56 elderly veterans, residing at Berkshire Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center in Sandisfield (BRSCC), have received a gift this year all thanks to the generous effort made by Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing (BSM) employees. These vets lack the income or family support to purchase small items, like warm clothing, books, movies, music, and other small pleasures. Fortunately, they will each be getting their wish this year.
56 stars and flags were hung at the entrance of BSM from November 12th to November 24th. Each tag had a requested item written on it from a BRSCC veteran. Employees had the opportunity to take star or flag, purchase the gift, and return it to donate. All requests were pulled by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and each gift plus three additional gifts were returned to the company by the following Wednesday.
BSM employees spent a few hours of their work day wrapping the presents and collecting them into boxes to be delivered to the home. While veterans at BSM were originally expected to deliver the gifts to the nursing home, BRSCC had asked for only one person to drop the gifts off to limit the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Executive Assistant, Glynis Arnold, packed her car with the 59 wrapped presents and delivered the gifts on Thursday morning of December 9th.
We are extremely grateful to have several generous staff members to help spread cheer to their local heroes. A similar Give-A-Gift campaign to support low-income families that depend on Busy Bee Daycare (the onsite daycare at BSM that services both BSM employees and local families) is already underway. 2021 marks the second year of this Busy Bee Daycare gift campaign and the first for the veterans at BRSCC.
