Girls on the Run 5K celebration set for Sunday
Girls on the Run Western MA will host its celebration 5K on Sunday, Nov. 23, at Western New England University, with more than 3,000 people expected to attend.
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3 through 8. Over the course of the eight-week, 16-lesson program, participants take part in lessons that build confidence, strengthen peer connections, and encourage community service while preparing for the end-of-season celebratory 5K.
This fall, Girls on the Run has 775 participants across 52 sites in all four western Massachusetts counties, supported by 210 volunteer coaches who bring the curriculum to life — the largest fall season since the organization began in 2015.
The 5K begins at 10:30 a.m., with a group warm-up at 10 a.m. and fun pre-event activities starting at 9:30. The public is welcome to participate, and all proceeds benefit Girls on the Run Western MA. Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for youth under 12, including a 5K shirt for the first 1,000 registrants. Early arrival is encouraged, and day-of registration opens at 8:30 a.m.
Girls on the Run WMA will also conduct a food drive during the event. Participants are invited to bring a nonperishable food item, which will be donated to a local food pantry. Information about registration and volunteer opportunities is available at www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.
Kiwanis of Easthampton-Southampton donate to food bank
The Kiwanis Club of Easthampton-Southampton recently presented a check for $1,000 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
The donation represents the proceeds of a raffle held by the club in early autumn. The raffle took place at an outdoor cookout held by the club to introduce itself to the community. Attendees donated perishable food items which were subsequently delivered to area food pantries.
The Kiwanis Club of Easthampton-Southampton was recently organized as the successor to the former Easthampton Kiwanis Club, which closed during the COVID pandemic. The new club is an inclusive and diverse group of men and women seeking to serve the community through service and fundraising.
Club Secretary George Delisle presented the check to Cheyenne Burnham, public engagement manager of the food bank. Delisle remarked that the Easthampton-Southampton Kiwanis Club and other Kiwanis Clubs in Western Massachusetts stepped up during the government shutdown by organizing collections of food and cash not only the food bank but also food pantries and soup kitchens.
Sen. Oliveira honored by state library commissioners
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) has named state Sen. Jake Oliveira, D-Ludlow, as the 2025 recipient of The Caleb Benjamin Tillinghast Award, recognizing his leadership and steadfast commitment to strengthening public libraries across the commonwealth.
Presented as part of the MBLC’s 135th anniversary celebration at the State House on earlier this month, the award honors legislators whose work reflects a deep understanding of the essential role libraries play in supporting democracy, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.
“Libraries are not isolated institutions; they are community infrastructure that drives education, digital access, and equity in every city and town,” said Senator Oliveira. “When we strengthen our regional library systems, we ensure that small and rural communities have the same access to resources and services as larger, better-funded municipalities.”
Over the past two fiscal years, Oliveira has filed and successfully secured more than $3 million in additional state aid for regional public libraries through amendments to the state budget, including $950,000 in the fiscal 2026 budget for State Aid to Regional Public Libraries.
Latin Dance Night fundraiser for Pa’lante
HOLYOKE — Pa’lante Transformative Justice will hold BAILEMOS: A Latin Dance Night Fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 7 to 10 p.m. Hosted by local dance celebrity Roshay, the event aims to raise funds for Pa’lante’s community kitchen and youth leadership programs.
The fundraiser kicks off Pa’lante’s end-of-year campaign to raise $12,000 to renovate the kitchen in their drop-in space at 220 Linden St., which annually serves more than 200 youth ages 13 to 19.
The event will be held at De La Luz Soundstage, located at 114 Race St. in Holyoke. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Roshay will lead a Latin dance lesson from 7 to 8 p.m., open to all experience levels, followed by social dancing from 8 to 10 p.m. De La Luz will have its kitchen and bar open during the event, offering food and beverages. Pa’lante will also host a raffle featuring prizes from local businesses, including movie and concert tickets, restaurant gift cards, retail certificates, and even a professional photo shoot.
This fundraiser supports Pa’lante Peer Leaders’ annual Youth Participatory Action Research Project focused on food insecurity. A cohort of 35 Peer Leaders conducts original research and organizes actions to address systemic inequities affecting their community.
Tickets cost $20 per person, with 100% of proceeds going directly to Pa’lante. Attendees may register ahead of time at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjQyMDYz or pay cash at the door. Those unable to attend can make a direct donation to the campaign at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MjQyMjQ4.
Pa’lante launched in 2015 through a community organizing effort led by students, teachers, parents, and school staff working to challenge racially unjust school discipline practices fueling the school-to-prison pipeline in Holyoke.