Greenfield organization collecting donations for Emergency Summer Cooling Kits for unhoused neighbors

GREENFIELD, Mass (WWLP) – The Three County Continuum of Care was outside the Greenfield Public Library collecting donated supplies for their Emergency Cooling Off Kits.

These kits are going to contain supplies to help their unhoused neighbors in the Franklin, Berkshire, and Hampshire counties.

They said while there are struggles with the weather in the winter for those without homes, if anything it’s even more harsh in the summer making it more important to gather supplies.

Shaundell Diaz, Coordinated Entry Coordinator of Three County Continuum of Care said, “People are experiencing the heat. They are experiencing, obviously a lack of housing and a lack of connection to resources. So we are trying to just alleviate the best way possible and this was really put together by our people with lived experience action board.>

Every person who was collecting donations today personally experienced being without a home.

“All of our members on our action board have experienced homelessness so we know the importance of being connected,” said Diaz.

Not only is the Three County Continuum collecting supplies for their Emergency Summer Cooling Off Kits, but they also offer other services for their unhoused neighbors.

Diaz said they also help with “permanent supportive housing projects, transitional housing projects, rapid re-housing, and our youth homelessness demonstration project also does that, so it is really important that people know this mission is happening>

They are looking for anything from toiletries like toothbrushes and shampoo to tents, clothing, and items you would find in first aid kits.

They are accepting donations at the Greenfield Public Library and at Forbes Library in Northampton until August 2nd. Here is a list of suggested donation items they are accepting here.

Local News

Parent, teacher featured in new MCAS ads

Scrap metal stolen from business on Route 20 in Monson

8 people without home after kitchen fire in Springfield

Improvements to Front Street crossing in West Springfield announced

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.