NOVEMBER 2019 - In This Issue:
LOOKING FORWARD
It's hard to believe 2019 is quickly drawing to a close. And as is often the case, the year's end brings us pause - time to reflect upon accomplishments and prepare to welcome the new year and set goals for the year ahead. 
 
Both personally and professionally, 2019 was a year of great change for me. I got married. I started this job as the Executive Director of WCAC. Both leave me feeling incredibly energized by how I can shape my future.  There is also so much change happening around all of us. Our region is experiencing immense growth and many are experiencing the benefit of an incredible resurgence. 
 
However, even with all the growth within our region, I would not be doing my job well if I did not also express my fear that too many individuals and families, including thousands of children, are still not within the grasp of our renaissance, and instead are living in or on the brink of poverty.   
 
Organizations like WCAC exist on the premise that we will relieve poverty. By many measures, including through programs like Head Start, SNAP, jobs and education, and heating assistance, community action has succeeded in slowing the rate of poverty.  But is it enough to slow the widening income gap? It is my belief that we, as a community action agency, should operate in a mindset that strives to make ourselves obsolete by doing all we can to not only slow the rate of poverty, but do our daily best to reverse the gap. 
 
Over the next six months WCAC will be embarking on a strategic plan. I urge each of you reading this to become involved with us in that process. Your input and your ideas are critical to WCAC's ability to combat poverty with the greatest impact. Please join me on December 13th at our Worcester office for a kickoff of that most important discussion. (See further details in article to the right.)
 
In the coming days you should receive a letter from me either in your mailbox or your inbox. Please remember the many heartwarming stories you've read here and on our social media pages throughout the last several months. Consider the incredible impact WCAC's programs and services have on those struggling to stay warm, on those struggling to find quality child care for their little ones; on those young people struggling to find a pathway to a brighter future. And please consider making a donation to support this important work.  Let's do more, together, and keep poverty issues at the forefront of community conversations. 
 
From our WCAC family to yours, I extend best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.

 
 
 
 
 
Marybeth Campbell
Executive Director

Save the Date!
Join WCAC for one of the region's most beloved holiday traditions...


A Christmas Carol 
at
The Hanover Theatre
Thursday, December 19, 2019
7 p.m.
A portion of all tickets purchased to this performance will benefit WCAC's programs & services.

Special VIP Tickets available for $60 pp - includes pre-show reception.


Purchase online or by calling the box office at 877-571-SHOW using the promo code 'WCAC'.

Seeking Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Site Coordinator, 
Seasonal, Part Time 

 As we prepare for the upcoming tax season, WCAC is seeking a Site Coordinator to oversee the operations of our Worcester site, in addition to providing support and quality review of our Southbridge site -  promote free income tax credit benefits to low and moderate income working individuals and families as a strategy to build household assets and increase economic self-sufficiency
This is a seasonal (December - April) part time (20 - 25 hours per week) position.






Be a Head Start Hero!

Help Turn Up the Heat for those struggling with home heating bills!

Make a difference in the life a young person today!

Support WCAC programs with a tax-deductible donation!
HOME HEATING HELP
Assistance available for those struggling to keep warm
WCAC's Fuel Assistance Program is designed to provide relief those households which are struggling with high home heating costs. The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which opened for the season on November 1st,  is intended to help defray the cost of heat during winter months, now through April 30th each year.

Returning applicants can re-apply through the mail (recertification applications should have been previously received via U.S. mail). A ll income/expense/household information must be verified every year, even if there is no change.

All first time applications must complete a face-to-face interview between November 1st and April 30th. New applications can be submitted at WCAC's Worcester Office located in the Denholm Building, 484 Main Street, Worcester no appointment necessary between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. New applications also accepted by appointment for outreach sites in Southbridge, Webster, Spencer and West Warren. You can schedule appointments online or by calling 508-754-1176. 


 

Visit WCAC's website for additional details as well as specific documentation required to file an application.

MEET & GREET WITH MARYBETH
Seeking input on agency strategic planning
As a component of its ongoing Strategic Plan process, WCAC extends an invitation for community partners and others to attend a Meet & Greet with new Executive Director Marybeth Campbell Friday, December 13th from 8:30-10 a.m. on the first floor of the Denholm Building, 484 Main Street, Worcester. Learn more about the agency's programs and services while providing input into WCAC's role as an influential and innovative force in combating poverty.

WCAC intends to craft a strategy to maximize opportunity for growth and economic mobility throughout the communities we serve. Utilizing surveys, focus groups and interviews with staff, clients, non-clients, key leaders/stakeholders, as well as input from community partners and organizations serving a similar population throughout the communities we serve. This event is one of the many way we'll gather community input. Please join us!

FREE to attend but advance RSVP requested.
READY, SET, READ!
Annual Read for Record happening stresses importance of early childhood literacy
State Rep Peter Durant shares a story.
WCAC's two Head Start centers welcomed a variety of special guests on Thursday, November 7th to celebrate Jumpstart's 14th Annual Read for the RecordĀ® launched to highlight the importance of building early literacy and language skills for EVERY child, so that all children have the opportunity to enter kindergarten prepared to succeed. Last year over 1.7 million readers participated from 49 states and 60 countries!

State Rep Joe McKenna, WCAC Executive Director Marybeth Campbell & Webster Chief of Police Michael Shaw ready to read.
This year's title,  Thank You, Omu! tells the story of a generous elderly woman who makes a fantastic pot of thick red stew. The scent from her stew travels all throughout her neighborhood and brings all of her community members over to her home for a taste. By the end, she shares a lovely feast with her neighbors where everyone contributes to the meal.

Special thanks to Southbridge Credit Union for sponsoring our celebration - providing books for each of our Head Start children to take home and to the Kappa Delta Gamma Society which also donated to the event to purchase multiple copies of the books to be kept in each classroom library.  Check out pictures from our Read for the Record celebration here .
VITA IS VITAL
Seeking volunteers to support impactful 
tax return program
WCAC, as a member of the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition, has been providing free tax preparation and asset building services to low income working taxpayers throughout Central Massachusetts for more than 17 years! Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, IRS-certified volunteers prepare taxes and specifically look for tax credits the household may be eligible for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) and other credits. Utilizing the free tax preparation services allows families to retain their full refund, avoiding typical preparation fees which can often run into the hundreds of dollars. 

WCAC is presently recruiting volunteers interested in becoming certified through an IRS web-based training and certification program. It is an excellent opportunity to increase skills and knowledge in the fields of social services and basic tax law. Limited time commitment with a flexible schedule. All volunteers are overseen by experienced managers who will review returns and be available for questions. WCAC has openings to volunteer at either our Worcester or Southbridge VITA site. For additional information, please contact Terra Oliveira.
SHAPE YOUR FUTURE. START HERE.

 Click Here For Additional Info 
about being part of this most important count!

WCAC: The Antipoverty Agency for Central Massachusetts

Helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.

Serving the City of Worcester and neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield, Westborough.