In a piece for the Berkshire Eagle, titled "Alliance formed to address polycrisis," Rev. Mike Denton begins:
Imagine if, in January 2020, we had known how our world was about to change.
Imagine if we had known the COVID-19 pandemic was coming and had 60 days to build the digital infrastructure for remote work, fortify our supply chains, and coordinate a unified response among our businesses, nonprofits, governments, and citizens. What might we have done differently?
Today, in early 2026, Berkshire County is standing in that exact window of opportunity.
We are currently witnessing a cumulative effect of international economic policy, federal and state policy, and budget shifts that, if left unaddressed, will create a local economic and social disaster. For example, the sweeping 2025 budget reconciliation bill has initiated the deepest cuts to programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid in history.
Berkshire United Way was one of a handful of nonprofits to form the Berkshire Grit Alliance.