DALTON, Mass. — Although spring has long come and gone, that does not mean decluttering has to wait until next year. 

 

The town will soon offer programming to help residents of Dalton and the surrounding areas declutter their homes. 

 

These are great programs, the town's Health Agent Health Agent Agnes Witkowski said. 

 

On Thursday, Sept. 19, there will be a decluttering workshop at the Dalton Free Public Library. During the workshop, former teacher Jane Kavanau will demonstrate seven techniques to tackle clutter and stay organized.

 

"As a former real estate agent, she has seen the pitfalls of having a disorganized home and mind," the flyer says. 

 

"She believes that each person and situation is different, requiring that organizing strategies be flexible and simple — definitely not "one size fits all."

 

There is also a Goodwill donation center at Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, located at 431 Main St., every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which may aid your decluttering journey. 

 

For those with a hoarding disorder, decluttering sounds daunting, which can result in unmanageable amounts of items. The town is hosting a hoarding support group at the library every Monday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

 

This six-week support group is a collaboration between the library and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission to support people struggling with a hoarding disorder or extreme clutter.

 

"Using the book 'Buried in Treasures' as a guide, each session will give people tools and strategies to understand what hoarding disorder is so they can start taking action toward a less cluttered life," the flyer said. 

 

There will also be a daylong Zoom conference on Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for those seeking ways to support their loved ones or for professionals wanting to learn more about helping those with hoarding disorders and the resources available. 

 

The conference is presented by the Western Mass Hoarding Disorder Resources Network. 

A continuing education unit is available for Massachusetts social workers, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, nurses, registered sanitarians, and certified health officers. 

 

The fees for attending as a nonprofessional are on a sliding scale and range between $25 and $50. Attending as a professional costs $50, and attending as a professional with CEUs costs $60. Scholarships are available. 

 

Contact Tara Ferrante with any questions. Register here.