Pittsfield Ed. Foundation, Food for Thought Take-Out to Donate

The Pittsfield Education Foundation has announced Food for Thought – Takeout-to-Donate Event to build funding for the foundation.

This year, the educational nonprofit has partnered with Smokey Diva’s to create barbeque dinners for purchase. A choice of the BBQ Box or Vegetarian Box contains an assortment of foods specially prepared by owner Lorraine Jones. Orders are available for pre-order only now through Friday, May 13 on PEF's eventbrite page or by scanning the QR code on the attached event flyer.

Pick-up details: Order by: Pick-up date: Friday, May 13, 2021 Friday, May 20, 2021 Pick-up time: Between 4:30PM and 6:30PM Pick-up location: Smokey Diva’s, 239 Onota Street, Pittsfield

PEF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit formed in 2017 by supporters of the Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) to improve literacy and educational outcomes for students. PEF is not an affiliate of the PPS. The Foundation's dedicated volunteers work to generate funds for interventions for at-risk learners, enrichment for the whole child, enhanced professional development for teachers, and new this year, scholarships for graduating students of Taconic and Pittsfield High Schools. Teacher-requested grants fund initiatives that complement and further what can be accomplished during the school day that is beyond the capacity of funding through the school district's budget.

PEF has been actively working to support and fund grants we have received during the current school year. We supported Cynthia Grauman, Educator of Reid Middle School. And Jamie Choquette, Media Arts Teacher at Taconic, who was able to use the funds to purchase much-needed video equipment and better the education of his students. The group is also excited to have launched our Scholarship Program for the second year, gifting funds to two students graduating from Pittsfield High and two students graduating from Taconic.

Lastly, In April, PEF sponsored a special event in conjunction with the NAACP, Pittsfield Public Schools, and North Adams Public Schools called Hard Conversations in Safe Spaces. Organized by community leader Shirley Edgerton, attendees learned techniques to confront and respond to racism and racial inequities present in schools and our community, and educators participated in a follow-up debrief session to discuss implications to their practice.

PEF thanks Guardian, Berkshire Bank, Gable Electric, LENCO and MOLARI for their generous sponsorhsip.