Adult Education
Literacy Network of South Berkshire
100 Main St.
Lee, MA 01238
(413) 243-0471
The volunteers of The Literacy Network of South Berkshire provide one-on-one tutoring to adults in need of basic reading skills, GED preparation and English as a second language. New tutors and students are always welcome. Training and materials are provided.
Construct
41 Mahaiwe St.
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-1985
www.constructinc.org
Life skills and adult education. Construct provides adult basic education, HiSET instruction, independent living skills & job finding assistance, transitional housing, emergency housing assistance.
Elder Services
Elder Services of Berkshire County
877 South Street, Suite 4E
Pittsfield, MA 01201
www.esbci.org
Great Barrington Council on Aging ( COA)/Senior Center
917 South Main Street
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-1881
Social and meal programs, tax preparation, falls prevention, exercise classes, bingo, movies for people age 60-plus.
Egremont Council on Aging
171 Egremont Plain Road
South Egremont, MA
413-528-3488
www.egremont-ma.gov
Social and/or information for people age 60-plus.
Otis Council on Aging
P.O. Box # 237
Otis, MA
413-269-0100 x107
Social, meal programs and/or information. Transportation services for people 60-plus.
Sheffield Council on Aging
25 Cook Road
Sheffield, MA
413-229-7037
email: jamiller@sheffieldMA.gov
Social, meals, blood pressure and foot clinics, games, movies, transportation, exercise classes and/or information for people age 60-plus.
Social Security Administration
78 Center Street, Suite 101
Pittsfield, MA
toll free: 877-319-5709
www.socialsecurity.gov
Food Pantries/Meals
Peoples Pantry
5 Taconic Avenue
Saint James Place
Great Barrington, MA
Open to shoppers Mondays 4:00-5:30 PM and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., the Pantry offers a wide selection of foods including shelf stable items such as pasta, rice, and cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, tuna fish and toiletries. Frozen meats and fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, milk and cheese, are also available.
The People’s Pantry is open to all residents of South Berkshire County. There are no income guidelines and shoppers are welcome to visit once a week all year.
Sheffield Food Pantry
125 Main St.
Sheffield, MA
413-229-8173
Old Parish Church rear entrance – Mondays 9:45 to 10:15 a.m.
Breaking Bread (American Legion Hall Post 340)
Route 7
Sheffield, MA
Hot meal served every Thursday 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Brown Bag Food
917 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-1881
Food bags on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 12:30-3:30 p.m. only.
CHP Family Support Network
442 Stockbridge Rd.
Great Barrington, MA
413-644-0104 x1160
email: wic@chpberkshires.org
Project Milk – emergency food package (3 days for 4 people) pick up at GB Price Chopper Food table. Day-old & overstock food delivered on Tuesday.
Guthrie Center
2 VanDeusenville Rd.
Housatonic, MA
413-528-1955
www.guthriecenter.org/programs/
Community lunch – Wednesdays 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Thanksgiving meal
WIC – Women, Infants & Children
442 Stockbridge Road
Great Barrington, MA
Berkshire South 413-528-0457 x1146
toll-free: 800-WIC-1007
Nutritional counseling, checks to buy healthy food.
Neighbor-to-Neighbor (N2N)
Neighbor-to-Neighbor provides emergency one-time assistance for local residents who are in economic distress. Neighbor-to-Neighbor makes small grants (generally around $500) to help those with overdue utilities, medical bills, short-term housing costs, and transportation problems.
Employment Services
Berkshire Jobs
www.berkshirejobs.com
Alcoholism/Substance Abuse
Patrick Miller Youth Substance Abuse Program (Brien Center)
60 Cottage St.
Great Barrington, MA
24 hr. Crisis 800-252-0227
www.briencenter.org
Assessment, intervention and treatment to adolescents with substance issues.
Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)
30 Stockbridge Road, Unit 3
Great Barrington, MA
413-445-4503 (Monday-Thursday 8:00-11:00)
toll-free: 866-216-6200
www.bcacinc.org
Fuel & emergency assistance, community programs,heating system and energy conservation programs, volunteer income tax preparation (VITA) – seasonal.
Health Services
The Health Connector
toll-free: 800-277-4232
Health insurance for individuals and small businesses.
Porchlight Visiting Nurse Association, Inc. (VNA)
32 Park Street
Lee, MA
413-243-1212
21 High Street, Lee, MA
413-243-1122
www.porchlighthomecare.org
Skilled nursing, intravenous therapy, social work, home health aid, medical social work.
Volunteers in Medicine
777 Main Street, Suite 4
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-4014
Provide free health care to people living and working in the Berkshire Region who are currently uninsured.
Poison Control
800-222-1222
www.aapcc.org
Expert, fast advice about poison emergencies & questions
Heating/Energy
Citizens Energy
877-563-4645
Offers assistance for oil and gas heat
Immigrants
Berkshire Immigrant Center
88 South St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-445-4881
Support, information and referral for immigrants.
Multicultural BRIDGE
17 Main Street, Suite 2
Lee, MA
413-394-4029
www.multiculturalbridge.org
Provides: workplace development and language classes, education, competency & diversity training, interpreting & translation, immigrant support services, facilitated community conversations & a swap shop.
Legal Services
Berkshire Center for Justice
284 Main Street, Suite 7
Great Barrington, MA
413-854-1955
berkshirecenterforjustice.org
Legal clinics free and open to the public.
Mental Health/Counseling
Counseling Center of the Berkshires
4 Castle Street
Great Barrington, MA
413-499-4090
Counseling resources for individuals and families.
Great Barrington Family Resource Center
141 West Avenue
Great Barrington, MA
(413) 834-1128
Provides free multi-cultural parenting resources, support groups, early childhood services, information and other education and referral programs.
NAMI BC (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)
333 East St.
Pittsfield, MA
413-443-1666
Support and education to families and friends of individuals with mental illness, referral services.
Elizabeth Freeman Center
40 Railroad Street
Great Barrington, MA
413-429-8190
Hotline 24/7 Confidential toll-free: 1-866-401-2425
Services for survivors of domestic & sexual violence and their families: hotline, safe shelter, court advocacy, counseling/advocacy services, visitation programs, violence prevention center, community outreach, education & collaboration.
Transportation
Southern Berkshire Elderly Transportation Corp.
917 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-4773
SBETC provides transportation assistance for elders and disabled persons. Service for 8 towns in Southern Berkshire County (fees/charges).
Veterans Services
American Legion
Post # 68
41 Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield, MA
413-443-9853
Post #340
Rte 7
Sheffield, MA
413-229-8614
Veterans Affairs
334 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-1580
VFW
P.O. Box # 357
Great Barrington, MA
413-528-9701
P.O. Box # 552
Housatonic, MA
413-274-6300