Walk through the Raymond Hill School during the early afternoon and you might encounter students building Adirondack chairs while others across the hall are cooking homemade pasta and sauces. Step outside in February and you might find students tapping maple trees to make syrup. Meanwhile, students in the Auto Restoration Program are rebuilding vintage automobiles and maintaining the school vans.

A $5,000 grant received from Berkshire Bank Foundation, Inc., will help us continue to develop the vocational learning opportunities offered to special needs/at-risk students attending Raymond Hill School. Peter Samson, Senior Vice President & Regional Leader, CT Commercial Banking, Berkshire Bank, presented the grant. “Berkshire Bank is pleased to invest in the Raymond Hill School vocational program, which helps students find their unique gifts and prepare them for the future,” he said.

Dr. Steven Girelli, President/CEO of Klingberg Family Centers, was present to accept the grant. “We truly appreciate Berkshire Bank’s support of this program,” he said. “These funds will allow us to enhance the opportunities we offer for students to gain hands-on work experience and the practical skills needed for employment and independent living.”

(For more about Berkshire Bank and the foundation, visit www.berkshirebank.com.)