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Dear Greylock Together,
We have tried to compile all the helpful local information we could find about life during these disruptive times. There's a number of ways for people to get food and supplies if they are having trouble, opportunities to assist with a blood drive and with food pantries, numbers for restaurants doing curbside pickup, special shopping times at Stop and Shop for the elderly, and the info for the local Covid-19 operations center (for all your questions).
Expect another email in the next few days to try to coordinate further assistance and volunteers. If there's anything else you can think of that might be helpful for folks to know, please reply to this email and tell us.
Food Pantry. The closure of all local elementary and middle-high schools during this public health crisis has unfortunately raised the level of food insecurity in our community. The Williamstown Food Pantry regularly serves the communities of Williamstown, Hancock and Pownal, and its all-volunteer staff distributes groceries the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 9:30 to noon or by special arrangements or emergency calls. The Food Pantry is located at Sts. Patrick and Raphael Parish Center at 53 Southworth Street, next door to the church.
The Food Pantry is expecting a larger than normal demand for its distribution this Wednesday, March 18, and its pantry shelves are not very full at the moment. There is currently a critical shortage of toilet paper (which they have been unable to buy in bulk) and other non-perishable food items.
Checks can be made out to the Williamstown Food Pantry. Checks can be sent to Carol DeMayo, 511 North Street, Williamstown, MA 01267 or mailed to the Sts. Patrick and Raphael Office, 54 Southworth Street, Williamstown, MA 01267. All checks are deposited and then allow the pantry to order in bulk from local grocery stores. All distributions are made in food and other emergency supplies.
Beginning Monday, March 16 and extending through March 27 there will be a drive-up and curbside drop-off location for non-perishable food and dry goods at the Williamstown Youth Center, which will be distributed through the Williamstown Food Pantry.
School Lunches. School District is extending grab-and-go lunch to anyone who needs that assistance (not just students) - they have food & prep capacity. Mount Greylock Regional School District will be offering access to grab-and-go lunches Monday through Friday for the next three weeks. Meals will be available for pick-up at the Lanesborough Elementary School and Williamstown Elementary School main entrances between 9:30 and 10:30 each day. In an attempt to assist the district in planning, you are asked to:
- Call or email the food service department the day before: (413) 458-9582 x1195 or lunches@mgrhs.org
- Leave a message that includes the number of lunches you need and which school will be your pick-up location: Lanesborough Elementary School or Williamstown Elementary School
- Please identify the student name(s) for whom you are picking up meals.
- In order to assist us in advance planning, please indicate whether you will be accessing this meal service over the remaining days (currently only scheduled up to April 6th).
Blood Drive. The South Williamstown Community Association is organizing a blood drive at the South Williamstown Historical Museum on Tuesday, March 24th from 9am - 2pm. All donations made via Berkshire Health Systems help local patients, and for those dealing with cancer, other illnesses, and emergencies, the need is great. Blood donations are needed urgently as many have stopped donating due to COVID-19. Donors are requested to be healthy without any symptoms of cough, cold, or fever. Please schedule an appointment today, which helps prevent long wait times and assists BHS to plan for this event. To sign up, please contact (413) 447-2597 x 2 or camuso@bhs1.org
Stop and Shop. Beginning Thursday March 19th, every Stop and Shop store will be open earlier in order to service customers who are aged 60 and older from 6:00 to 7:30 AM daily. They have made this decision to allow elders the opportunity to shop in a less crowded environment, effectively allowing the process of social distancing to be used. It’s also a time before anyone else enters the building.
There will be a designated entrance, it will be identified as the door to use for this early shopping option. In North Adams, the designated entry will be the door on the produce side of the building, or, if you will, the front door on the left. They will not be checking identification at the door but they ask that the reason for the early opening be respected. Stop and Shop staff do reserve the right to ask anyone who is obviously not an elder to leave the store.
To assist in the facilitation of this process, the Williamstown COA van will be able to bring people to the North Adams Stop and Shop on Tuesday and Thursday weekly starting March 24th and continuing at least until the week of April 6th. Contact the Harper Center at 458.8250 at least before 2:00 PM on the preceding Monday and Wednesday to advise us of your interest.
Op Center. North Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee has set up a COVID-19 Command Center. The purpose of this Center is to coordinate efforts, resources, and information within the region. Stacy Parsons is acting as a community liaison. If individuals become aware of resources, needs, and individuals who would like to volunteer...people are asked to call the Command Center at 413-662-3614 or email at nbcovid@gmail.com to share information. Also call if you have any questions or concerns.
Curbside Pickup. The decision to stop in-restaurant dining is understandably unsettling for our local restaurants and to the folks who eat out. Margot called the following restaurants and they are all ready to provide curbside pickup. This means you place your order and then drive to the restaurant and someone will bring your meal to you in your vehicle.
Let's spread the word, expand our list and support our community.
Blue Mango- 413-458-0004
Spice Root- 413-458-5200
Tony’s Sombrero-413-344-5121
Pera-413-458-8676
Olympic Pizza-413-458-0055
Water St. Grill- 413-458-2175
Misty Moonlight Diner- 413-458-3305
Freightyard Pub- 413-663-0447
Chef’s Hat-413-458-5120
Other Food Resources.
- The Al Nelson Food Pantry in North Adams and the Williamstown Food Pantry at St Patrick/St. Raphael Church are both still open but with different operating strategies to help minimize the risk of Coronavirus exposure. Wednesday March 18th.
- The Berkshire Food Project is open M-W-F currently, usual time for them, 12:00-1:00. There will be two meals prepared on Mondays and Wednesdays for take out on Tuesday and Thursday. You can find these take away meals in the breezeway, no access to the building will happen on Tuesday or Thursday.
- The Community Bible Church is open this Wednesday, March 18 from 12-2:00. For emergency food needs call the church at 458.5556 or Phyllis Babcock at 663.6094
- The FoodBank of Western Massachusetts Mobile Food Pantries are still operating, 10-11:00 in Adams on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday and 10-11:00 in North Adams, 1st and 3rd Fridays. The monthly Brown Bag delivery is cancelled at least for March.
- Elder Services Meals on Wheels are still operating and being delivered as usual.
- The North Adams Baptist Church will offer take out meals on Saturday March 28th, 11-12:00 only.
- Finally, the Salvation Army Food Pantry, they’re in North Adams, operates Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 3:00. Receive food at the front door.
Events (GCal,iCal)
None. Stay home.
Resist and persist!
Alexander
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