October 2022

New Fuel Assistance Applications Accepted November 1, 2022

ABCD Urges Residents to Confirm Their Eligibility


ABCD is accepting new applications for Fuel Assistance beginning November 1, 2022. Residents of Greater Boston who meet eligibility requirements should apply right away. Electric and gas prices have recently skyrocketed, along with inflation. Families at most income levels are struggling to keep up with inflation, and soaring food and energy prices. Fortunately, help with fuel costs is available to more families than what may be realized. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) FY 2023 income guidelines are available here.


The ABCD Home Energy Assistance Program known as Fuel Assistance, helps more than 20,000 income qualifying households pay fuel bills during the winter heating season (November through April) each year. This program is for homeowners as well as renters, including those who live in non-subsidized housing with heat included in their rent.

 

Eligible recipients automatically receive discounted rates for gas and electric bills and qualify for full scale weatherization, replacement of an inefficient or inoperable heating system and replacement of inefficient major appliances such as a refrigerator, freezer, window air conditioner or a washer or dryer. 


Residents of Boston, Brookline or Newton can apply by calling at 617-357-6012. Residents of Malden, Everett, Winchester, Melrose, Woburn or Stoneham can call 781-322-6284. Walk- in help with applications is available at all ABCD neighborhood centers. The online system for first-time fuel assistance can be accessed by visiting toapply.org/MassLIHEAP where detailed information is available including a listing of neighborhood centers.

News & Updates

Kudos

Flossy Calderon, director of ABCD Head Start & Children’s Services was awarded the Ruth M. Batson Advocate of the Year Award of Excellence at the Provider’s Council Annual Convention and Expo earlier this month. Four Peer Provider Awards and 13 Awards of Excellence were distributed celebrating human services organizations and leaders for their tremendous contributions to the sector over the past year. Congratulations on a job well done, Flossy!

Food For The Soul, Mind and Body

Committed to strengthening our food security program, ABCD has several new initiatives underway. In February, upon completion of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) funding, ABCD received a $250,000 grant from the Office of Community Services (OCS) to continue our Food Delivery Program in partnership with Stop n’ Shop that was established during the height of COVID. Our Food Delivery Program is featured in an OCS Freedom from Hunger Initiative video, and focuses on homebound senior clients and those with disabilities who have difficulty getting to Food Access Centers. Through September 2022, monthly, 180+ households received $130 worth of food and essential items, to their doorstep. Clients indicated food preferences and dietary restrictions when ordering.  In collaboration with the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, ABCD was awarded a $2.5 million grant through which we will continue the Food Delivery Program. 

 

Food insecurity is more severe in Eastern Massachusetts. A May 2019 report by Feeding America revealed that Massachusetts has the most expensive food prices in the country, with residents of Eastern Massachusetts shouldering the highest food costs statewide. Feeding America also reports that in 2021, 53 million people turned to food access centers and community programs for help putting food on the table.

 

ABCD is accepting applications for our Food Delivery Program. Anyone in need should call 617-348-6222 or email fooddelivery@bostonabcd.org.

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At Your Service: Community Coordination

ABCD’s neighborhood centers are the heart of our organization, providing a convenient, grassroots intersection for customers to access emergency and long- term services in their own community. The Community Coordination Department provides direct case management to income eligible clients who live in Boston, Malden, Medford and Everett. Referrals are provided for housing, food, clothing, fuel assistance, career training, early education and childcare. Assistance is available in all languages. Some additional services include: 


  • Tax preparation for income eligible clients and foreclosure prevention assistance for homeowners.


  • Immigration assistance for naturalization, certificates of citizenship, replacement of permanent residence cards and naturalization/citizenship documents, I-912 and request for fee waivers. 


  • Cradles to Crayons quarterly kid packs complete with clothing, shoes, books, games, and school supplies for children 12 and under. Winter clothing, including youth and adult jackets, gloves, hats, and snow pants are available to clients. Diapers are available to clients monthly. 


  • Holiday Programs across the city offer Thanksgiving Turkeys for families in November. Holiday toys are also available for children 12 and under. 


  • Food Access Centers across the city, the Senior Brown Bag nutrition program and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aka SNAP application assistance. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please call, 617-348-6329 or email ABCDConnect@bostonabcd.orgFor a full list of programs, visit bostonabcd.org/allprograms.

Corporate Donors and Boston Celtics SuperFans Shoot Their Shot at ABCD's Hoop Dreams to Support Boston's Low-Income Youth

(L-R) Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens with ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq.

(L-R) ABCD Board Chair/Vertex Pharmaceuticals Team Captain Sean K. Daughtry, ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., Hoop Dreams event chair Peter Damato, CEO of Merchant Resource Group and Charlie Titus, retired vice chancellor, UMass Boston.

  • Players from sponsor teams comprised of generous Boston businesses and groups of SuperFans turned their dreams into reality last month at the 11th annual ABCD Hoop Dreams, the iconic charity basketball tournament played on the legendary TD Garden parquet. 


  • Our incredible sponsors had the chance to drive the lane and shoot that buzzer three-pointer – while making a huge impact on the lives of young people in need of resources and opportunities including: Burlington Motors, Encore Boston Harbor, Family Practice Group, Merchant Resource Group, Morgan Stanley, No Books No Ball, The Varano Group and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.


  • Event chair Peter Damato, CEO of Merchant Resource Group said, “For me, it’s just a labor of love. I love Boston sports — I love the Celtics. There's a lot of cool stuff that happens during Hoop Dreams. Those sponsorship funds that go to the community through ABCD are so critical.”
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Good Food with Good Friends

(L-R) ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler, Esq., with Emily Shea, commissioner, Age Strong Commission, City of Boston.

ABCD’s 10th Annual Buona Sera: An Evening with Friends on October 6th, 2022, raised nearly $30,000 for low-income and senior clients of the North End/West End Neighborhood Service Center. Donations arrived just in time for the upcoming holiday season to support hot meal delivery, monthly food baskets and social services.

The Center’s Acting Director, Julia Power, said, “This event continues to exceed our expectations, thanks in no small part to Becky Mattson, Principal of Sagebrook Development, who has served as Buona Sera’s fundraising chair since 2011.” She added, “It was amazing to be back after a three-year hiatus from the COVID-19 pandemic. It really is a high profile event, and we are enthusiastically heading up preparations for year 11. Stay tuned!” 


The Buona Sera evening began with a wine reception at WilmerHale followed by dinner at North End restaurant sponsors including Artù, Antico Forno, Assaggio, Arya Trattoria, Boston Sail Loft, La Famiglia Giorgio’s, Mamma Maria, Ristorante Euno, Ristorante Fiore and Ristorante Saraceno.

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(L-R) Kaitlin McCarthy, Ionic Development, LCC with Becky Mattson, principal, Sagebrook Development/ Buona Sera fundraising chair and Arthur Jemison, chief of planning Boston Planning and Development Agency.

(L-R) ABCD General Counsel, Jennifer Williams and guest, Chenita Daughtry and ABCD Board Chair Sean K. Daughtry.

ABCD in Action: Featured Videos

ABCD Roxbury/North Dorchester's Monthly Food Distribution Provides Local Seniors with Free Groceries

ABCD Block Party Distributes Hundreds of Backpacks to Boston Schoolchildren

Contact ABCD Connect for information about programs and services.

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Insight Editor: Jamie McIver   Layout: Darren Szeto

Action for Boston Community Development | 617.348.6000 | bostonabcd.org