Berkshire County's Oskar Hallig, co-founder of Only in My Dreams Events, is packing a punch. More specifically, a punch with a purpose.
For the last five years, Oskar and his husband, Mike Zippel, have been Berkshire event planners. Like so many businesses caught cold by a global pandemic and total shutdown, the only way off the ropes was to pivot.
When Gwendolyn VanSant, founding director of Multicultural BRIDGE, requested custom gift packs for participants in the nonprofits conference, Hallig and VanSant put their heads together to curate something that spoke directly to BRIDGE's mission. Having the connections and resources to source just about anything, the transition into becoming a go-to location for gifts and care packages was a no-brainer. Couple that with Hallig and Zippel's long history of nonprofit involvement and Packs With a Purpose was born. And it's been a knockout since.
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Since then Hallig has worked closely with 6 other Berkshire nonprofit organizations to create individually themed boxes, each one designed with items inherent to the organization's mission, including products made locally by those directly connected, and a $25 donation to the organization. The added bonus? Hallig buys the products directly from the makers. This way, he says, local sources can benefit as much as possible.
Alongside the BRIDGE pack, Only in My Dreams offers curated packs co-created with Berkshire Theatre Group, Berkshire South Community Center, Berkshares, Berkshire Immigrant Center, and IS183.
Packs With a Purpose are a triple threat. Not only does it help pay the bills at In My Dreams, but it also gives back to a local nonprofit organization, and creates another sales platform for local artisans. Knowing that your purchase is not just helping one local business stay afloat, but positively impacting as many as seven different enterprises, is the ultimate way to give back to your community. Each pack makes for an incredibly unique gift you can truly feel good about.
When I asked Hallig where he sees Packs With a Purpose going from here, he replied, "the sky's the limit." A new pack in partnership with WAM Theatre will release in the next couple weeks, and they're currently working on co-creating a pack with the Railroad Street Youth Project. For Hallig, he sees no signs of slowing down.
If you are a local organization searching for a creative way to connect with your community, Hallig says, drop him a line. Maybe you'll be packing the next punch of kindness into the hands of so many in need.
Open Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or by appointment), browse unique gifts, curated packs, cards & more at The Shop, Only In My Dreams brick and mortar location, 45 Main Street, South Egremont.
To order online, visit onlyinmydreamsevents.com
For more information call (413)-528-0285 or (844)-313-1744 or email, info@onlyinmydreamsevents.com
