Vipassana Meditation Center to host open house
SHELBURNE — The Vipassana Meditation Center invites the community to its first open house in over a decade on Sunday, May 31, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 386 Colrain-Shelburne Road in Shelburne, this free public event welcomes curious newcomers, beginners and long-time practitioners alike to explore the serene grounds and tour the expanded year-round facilities. Attendees can watch an introductory video about the traditional S.N. Goenka meditation technique, which the center has taught since 1982, and connect directly with local teachers and volunteers. No tickets are required for admission, and complete event details can be found online at dhamma.org or by emailing info@dhara.dhamma.org.
Western Massachusetts Food Processing Center to celebrates 25th anniversary
GREENFIELD — The Western MA Food Processing Center will celebrate 25 years of operation with a community block party on June 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will take place in the facility parking lot at 324 Wells St. in Greenfield. The schedule features food trucks, art projects, guest speakers, live music and facility tours. Attendees can register for the free event at bit.ly/4dkdjqX.
Freedom Credit Union launches Summer Food Drive
SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is once again stepping up to support local families by hosting a summer-long food and donation drive to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. From June 1 through Aug. 31, community members are invited to visit any Freedom Credit Union branch to contribute nonperishable food items or monetary donations.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has been serving Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties for more than 40 years. The organization distributes more than 17 million pounds of food each year, which equates to more than 14 million meals. Through a network of nearly 200 partner pantries, meal sites and shelters, the Food Bank works to ensure individuals and families have access to nutritious food while also addressing the root causes of hunger.
The need is especially acute in the communities served by Freedom Credit Union. According to the most recent Food Access Report from the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham, the number of households experiencing food insecurity has gone up by as much as 54% in some counties since 2019. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts also reports that pantry usage has tripled since then, underscoring the growing demand in the region.
“Access to nutritious food is a basic need, yet a growing number of individuals and families in our region continue to face food insecurity,” said Glenn Welch, president of Freedom Credit Union. “We are proud to partner with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to support their critical work. This annual initiative gives our members and the broader community a simple way to make a meaningful impact this summer.”
Greenfield Cooperative Bank to host free document shredding events
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank is partnering with Valley Green Shredding to host two free document shredding events designed to help individuals protect their personal information and prevent fraud. The first event will take place on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Sunderland branch located at 18 Amherst Road, followed by a second event on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Florence branch located at 6 Main St. Community members are invited to bring up to four grocery bags or two boxes of confidential documents for secure, on-site disposal. While these personal-use events are completely free of charge, Greenfield Cooperative Bank will accept optional monetary donations at both locations to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Three Baystate Hospitals earn ‘A’ grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group
Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Wing Hospital and Baystate Noble Hospital have achieved an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog Hospital Survey for Spring 2026. Baystate Franklin and Baystate Wing have both maintained their A for at least two years and Baystate Noble improved from a “B” to an “A.” Baystate Medical Center (BMC) received a Spring 2026 rating of “C,” representing an improvement from its Fall 2025 grade.
Hospitals that receive an “A” grade excel across 22 evidence-based measures by actively protecting patients from harm and improving outcomes in areas such as Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) scanning and the reduction of hospital-acquired infections.
Published twice a year, Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades are based on data compiled from external sources and the annual Leapfrog Hospital Survey. Because some of the data reflects prior reporting periods, the scores may not fully represent current-day performance.
All four Baystate Health hospitals received the highest possible scores in several evaluated areas, including patient safety culture and structural measures; nursing workforce; hand hygiene; Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) scanning and Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE).
“Safety is our highest priority. Every person, every moment,” said Yvonne Cheung, MD, MPH, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Baystate Health. “Earning ‘A’ grades across three of our hospitals reflects the intentional work underway to build a High Reliability Organization, where safe, high-quality care is delivered every time. This recognition belongs to our teams, whose focus, accountability, and commitment to continuous improvement are strengthening the systems that keep our patients safe. While we are encouraged by this progress, we remain focused on advancing quality and safety across every part of our organization.”
The progress achieved to date reflects strong momentum in advancing our transformation into a High Reliability Organization, with systemwide investments in training and team-based safety practices, we are strengthening a culture where safety and quality remain central to every patient experience.