Tori Wilhelm, left, Shawn Wright and Bonnie Fachini, all from the court system, pose with office assistant Tina Samson and Veterans Agent Stephen Roy on Wednesday.
Shawn Wright of the Office of Community Corrections' Trial Court Community Service Program.
Veterans Agent Stephen Roy checks out the handmade scarf sets knitted by a former Trial Court employees.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Local veterans in need can look forward to a merrier Christmas this year as the piles of donations at City Hall continue to grow.
Bags and boxes of canned and boxed foods, quilts, jackets, scarves, hats and gloves, and a thick envelope full of gift certificates were delivered to the Veterans' Office on Wednesday morning from the local court system, thanks to Bonnie Fachini and Tori Wilhelm of the Probation Department.
The two had been gathering donations from District and Juvenile court employees and friends for about month and transported the goods over with the help of the Office of Community Corrections' Trial Court Community Service Program.
"Last year, we collected donations for the Louison House but Tori suggested we do the veterans this time," said Fachini. The donations included several sets of hand-knitted scarves, mittens and hats by a former colleague.
They also collected for Moments House this year.
Wilhelm, who is also the veteran's liaison at the courts, said she hoped to provide more awareness that veterans can utilize the office.
"I feel like some people don't realize this even exists," she said.
The veterans office serves about 140 to 180 veterans in the communities of Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown.
Veterans Agent Stephen Roy. "This is tremendous," said Veterans Agent Stephen Roy. This really helps out."
The office does what it can but if someone comes in in need, it can't just write a check, Roy said. "There's not a lot of resources."
Office assistant Tina Samson has set up an area in City Hall for veterans to gather what they need. Coats donated by the Salvation Army are separated by size and the child-size coats donated to Berkshire Community Action Council. With the help of participants in the Community Service Program, the donations from the Trial Court were also set out by category.
"This is just overwhelming to be able to help veterans who earned it," said Roy.
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