We don’t always see them, and they don’t always reach out for help, yet countless families and individuals in Berkshire County are without heat as we approach the coldest, darkest months of the year. While the extended warm fall made this year less severe leading up to the holidays, the coming months will likely present more challenges.
Fortunately, Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)—incorporated in 1966 under President Johnson’s “war on poverty” as the Community Action Agency for Berkshire County—is here to help across three locations: two in Pittsfield (1531 East Street and, coming soon, 14 Maplewood Avenue) and one in North Adams (85 Main Street).
With a vision of self-sufficiency and dignity for all, the nonprofit’s stated mission is to work with communities throughout Berkshire County “to find creative, sustainable solutions that promote economic stability and alleviate the destabilizing effects of poverty.” Voted Best Community Service Organization by Best of the Berks in October 2024, the organization is still going strong, serving nearly 12,000 families each year, almost six decades later.
A tale of two counties
It may be easy to miss when you come to the Berkshires during the summer months or peak ski season, but the economic disparity between year-round and part-time residents is widening. As reported by the Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council, approximately 14,000 people in Berkshire County live in poverty, 1,800 are without a vehicle, 9,800 over 65 live alone, and 20,000 have one or more disabilities that significantly impact daily living. These economic realities make many full-time residents much more vulnerable during winter…