Televised discussion of Friendship Center Food Pantry

Mark Lincourt, center, next to pole with papers in hand, moderates "'In the Company of Friends' — The Friendship Center Food Pantry" during our taping at the March 16 NBIAI meeting. Below, Corinne Case did great work with the camera recording the conversation.

The program “‘In the Company of Friends’ — The Friendship Center Food Pantry” will be shown on Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp. Channel 15 on Saturday, March 24, at 5:30 p.m. and again on Wednesday, March 28, at 1:30 p.m.

Members of the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative (NBIAI) filmed the program at the Friday, March 16, meeting of the Initiative. The intent of the program is to inform the community about what the volunteers of the Friendship Center do, who they serve, and how members of the public can help the pantry continue to be effective.

The 46-minute program consists of a discussion among Friendship Center volunteers about their experiences at the pantry, which opened at 43 Eagle St. in February, 2011. Food Distribution Coordinator Mark Lincourt moderates the discussion, which was taped by NBIAI Steering Committee member and Friendship Center volunteer Corinne Zinni Case.

Lincourt and Friendship Center/NBIAI Co-organizer Mark Rondeau produced the program with much help from Paul Marino of NBCTC.

The discussion explores the who, what, where, why, when and how of the Friendship Center, with particular emphasis on how volunteers strive to treat all visiting friends with respect and affection and on the need for community financial support if the pantry is to continue.

The program will air on the same days and at the same times for several weeks.

The April 20 meeting of the NBIAI — which will not be taped for broadcast — will feature a discussion with the Rev. Bert Marshall about reviving the CROP Walk against hunger in Northern Berkshire.

The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of North Adams (use Eagle Street entrance). All are welcome.

The NBIAI is a group of people of various faiths and denominations working together with others of good will to find ways to serve our community. In addition to the food pantry, the Initiative runs an emergency voucher systems and its monthly meetings focus on various topics of community interest. 

For more about the NBIAI and the Friendship Center, visit our Facebook page, our blog at

http://www.northernberkshireinterfaith.blogspot.com or call Mark Rondeau at 664-0130. The Friendship Center Food Pantry is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. every Wednesday. Phone: 664-0123.

Mark