Craneville Principal Rebecca Sawyer, left, accepts a 'big check' of $5,000 from store manager Ryan Traficante.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people stood outside the new Burlington store on Friday to get a $10 coupon toward their shopping spree.
Shoppers weren't the only beneficiaries at the ribbon cutting, as Craneville Elementary in Dalton received a $5,000 donation for back-to-school supplies.
"The whole team here, we're all excited to be moving into Pittsfield. We've got a great team of people here working," store manager Ryan Traficante said before presenting a giant check to Craneville Principal Rebecca Sawyer.
"And we're also excited that we get to work with partners around here, including the AdoptAClassroom program."
Formerly "Burlington Coat Factory," the discount retailer now has 26 stores in Massachusetts and 1,115 stores nationwide. The space at 555 Hubbard Ave., Berkshire Crossing, was vacated by Staples in December after 30 years in business.
This location has hired upward of 40 employees and continues to recruit talent. Traficante explained it is a "pretty big store," with home goods, clothing, a baby section, and a beauty section.
"We sell a little bit of everything," he said.
The company launched a Burlington Store Experience 2.0 initiative to make shopping easier for the customer with defined sections and increased signage. It was applied to the Pittsfield location.
Traficante said the process of opening was a lot of work, but an exciting time.
"It was just setting up all the fixtures and getting all the trucks with the merchandise in, hiring a whole new team. We got to explore a lot of Pittsfield, going to a lot of different places recruiting people," he said.
"It's a great area."
The first 100 customers on Friday received a $10 bonus card, and the promotion continues on Saturday. People flooded into the store to see what Burlington has to offer.
Community members from Craneville wore matching shirts for the occasion. AdoptAClassroom helps offset the financial burden that teachers incur, often about $860 per year, to equip classrooms with the supplies needed for student success.
Sawyer said teachers are "so excited" to get some extra money for supplies. The $5,000 will be divided by about 40 people, giving each classroom about an extra $125.
"These are things that don't happen often," she said.
"And our school year kicks off with staff on Monday, and our students join us on Wednesday, so this happening today was just kind of a really, really special way to start our school year."
The funds will benefit classroom teachers, special educators, specialists, and related service providers at Craneville. That $125 can be substantial when you're talking about school supplies and making sure students have what they need, the principal explained.
"And to really enhance education. I think that's sometimes what gets a little bit lost," Sawyer added.
"We can educate kids, and we educate kids very well, but to enhance it and take it to the next level, that's really exciting."
The store is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.
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