You're invited to see your investment in action!

Did you know that a team of Berkshire United Way staff, board members, and community volunteers visit every program we fund, each year, to observe that program in action?  These monitoring visits help ensure our donors’ gifts are making a real impact! Those who participate find the experience incredibly rewarding as reflected in the stories below.

“I think I have been doing monitoring visits for about 10 years.  I love getting to see all the wonderful local programs Berkshire United Way partners with. Seeing the passion the program staff and volunteers have for what they do and their commitment is amazing.  I also review Requests for Proposal (RFPs), so it is great for me to read about the programs early on and then see them in action.  Every time I visit I get emotional about the stories they share.  Sometimes it's hard to leave them!” 

 - Jaime Campbell, Financial Analyst, Controller's Office, Williams College

“I have been monitoring human services programs in Pittsfield since 2013. It has been valuable for me to partner with Berkshire United Way on the programs that are also City funded, and collaborate on the expectations, results and goals for these programs.  I am always amazed at the good work being done in Pittsfield, every day. I have found that everyone doing this work is passionate about what they do and about how to make Pittsfield a thriving community. I am always in awe of the stories staff members share about the progress they make and the impact their services have on people’s lives. Site visits bring the program and services to life for me and I am able to bring that information back to our Human Service Advisory Council, the 11-member board that reviews City proposals. Berkshire United Way has always had a staff member on this Council, this partnership means that common funders can work together for agencies’ benefit.” 

- Justine Dodds, Program Manager, Community Development, City of Pittsfield

Local students were observed during a recent monitoring visit at The Mastheads. The Mastheads Fireside Poets program is funded by Berkshire United Way.  

These are just two stories from monitoring visit volunteers. There are many more like them and we couldn’t do this work without community members like you! If you’d like to participate in upcoming monitoring visits, or learn more about what’s involved, please contact Rae Langsdale at rlangsdale@berkshireunitedway.org or 413-442-6948, ext. 35.

We look forward to hearing from you!
Julie Singley

Program Manager, Community Impact

Turn the "summer slide" into the "summer glide"

If you ever learned to play an instrument, draw or dance, you may have heard, “Practice makes perfect.” The same holds true for building reading and learning skills in young children.

Studies show that children experience a learning loss when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.  This phenomenon, known as the “summer slide,” is something every parent hopes their child will avoid.  

Summer learning opportunities are fun for the whole family plus they help keep your child’s skills sharp.  Need some ideas?  Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Take advantage of Free Fun Fridays, which offer no-cost admission to treasured cultural venues in Massachusetts, including many here in the Berkshires! Visit HighlandStreet.org for a complete schedule.
• Take pictures of your adventures and create a summer scrapbook with your child. Label the new things you do and learn.
• Read 20 minutes every day! Take turns with your child reading aloud and sharing books. Introduce your child(ren) to newspapers, maps, comic books, or online resources.
• Stargaze together by enjoying a free visit to nearby Williams College Planetarium.
• Visit the library and check out some audio books for car rides.
• Enjoy family-friendly podcasts while doing crafts.
• Cook together following recipes – it’s a fun way to incorporate reading!
• Garden together – learn what vegetables need to survive and how to control garden pests organically.

Most importantly, explore together. Share stories about your childhood, and ask open-ended questions about their interests.  You will create wonderful family memories that will last a lifetime.

Happy learning!

Stephanie
Coordinator of Early Childhood Development