Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Neighbor–to–Neighbor Fund

Extraordinary times inspire extraordinary generosity.

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor program provides emergency assistance for local residents who are in economic distress. Neighbor-to-Neighbor makes small grants (generally around $500) to help those with overdue utilities, medical bills, short-term housing costs, and transportation problems. Checks are written to the vendor (landlord, utility company, pharmacy or mechanic) on behalf of the community member in need. The funds are not intended for long-term or ongoing assistance, but for strategic intervention to help achieve a measure of stability and avert further crises.

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is an expansion of Berkshire Taconic’s Emergency Relief Fund, which for more than 15 years worked with social service organizations and churches around the region to help those in desperate need. Neighbor-to-Neighbor now gives everyone in our region the opportunity to offer help to their neighbors. Donors may specify that their donations go to specific towns/communities.

In 2009, two donors proposed challenge grants in support of Neighbor-to-Neighbor for Berkshire County. One has offered a $100,000 challenge to the 14,000 residents of Dalton, Becket, Cummington, Hinsdale, Peru, Washington and Windsor. Each town had to raise the amount of its population by December 21, 2009 and the donor will match $7 to every $1 they raise. Another donor has offered $20,000 to challenge residents of the rest of Berkshire County to raise $100,000 to support Neighbor-to-Neighbor. As of December 2009 we're $45,000 shy of reaching that goal.

Please Make a donation>>

Berkshire Taconic is partnering with social service agencies to distribute
Neighbor-to-Neighbor funds and link them with other social services

If you know someone in need, please have them contact:

Berkshire County, MA
Berkshire Community Action Council, 413.445.4503
Williamstown Food Pantry, 413.458.3149 (for Williamstown residents only)

Columbia County, NY
Columbia County Healthcare Consortium, 518.822.8820

Northeast Dutchess County, NY
NED Corps client advocates:
Nyvette Reyes-Scialpi, 845.264.4675, or
Mariella Ribbeck, 845.235.5713

Northwest Litchfield County, CT
Town social workers in the Northwest Corner of CT

View the Neighbor-to-Neighbor brochure to learn more.