Pittsfield, MA, December 18, 2020 - Berkshire Bank, a purpose-driven 21st-century community bank with locations primarily in New England and New York, announced that its Foundation will make $130,000 in donations to Food Banks in communities across its markets to address the increased demand for food assistance resulting from COVID-19. These additional contributions raise the bank’s financial commitment to addressing food insecurity to more than $180,000 in 2020.
The pandemic has severely impacted all of the communities that Berkshire Bank serves, and food insecurity remains a considerable need. As a result, food banks face significant increased demand for services. These funds will allow food banks to continue to support the local food pantries that directly provide emergency relief and feeding assistance in the communities where Berkshire Bank employees and customers live and work. The organizations receiving support include:
Connecticut
HARTFORD CONNECTICUT
FoodShare - Bloomfield, CT
EASTERN CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND
Connecticut Food Bank - Wallingford, CT
Rhode Island Community Food Bank - Providence, RI
Massachusetts
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS & BOSTON METRO
The Greater Boston Food Bank - Boston, MA
Merrimack Valley Food Bank - Lowell, MA
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester County Food Bank - Shrewsbury, MA
BERKSHIRE COUNTY AND PIONEER VALLEY MASSACHUSETTS
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Inc. - Hatfield, MA
MID ATLANTIC
MID ATLANTIC
Mercer Street Friends Food Bank - Ewing Township, NJ
Philabundance - Philadelphia, PA
New York
ALBANY-CAPITAL AREA NEW YORK
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York - Latham, NY
CENTRAL NEW YORK
Food Bank of Central New York - Syracuse, NY
Utica Food Bank - Utica, NY
VERMONT
VERMONT
Vermont Food Bank - Barre, VT
"At Berkshire Bank, we are committed to supporting our neighbors in need," said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Senior VP, Foundation Director and Regional President. "This pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented number of people finding themselves food insecure, many of them for the first time. We are proud to team up with our local food banks to play a small role assisting individuals impacted by making this donation on behalf of our employees and customers during the holiday season."
Kiely, added, "We would like to recognize and thank all those currently working on the front lines to help our most vulnerable community members meet their basic needs during this challenging time. Berkshire Bank employees regularly volunteer with their local food banks and pantries and hold deep appreciation and respect for the impact they have on our communities."
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank is transforming into a 21st-century community bank as it pursues purpose-driven performance based on its Be FIRST corporate responsibility culture.
Berkshire Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management, investment, and insurance services. The Bank has approximately $12.6 billion in assets and operates 130 branch offices in New England and New York, with an agreement to sell its eight Mid-Atlantic branches. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank and is a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. To learn more, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.