Community Action News
August 2021
RENT & UTILITY ASSISTANCE
RESOURCE WEEK

Have you fallen behind on rent or utility payments? Are you facing eviction due to rent owed? Do you have a tenant struggling to catch up on rent payments? WCAC is pleased to be joining several other local non-profits for the City of Worcester's Rental & Utility Assistance Resource Week August 16th - 19th.

Save the dates:
  • Monday, August 16 3-6 p.m. at Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence Street, Worcester
  • Tuesday, August 17, 3-6 p.m. at Roosevelt School, 1006 Grafton Street, Worcester
  • Wednesday, August 18, 3-6 p.m. at the Municipal Service Center, 801 Main Street, Worcester
  • Thursday, August 19, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Out to Lunch Concert/Farmers Market on Worcester Common, 455 Main Street, Worcester

Learn about or apply for available rental and utility assistance resources. Bring a utility bill to receive a $25 direct payment! Gift cards and other prizes available. COVID19 vaccines will also be available without an appointment. Additional info available here.
NOW ENROLLING

Through our Healthy Families, Early Head Start and Head Start Programs, WCAC provides a continuum of early education and care programming for families throughout Southern Worcester County prenatally through Kindergarten enrollment. We strive to support positive parent/child interactions through developmentally appropriate curriculum and activities for the whole family to participate in. While continuing to closely monitor public health updates relative to the COVID pandemic, WCAC plans to open its early education and care programs at full capacity come Fall 2021. Enrollment is now open with opportunities available across the spectrum of programs which cater to birth through age 5.

With sites in Southbridge and Webster, WCAC's Head Start program is a center based preschool program which serves ages 3-5. Full-day, half-day, year-round and school-year slots are available offering a dynamic program to get young children ready for Kindergarten, with a focus on language, literacy, social & emotional development.
WCAC's Early Head Start program is a home based program, serving expectant mothers and children age birth to 3. Through weekly home visits, group socializations, and developmentally appropriate activities, the program provides comperhensive services within your home to ensure your baby is reaching milestones. Program openings for both Head Start and Early Head Start are available for income eligible families residing in Brookfiled, Charlton, Doughlas, Dudley , East Brookfield, Leicester, Millbury, Oxford, Spencer, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Warren and Webster. Click here to learn more or to apply today.
WCAC’s Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County program is also home-based, serving first time parents expecting or with a child under the age of 1. The service partners with first-time, young moms and dads to provide coaching and support navigating the ups and downs of parenting. Services are provided free of charge from pregnancy through a child’s third birthday.

Program openings for Healthy Families are available for eligible families residing in Brimfield, Brookfield, E. Brookfield, W. Brookfield , N. Brookfield, Charlton, Dudley, Holland, Monson, Oxford, Palmer, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Spencer, Webster, Warren, Wales. Click here to learn more or to apply today.
SAVE THE DATE: TALENT SHOWCASE

As the Youth Works Summer Jobs program draws to a close, WCAC is planning a Job & Education Center (JEC) Talent Showcase to connect JEC program participants seeking jobs with local employers seeking to hire. The showcase will take place on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Polar Park in Worcester. The event will feature an opportunity to meet with and interview participants on the spot, raffles, prizes and more.

Area businesses interested in participating to promote employment opportunities are asked to contact Jenna Wills.
IMPACT MADE

WCAC administered $1.1 million from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation in direct gifts to over 900 vulnerable households impacted by the COVID19 pandemic, to help pay rent, food, medical, transportation and other needs. The households represented 47 different nations and were referred by ten local and critical partners in the project: the Parent Professional Advocacy League of Worcester, Angels Net, Ansaar, Friendly House, Catholic Charities, World Youth Organization, Worcester Interfaith, Southeast Asian Coalition, Rock of Salvation Church, and Muslim Community Link.

WCAC encourages everyone to get vaccinated against COVID19 - protect yourself, protect your family, protect our community!

Click here for list of upcoming vaccine clinics
Quick Links
www.WCAC.net Info@WCAC.net