6 Bricks Springfield and Green Meadows, along with the Shubrick and Patton families, continued their partnership in support of the Patton Alliance for Veterans, an organization dedicated to advancing veteran-focused initiatives nationwide.
The family-owned Massachusetts cannabis companies aimed to raise awareness and financial support for veterans facing physical and mental health challenges.
Throughout November, 6 Bricks partnered with Green Meadows to donate $1 for every Green Meadows, At Ease, or 6 Bricks product sold, with the campaign culminating in a total contribution of $6,550 to the Patton Alliance for Veterans. All of these funds will go to charitable efforts. In addition, 6 Bricks provided veterans with a 10% discount throughout the month.
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The Good Dog Spot announced a partnership with Leaps and Bones, a company that provides treats toys, and pet essentials. Leaps & Bones will now manage the retail section inside The Good Dog Spot in the Chicopee and Northampton locations.
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Earlier in 2025, Monson Savings Bank pledged $50,000 to the Baystate Health Foundation in support of Palmer’s Baystate Wing Hospital.
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The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, the nonprofit that promotes business, development and tourism within surrounding communities of Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties, is seeking nominations for its 2026 Choice Awards. Nominations are needed in the categories of Community Hero and Educator of the Year.
Nominations can be submitted on the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce official website, QHMA.com, through Feb. 13. Online voting for this year’s finalists will be open to the public and conducted from Feb. 15 through March 15, also at QHMA.com.
Finalist voting will also include a number of chamber-member specific categories honoring local nonprofits, manufacturing and service businesses. All finalists will be honored and the announced at the Choice Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 6, taking place at the Steaming Tender Restaurant, located at the former historic Palmer Railroad Station site.
The criteria to nominate are:
Community Hero of the Year: An individual (citizen, resident, veteran, first responder) who has gone above and beyond via a single outstanding act within the last 12 months, or a series of contributions over an extended period for the betterment of their community. The individual must reside or have performed their act or work within the Quaboag Hills 15 member communities.
Educator of the Year: An individual who has positively impacted the school (public, regional, private or independent) and the students for which they work. The individual must reside, or the school for which they work must be located within the Quaboag Hills 15 member communities.
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PeoplesBank, a mutually chartered bank serving Western Massachusetts and Connecticut, increased its charitable contributions to more than $1.8 million over the past year, and its associates also increased volunteer hours serving area nonprofits by 15%. PeoplesBank also reported that it’s associates pledged an additional $40,000 of their own salaries as part of its Workplace Giving program and that it sponsored 300 community events in its market
In 2025, PeoplesBank supported nearly 500 charitable organizations, including The Care Center, The Center for Human Development, the Hampshire Regional YMCA, Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services, Celebrate! WeHa, CT Foodshare, The Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and Hands on Hartford.
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Resilient Valley Community Lunch & Grant Match Announcement will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, noon to 1:30 p.m. at LightHouse Holyoke, 92 Race St.
Resilient Valley invites the community and press to join a celebratory lunch highlighting philanthropy across the Pioneer Valley. At the event, the recipients of the first Resilient Valley match lottery will be announced. The campaign has already nominated 66 grants and raised $197,560, with $90,360 eligible for local nonprofit matches.
This gathering offers an opportunity to: connect with local nonprofit leaders and donors; see how Donor Advised Fund (DAF) giving is making a direct impact; learn how the campaign is building momentum toward the second match in May.
Please RSVP or request more information by emailing Brian Westerlind (westerlindb@gmail.com)
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National Grid continues its series of in-person Customer Assistance Events in Feb., part of the utility’s commitment to help customers manage their energy bills. Colder‑than‑normal weather across Massachusetts has led to higher energy use and increased winter bills for many customers. With more cold weather ahead, our customer service teams are here to help residents manage seasonal energy costs and connect with bill‑assistance and money‑saving programs
Attendees will receive tailored guidance from one of National Grid’s Customer Service Specialists, who can provide information on bill assistance and energy solutions to meet each household’s needs, including how to: enroll in National Grid’s new Payment Assistance Bundle; sign up for Budget Billing; register for the Energy Discount Rate (for qualifying customers); and schedule a home energy assessment and share information on other energy efficiency opportunities for homes or businesses.
The 31 Customer Assistance Events in Feb., will take place across Massachusetts, hosted at city halls, local senior centers, and other accessible locations, ensuring easy access for senior citizens and other customers. The full list of locations is included below.
National Grid will also host two virtual Bill Assistance webinars this month to provide customers with an overview of bill management solutions and options for financial assistance. Customers can register at the links below for the free webinar, which will be hosted in both English and Spanish:
Register for the Bill Assistance Webinar in English – Feb. 9, 12 to 1 p.m.
These events, which are free and open to the public, are part of National Grid’s broader commitment to affordability and reliability. Customers can find information about upcoming sessions on our Customer Assistance webpage or learn more about managing winter energy bills at ngrid.com/hereforyou. They can also request assistance by calling 1-800-233-5325.
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