Solar Energy Project

Thank you!

Fundraising for our Solar Panel Project successfully reached the goal of $103,500, with broad support from the community! The system of 100 solar panels has been working since November 2019 with all systems/permits inspected and approved, and turned on to bring down our annual energy costs.

About the Solar Energy Project

To offset the growing cost of electricity required to sustain its much-needed community missions, South Congregational Church embarked upon a solar energy project in the summer of 2019. Vivint Solar is installed 100 solar panels on the church roof this summer, at a cost of $103,500. With the help of the community and grants, the church raised funds to pay for the cost of this energy-saving solar project. 

• Read the Berkshire Eagle article, “Pittsfield church intent on catching some rays to help feed the hungry” (June 22, 2019). 
• Watch The Lions’ Den Topic: South Congregational Church Solar Energy Project on PCTV with Mary Rentz and Pat Politis! (30 min)

More Than a Church

South Congregational Church is more than a church. Our historical downtown Pittsfield building is a welcoming complex that serves as a meeting house for many groups in our community.

Community organizations such as Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Pittsfield Squares, Music Together, and the Pembury Bridge Club meet regularly in the church’s spaces. South Congregational also serves as an ecumenical gathering space for area faith organizations and missions. 

Food Insecurity

One of South Congregational Church’s primary missions is to address the issue of food insufficiency in the Berkshires, assisting the most vulnerable in our community. Our Community Food Pantry is the largest food pantry distribution in Berkshire County, serving 550 families each week.

The Food Pantry receives 7,000 pounds of food each week, much of which requires storage in our newly updated freezer and walk-in coolers — the most significant consumers of electricity in the building.

We also serve 80–100 hot, nutritious dinners each Wednesday at Saint Joseph’s Kitchen, and we recently began serving breakfast twice weekly. South Church is also home to the annual Thanksgiving Angels community collection and distribution of Thanksgiving meal ingredients to 1,300 local families.

Keeping Things Running

Solar power systems derive clean, pure energy from the sun, combatting greenhouse gas emissions, improving pubic health, and reducing our collective dependence on non-sustainable fossil fuels.

The total cost of the project is $103,500. In addition to fundraising, the church investigated grant opportunities and Massachusetts (SMART) solar tax incentives.

With your help, solar panel installation offset approximately 85% of electricity used by the church.

Why Now?

Fundraising Events

We officially kicked off our Solar Energy Project on June 21, 2019 — the summer solstice! — at our June Bread & Roses Coffee House performance, which raised $500! An earlier pancake breakfast raised $620 for the project.

You helped us raise $20,000 by our July deadline, and The Left Coast Fund will match that amount with a generous grant as part of their 50-State Solar Project!

This project has been supported by a grant from the Berkshire Fresh & Healthy Food Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.

Donors

Below is a list of donors to this project as of August 30, 2019 (grants, then individual donors listed chronologically). Thank you for supporting our vital community missions at South Church!

1. GRANT — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Berkshire Fresh & Healthy Food Fund
2. GRANT — The Left Coast Fund’s 50-State Solar Project
3. GRANT — Berkshire Bank
4. Paula Morey — I donated because of the wonderful work that is done at South Church by all for benefit of the poor and for the Rev. Joel’s many contributions to the life of this community. Best of luck in reaching your goal.
5. Darlene Berryman — One solar panel is $1035 installed. I believe in the future of the work at south church in feeding and providing care for the neediest in our community. I am grateful for all that is done day to day by so many volunteers. Our community is cared for in that old meeting house. Solar is our commitment to continue to do so together!
6. Anonymous Donor
7. Ann Tyler — in memory of Judie Grady
8. Community — South Church Pancake Breakfast
9. Laura Saldarini — I believe in the great work South Church does and support them going Green(er)!
10. Debra Morawski — This church is a tremendous blessing to our community! Let’s support this project.
11. Cindy Haven
12. Lutitia Tibbetts
13. Erin & John Murphy — South Church is a historic, central meeting place for ALL in our Berkshire community. Utilizing green, affordable energy is a great plan to keep the church’s community missions alive and strong into the future.
14. Celeste Morton
15. Robert Harris
16. Peter & Mary Rentz
17. Patricia Pritchard
18. Erika Haverstick — Anything for Erin Murphy! Praise God for good people!
19. Michael Nichols — This is such a worthwhile cause, plus would like to honor Sr. Kathryn for her legacy of St. Joseph Kitchen.
20. Bobby & Dot Stowe
21. South Church May Mattoon Class
22. Community — Bread & Roses Coffee House with The Hoping Machine, June 21
23. Pat Politis
24. Kerry & Mike Sullivan
25. Mary Wheat
26. Ann Clark-Killan
27. Meribah Haugey
28. Patricia Woodlock
29. Andrew Clarke
30. Dale Prindle
31. Patrick & Marie Gormalley
32. A & M Jonas
33. Christine & Gerard Hurley
34. Julia Sims — in memory of her mother
35. Lee Ann & Mark Pettus
36. Sharon Mercier
37. Sandy Russell, Central Berkshire Music Together — in appreciation for use of the building for many years
38. Arlene & Bernard Flaherty
39. Ann Lesser & Thom Lipiczky
40. Margot & Kip Towl
41. Virginia Akabane
42. Robert & Carla Skidmore
43. Rosie Bleyer & Sally Baumer
44. Stacia Bissell
45. The Hoping Machine
46. James Amaral
47. Nancy deForest
48. Linda Leskovitz
49. Joe Johnson — Good on you for doing the right thing!!!
50. Elaine Lee
51. Sisters of St. Joseph (Sister Kathryn & Sister Barbara)
52. Thomas Damrosch
53. South Church Ladies Benevolent Society
54. Sandie Smith
55. Dorothy Walchenback
56. Jean & John Robertson
57. Mary Pope Osborne
58. Liz & Les Clifford
59. Ginny & Paul Durwin
60. Pat & Bob Hill
61. Susan & Art Kaufman
62. Paula & Scott Haskell
63. Cheryl Zaccaro
64. Debbie & John Rentz-Moore — Happy to support South Church’s sustainability as it supports our community!! This gift is in honor of Mary Rentz’s birthday.
65. Kim Cobb — Thank you so much for hosting a lovely event on climate change on July 25, and for making the leap to low-carbon solar energy!
66. Chester & Alice Gallup
67. Kimberly Clark
68. Judith Quackenbush — in memory of Harriet White
69. Susan Cook
70. Gretchen DeBartolo
71. Polly Grieve
72. Joanna Peverett
73. Ruth Campbell
74. John & Lois Moore
75. Barbara & Doug Brand
76. Community — Berkshire Eagle Climate Change Conversation Series
77. Quentin & Amy Chin
78. Ruth & Fred Austin
79. Katherine & John Keenum
80. Carol Messerschmitt
81. Ruth Bass
82. Robert & Kiyoko Mills
83. Judith Thompson
84. Bruce & Barbara Munson
85. Dot Walchenbach — in memory of Roy Walchenbach
86. Marjorie & John Demary
87. Barry & Sally Kellogg
88. Becky & Doug Crane
89. Anonymous Donor
90. Patricia Nixon
91. Katherine Shanahan Kennedy
92. Marcella Nevin
93. Ann Brennan — In memory of Karen Allender on her August 8 birthday
94. Audra & Dick Kinner
95. William Sexton
96. Barbara & Ward Johnson
97. Pam Kueppers
98. Anonymous Donor
99. Anonymous Donor
100. Nancy Easton — This was my home church growing up in the 70s in Pittsfield. So excited to see all that you are doing in the world!
101. Albert & Susan Easton
102. Dana & Richard Noble
103. Fredric Rutberg & Judith Monachina
104. Margaret Bordeau
105. Sam Ellsworth
106. Peter & Judith Giftos
107. John & Ann Galt
108. Nancy Steele (c/o Polly Steele) 
109. Rosamond Rice