With so many charitable appeals in your mailbox, how do you choose between supporting a youth center and a senior center? Or weigh the value of permanent housing for a family against a battered woman's chance to make a new life for herself and her children?

With a contribution to the Williamstown Community Chest, you don't have to make those choices. Your donation is distrubuted to 16 diverse local agencies.

Donate now and help us reach this year's goal.

480 West Street, P.O. Box 644
Pittsfield, MA 01202

phone: 413.442.1506 / 800.332.2030
fax: 413.448.6051
web: www.redcrossberkshirecounty.org

The American Red Cross provides many valuable services, including: HIV/AIDS education; health and safety information; disaster relief services and support for military families.

480 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201

phone: 413.448.8281 / 888.742.7443
fax: 413.445.5404

The Berkshire Center for Families and Children provides counseling, education and support services for families.

333 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201

phone: 413.499.0412
fax: 413.448.2198
web: www.briencenter.org

Brien Center has provided mental health and substance abuse services for over 50 years. Since 1993, the agency has been in clinical collaboration with Berkshire Medical Center. Through this collaboration, we are able to provide the full continuum of inpatient psychiatric and detox service and community services. We operate in 25 sites throughout Berkshire County providing service to over 10,000 Berkshire County residents per year. We operate six Outpatient Programs, Berkshire Mental Health (East Street), Family Center (BMC campus), Child and Adolescent Services (Fenn Street), Main Street Human Resources (Great Barrington) and Northern Berkshire Counseling Center (North Adams). Our outpatient services include individual, group, couples and family treatment and psychiatric services provided by masters-level clinicians and Board Certified psychiatrists and Clinical Nurse Specialists.

We are the 24/7 Crisis/Emergency Service, which provides assessments on a mobile outreach basis, including the emergency rooms of all three Berkshire County hospitals, police stations, schools, etc. The Emergency service includes two stabilization programs (adult and child) to serve as an alternative to hospitalization or a step down from hospitalization.

In addition, we provide residential and day treatment for mental health and substance abuse clients, specialized elder services, including outreach, day programs, child and adolescent after-school, outreach and family stabilization programs.

P.O. Box 172
North Adams, MA 01247

phone: 413.663.6593
fax: 413.663.6593

Child Care of the Berkshires provides day care centers and home-based day care in addition to services for pregnant and parenting teens.

71 Hospital Avenue
North Adams, MA 01247

phone: 413.663.8711
fax: 413.664.5028
email: ecuhealth@nbhealth.org
web: www.ecuhealthcare.com

Ecu-Health Care is a private non-profit health care access program located in room 208 of the Doctor's Building on the campus of North Adams Regional Hospital. Our mission is to help the uninsured and underinsured residents of North Berkshire access affordable health care.

There are two components to Ecu-Health Care: The first is a voluntary physician program where area physicians provide treatment to area residents, who fall within income guidelines, at a significantly reduced fee.

The second component of Ecu-Health Care is helping area residents enroll in all public and private health coverage programs. In Massachusetts this includes: MassHealth, The Children's Medical Security Plan, Prescription Advantage for seniors and the disabled, the Medical Security Plan for the unemployed, Medicare premium assistance, free breast and cervical cancer screenings, reduced fee dental care and prescription assistance programs.

We serve all residents from North Adams and towns of Cheshire, Adams, Savoy, Florida, Clarksburg, Williamstown and New Ashford. We also serve the residents Pownal, Stamford and Readsboro, VT.

66 Wendell Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201

phone: 413.499.0524
fax: 413.442.6443
email: esbc@esbci.org
web: www.esbci.org

Elder Services’ goal is to provide Berkshire elders, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers the opportunity to live with dignity, independence, and self-determination, and to achieve the highest possible quality of life.

Established in 1974, Elder Services is a federally designated Area Agency on Aging and a Massachusetts Aging Services Access Point (ASAP). Elder Services’ 110 staff and over 450 volunteers together serve more than 10,000 Berkshire elders, disabled individuals and caregivers annually.

Elder Services offers a wide array of programs, including Meals on Wheels and Home Care services, which together serve more than 1,500 elders a month. Other programs offered by Elder Services include Adult Family Care and Group Adult Foster Care, Caregiver Support, Enhanced Elder Intervention, Information and Referral, Long-Term-Care Ombudsman, Money Management, Nursing Home Screening, Personal Care Assistance, Protective Services, and SHINE (Serving the Health Information Needs of Elders) counseling. Volunteers also bring elders to doctor’s appointments, do grocery shopping, and provide companionship. Elder Services produces a monthly newspaper, Berkshire Senior, with a circulation of 10,500. Local community access cable TV broadcasts two Berkshire Senior TV shows each month, hosted by Elder Services’ staff.

Elder Services periodically assesses the needs of the county's older persons, and then works to develop responsive services.

To provide coordinated services to Berkshire elders, Elder Services collaborates with local Councils on Aging, senior centers, certified home health agencies, adult day health and social day care programs, mental health agencies, long term care facilities, and the two county health systems.

43 Francis Avenue
Pittsfield, MA 01201

phone: 413.499.2425
fax: 413.443.3016
email: efcenter@rnetworx.com

Elizabeth Freeman Center is a non-profit, countywide agency that provides counseling, advocacy, emotional, educational, vocational and economic services and fosters social change. We oppose violence, harassment and discrimination and we promote the physical and emotional safety of all people. We strive to provide a haven and a communication network for all people regardless of gender, age, race, color, class, religion, or sexual orientation.

Oakhollow Farm
Williamstown, MA 02167

phone: 413.458.8427
email: lgross@adelphia.net
web: www.equustherapeutic.org

Equus Thereputic provides an equestrian program for children and adults with special needs.

395 Old Columbia Street
Adams, MA 01220

phone: 413.743.7957
fax: 413.743.7959

Family Life Support Center, Inc. operates two programs which provide preventive counseling, residential services, crisis intervention and case management for homeless and at-risk families and individuals. It has a Homeless Prevention Office, and a transitional shelter, called Louison House.

Since 1990, the Homeless Prevention Program has assisted the Northern Berkshire Community to achieve a 70% decrease in homelessness, and a 100% decrease in welfare motel placements. For those already homeles, Louison House offers safe and secure housing for men, women and children as they work towards stabilization and independent living. Last year Louison House provided 5,197 nights of shetler.

P.O. Box 558
Leeds, MA 01053

phone: 413.584.2602 / 800.462.9100
fax: 413.586.7937
email: gswm@gswma.org
web: www.gswma.org

Girl Scouts of Western Massachusetts (GSWM) is one of 317 councils chartered by the Girl Scouts of the USA. GSWM is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on December 3, 1963, governed by a volunteer agency of directors comprised of 23 adults and two Senior Girl Scouts.

GSWM, in recognition of its responsibility to its volunteers, its staff, and the girls it serves, and in keeping with the Girl Scouts of the USA's afirmative action policies, maintains its policy of non-discrimination in all its practices, to all persons, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, creed/religion.. sexual orientation, sex, age, marital status, national origin/ancestry, veterans/uniformed service, or disability/handicap status.

With the help of over 1,000 volunteers, GSWM serves 6,000 girls in 350 groups in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties.

32 New Ashford Road
Williamstown, MA 01267

phone: 413.458.8668
email: info@lrsh.org
web: www.lrsh.org

The Little Red Schoolhouse, now in its fourth decade of operation, offers a nursery school experience for children aged 2 years 9 months to 5. A bright, spacious facility in a beautiful, rural setting, our school is only a 10 minute ride from the center of Williamstown and encompasses an acre of grassy field. We have a large outdoor play area with a newly constructed playground, climbing structures, a children's garden and lots of room for running, playing ball and riding bikes. Our indoor space includes a playroom with equipment for active play.

Our program is designed to maintain and encourage a child's natural curiosity and joy of discovery and to help them express themselves creatively. We provide first-hand experiences to enhance a child's understanding and encourage self-expression through a variety of art mediums. Ours is a child-centered approach, which recognizes the importance of play in a child's life.

As the only Cooperative Nursery school in Northern Berkshire County, the Little Red Schoolhouse encourages parents to be actively involved in their child's school experience in a way that is comfortable and meaningful. Parents serve on the Board of Directors, which sets school policies, monitors the budget and hires staff. Parents also take on many other varied jobs according to their talents, schedules and preferences. From making playdough and substituting in the classroom, to participating in field trips and organizing fundraising events, our parents help to build a strong school experience for their children. Many parents enjoy being directly involved with their children as they help with classroom activities and special events. Parents are partners in their child's preschool experience; this often endures throughout their child's formal education.

Williamstown Cooperative Nursery School operates on a traditional academic calendar and enrollment is continuous. Teachers are state certified and the school is accredited with the National Association for the Education of Young Children. We accept vouchers and subsidies with tuition assistance available for qualified families.

85 Main Street, Suite 628
North Adams, MA 01247

phone: 413.663.7588
fax: 413.663.9877
email: abashevkin@nbccoalition.org
web: www.nbccoalition.org

The mission of the Coalition is to organize people and resources which are dedicated to improving the quality of life in Northern Berkshire. The Coalition works to achieve its mission by: Providing a public place for the community, building stronger neighborhoods and promoting positive youth development.

Anyone who works or lives in the Northern Berkshire area and is interested in the work of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is considered an affiliate of the Coalition. Coalition affiliation has included people of the Northern Berkshire community representing human services, businesses, clergy, higher education, local schools, local and state government and local citizens. Voluntary contributions to help defray expenses are requested, but they do not affect affiliation with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.

22 Brickyard Court
North Adams, MA 01247

phone: 413.663.6529
fax: 413.663.5700
email: nbymca@northernberkshireymca.org
web: www.northernberkshireymca.org

The Northern Berkshire YMCA serves a geographic area which consists of the following Massachusetts communities: North Adams, Adams, Williamstown, Clarksburg, Savoy, Florida, Cheshire and New Ashford. The Y also serves the neighboring Vermont communities of Readsboro, Bennington, Shaftsbury, Stanford and Pownal.

The total population of the Y's service-area is nearly 40,000. In 2004, over 2,400 children, adults and older adults took part in the Northern Berkshire YMCA. Since the YMCA offers programs and services to nonmembers, last year an estimated 4,000 youth and adults were served.

The Northern Berkshire YMCA is fully committed to helping the less fortunate of the community.

208 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201

phone: 413.442.1562
fax: 413.499.4077
email: info@ucpberkshire.org
web: www.ucpberkshire.org

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) is the leading source of information on cerebral palsy and is a pivotal advocate for the rights of persons with any disability. As one of the largest health charities in America, the UCP mission is to advance the independence, productivity and full citizenship of people with disabilities through an affiliate network.

777 Main Street
Williamstown, MA 01267

phone: 413.458.4476
fax: 413.458.4476
email: wcdcc1@verizon.net

The Williamstown Community Preschool is a high quality early childhood education program providing affordable childcare for all children from 15 months to age 12. We implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum taught by a knowledgeable and well-trained staff. The center serves a hot breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.

270 Cole Ave
Williamstown, MA 01267

phone: 413.458.5925
fax: 413.458.3884
web: www.williamstownyouthcenter.org

The Williamstown Youth Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthy, fun and educational recreation for the children and families of Williamstown and surrounding communities. The WYC provides an after school program Mon, Tue, Thur and Fri from 3:00-5:30 and Wed from 1:30 - 5:30. Students can play sports in the gym, use the game room and get assistance with their homework in the Learning Center.

The WYC also offers a variety of both travel and in-house sports. Among others, we offer Fall and Spring Soccer, Basketball, Tennis for kids and women, Swimming Lessons, Track and Field, Art classes and Movement classes.