PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Republic Services donated $1,000 and boxes and boxes of food to the South Congregational Food Pantry on Thursday.

 

The money will go toward buying more food, particularly meat and vegetables, and the company restocked the starches, with dozens of boxes of pasta, macaroni and cheese and the like.

 

The church served a total of 588 families last month, the highest it has seen, and the organizers expect even more with the onset of winter.

 

The pantry is open to all residents in Berkshire County and provides food to hundreds of people in need. Huntington and Wheat said the volunteer-run program works as a way to supplement the income of many who struggle to keep up with the bills. Providing the food allows for people to use their limited resources to paying rent, heating, or other bills. 

 

"Most of these people work but they don't make enough to make ends meet," Wheat said.

 

The program dates back some 26 years when the church was handing out just bags of food. It later joined the Western Massachusetts Food Bank, which sends the church 38,000 pounds of food every month. The program rose from serving 60 families to now approaching 600.

 

Wheat said the growth in numbers is both because there is more need and that the program is now more know. 

 

"It keeps growing," Wheat said.

 

Republic Services is the city's contracted trash hauler which routinely makes donations to organizations and programs in the city including past donations to the Berkshire Community Action Council, the Boy Scouts, the Christian Center, the Crane Memorial Center, the Marilyn Hamilton Literacy Program, the Rites of Passage Empowerment Program, Youth Alive, the 4th of July Parade, the Farmer's Market and even to replace decorations on the city's Christmas tree.

 

"We know there are many needs in the community and each year we work in partnership with the city to identify where we can have the biggest impact on those at risk.  The South Congregational Food Pantry needs all of our support, especially at this time of the year when the need is critical for hundreds of families," said Dan Higgins, the company's Northeast Area Municipal Services Manager.

 

The $1,000 came from the company while the food was donated by the employees. Tyer said the donation comes at the right time.

 

"We are standing here and the snow is falling and we know that as Thanksgiving approaches and Christmas comes more and more families are going to be in need," Tyer said.

 

All of the proceeds will go toward the food because the operations are all volunteer with last month 72 volunteers put in more than 1,000 hours to the program. 

 

"We have hundreds of volunteers and we all work together," the Rev. Joel Huntington said. "It is so energizing to be here."

 

Not only does the church run the pantry throughout the year but also is the host of the annual Thanksgiving angels program. That is a completely separate food program with volunteers and other donations to provide Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of local families. This year that is scheduled for Nov. 21 from noon until 6 p.m. 

 

Huntington added that at the church, the volunteers also have clothing available, bring in health services, and has service agencies in to help sign people up for other assistance — a particular benefit for those who may not have vehicles to get to those organizations.

 

"It's sort of one-stop shopping," Huntington said.

 

While the church and the mayor thanked Republic Service profusely for the gift, Higgins said the company is just happy to be making a difference.

 

"We appreciate our partnership with the city and we feel really special being involved in supporting you. It is incredible how you support the community each day," Higgins said. "We are happy to support you and make a difference."