We don’t charge patients for our services, so if we didn’t have volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” McAuley said. “All of these organizations have collaborations between each other where we share volunteers. Together, we make the Berkshires a good place to live.”
“Volunteers are basically the reason why we have been able to stay open,” Director of Operations for the Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum Haley Barbieri said. “We rely on volunteers to lead tours and to help us prepare for events. It’s incredible that we have so many nonprofit organizations in this area.”
“We need volunteers because we use them at every single one of our performances,” Great Barrington Public Theater Managing Director Tristan Wilson said. “We have a great coalition of people in the area because of all of these volunteer organizations.”
“Volunteers are the cornerstone of our organization,” Berkshire Bounty Executive Director Morgan Ovitsky said. “Volunteers help us to move food from retailers to the food pantries that we serve. There are hungry people out there who rely on our volunteers who all do the bulk of our daily operations.”
“We’re a relatively new organization, and we need volunteers to help with our mission,” said Berkshire Pride representative Shaun Mosley. “We are planning a huge Pride Festival on June 3 at the Pittsfield Commons. We need a lot of support to be able to have an amazing event that supports our LGBTQA+ community in a safe and supportive way.”
Berkshire HorseWorks founder and Executive Director Hayley Sumner said that organizations and volunteers working together is the backbone of all nonprofit organizations in the Berkshires. “For us, we need volunteers not just working with our horses,” Sumner said. “We also need people to help write grants, office work, and strategic planning. We have been operating for 10 years, and volunteers are critical for us.”
“Volunteers are so critical for us right now,” Claire Teague Senior Center Administrative Assistant Joan Peters said. “My time volunteering in our community has been more rewarding than anything else. Connecting with other human beings in our community is crucial.”
“We always need volunteers,” Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups through Education (BRIDGE) Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Wright said. “During the pandemic, we had quite a few volunteers because some of the local organizations had shut down, but we had plenty. As people went back to work and back into their offices we found we needed more volunteers.”
“We could not exist without volunteers,” People’s Pantry board member Laura Gratz said. “If you look around at this event today, you will see that our nonprofit community is very strong in the Berkshires.”
“You always forget about how good of a feeling it is to volunteer until you are out in the community and talking to others who volunteer,” Berkshire South Regional Community Center Rentals and Special Events Manager Amanda Leavenworth said. “Sometimes, volunteering is just about getting your foot out of the door and finding a place that fits right.”
“This area depends on groups and nonprofit organizations that have the means to support and lift up the unseen and unheard people of this area,” Director of Racial Fairness Berkshires Inc. Sinead O’Brien said. “We are very lucky to have a very strong structure of nonprofits in this area.”
“Volunteerism is the only way we’re going to be able to change the world,” Dana Ehninger from Walking Our Talk said. “When you have an investment in something that you’re not necessarily getting paid for, but you believe in it with everything in your heart, it’s very important. These are the people that get things done, move mountains, stand up for injustice and community. They are the people who support all of the good causes in our world.”
