Throughout October, Freedom Credit Union and its members raised more than $1,000 for Unify Against Bullying.
“Unify Against Bullying is an organization we are very proud to support,” says Debra Mainolfi, Freedom Credit Union West Springfield branch officer and member of the Unify Against Bullying executive board. Unify Against Bullying pledges to bring an end to bullying through the celebration of diversity. Its motto is: “When we stand together, we stand as one.”
************************************************************
The Chicopee Chamber of Commerce presented a $4,011 donation to Valley Opportunity Council’s Continuing Education & Career Center at its Holiday Business After Hours event that was held at Masse’s American Bistro on Memorial Drive on Dec. 6. The donation is a result of the chamber’s annual Thriller 5K held at the end of October.
************************************************************
Florence Bank has partnered with UMass Sports Properties and the University of Massachusetts hockey team to Ice Out Hunger in the Valley. The bank will provide $9,500 in $500 grants to each of 19 food pantries across the region.
A different food pantry will be highlighted during the first intermission at each UMass home game, and a lucky fan will be chosen to ride on the Mullins Center’s Zamboni, which has been wrapped with Florence Bank’s branding. Riders are selected randomly after submitting an entry form at umassathletics.com/Ride.
Each of the following food pantries will receive $500: Amherst Survival Center, Easthampton Community Center, Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals, The Parish Cupboard in West Springfield, Northampton Survival Center, Easthampton Congregational Church, Not Bread Alone soup kitchen in Amherst, Gray House in Springfield, Margaret’s Pantry at Providence Ministries in Holyoke, Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry in Belchertown, Neighbors Helping Neighbors in South Hadley, Chesterfield Community Food Cupboard, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee, Most Holy Redeemer Church in Hadley, Southampton Community Cupboard, Springfield Rescue Mission, Center for Self Reliance in Greenfield, Manna Soup Kitchen in Northampton and Open Pantry Community Services in Springfield.
************************************************************
LiftTruck Parts & Service Inc., a West Springfield-based, family-owned business, supported various nonprofit organizations this past year.
Most recently, the LiftTruck team visited the new Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Distribution Center in Chicopee with an electric pallet jack of food.
**************************************************************
As Northampton prepares for the Picture Main Street construction project, set to begin in the fall of 2025, the city, in partnership with the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Northampton Association, have announced the “Name That Campaign” contest, inviting residents and businesses to submit creative and inspiring names for the campaign aimed at bolstering Main Street establishments throughout the construction process.
The contest encourages community members suggest a memorable and fitting name for the campaign dedicated to supporting Main Street businesses. Community members can submit their campaign name suggestions by completing the submission form by Jan. 31.
The selected campaign name will be announced in February and the winner entry will be awarded a $50 Northampton Gift Card.
For more information, visit https://northamptonma.gov/2559/Construction-Mitigation and complete the submission form.
