Pittsfield Council on Aging: New Delivery Service for Brown Bag Program

The Pittsfield Council on Aging (COA) reactivated its Brown Bag Grocery Program, with a new delivery and distribution service. The new program, which reflects an existing partnership with the Western Massachusetts Food Bank, went into effect on Friday, April 24 and now provides seniors with groceries via a curbside pickup system at the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center and van delivery service.

“We are delighted to restart our monthly Brown Bag program with a new and safer distribution process. With these new options, we are ensuring that our city’s seniors have enough nutritious for themselves and their families,” said Theresa Bianchi, president, COA.

On April 24, the Council on Aging distributed 230 bags of groceries to local seniors.

“All groceries were pre-packaged and sorted versus the standard assembly line process at the senior center done by volunteers and staff enabling us to distribute these bags curbside at the center and with our vans to senior housing facilities,” Bianchi said. “With the senior center still closed due to the public health emergency mandate, our seniors received their groceries without risking their well-being.”

Eligibility for the grocery Brown Bag is based on the food bank’s criteria for seniors, income level and government benefits. For those interested in participating in the Brown Bag program, please call the senior center for registration guidelines at 413-499-9346 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The Council on Aging still provides daily “meals-to-go,” which includes a packaged lunch for those who have previously registered with Elder Services and Meals on Wheels. For more information on the meals-to-go resource, please call the senior center at 413-499-9346 or Elder Services at 413-499-0524.