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June 21, 2024: Issue 12

Offering hope and help to those impacted by opioid misuse in

Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region.

UPCOMING EVENTS

See what's happening at OTF this month.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

Explore OTF's COVID-19 Resource Guide.

MASSACHUSETTS SUBSTANCE USE HELPLINE

Hope is here. Get help.

413Cares
Resources for Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region. Click here.

NQCC'S RESOURCES

Resources and upcoming events in the North Quabbin Region. Click here.

CONNECTIONS #80

Find local resources in this issue.

Emergency Services Resources for Unhoused Individuals

The PACES CONNECTION

Click here for resources.

Grayken Center for Addiction

Training & Technical Assistance

Click here to view and/or register for trainings.

GCC Community Engagement and Workshop Events

Click here to view and/or register for trainings.

"Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.

~Roy T. Bennett

Happy Pride from the Opioid Task Force! 


June is Pride Month and Pride is about celebrating the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community! June is recognized as Pride Month in honor of the Stonewall Riots which took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969. The Stonewall Riots served as a spark for a broader LGBTQ+ rights movement. Pride celebrations today celebrate the progress made in the LGBTQ+ community while highlighting and bringing awareness to the issues the community still faces. 

While there has been lots of progress made in the fight for equality for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, there is still work to be done. Substance use disorder (SUD) does not discriminate based on gender, race, or sexual orientation. While celebrating Pride Month it is important to acknowledge that the LGBTQ+ community suffers higher rates of substance use issues compared to those who do not identify as LGBTQ+. Pride Month is an important time to celebrate progress and also an opportunity to highlight the unique challenges that the LGBTQ+ community still faces that contributes to them being disproportionately affected by substance use issues.  


 SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) cites that those who identify as LGBTQ+ are twice as likely to have a substance use disorder. Myriad factors contribute to the higher rates of substance use issues within this community, such as social stigma, higher rates of mental health issues, discrimination, healthcare inequality, internalized homophobia, a history of trauma and feelings of loneliness and isolation. Understanding these challenges and implementing effective education and prevention strategies is crucial for promoting health and well-being within the LGBTQ+ community. 


Here are a few examples of ways professionals working in education and prevention can empower and support the LGBTQ+ community to address substance use issues.

• Create more inclusive prevention programs that affirm the identities of LGBTQ+ individuals.

• Develop educational materials that illuminate the specific substance use risks LGBTQ+ individuals face.  

• Advocate for policies that promote equality for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ to combat and reduce discrimination.  

• Encourage LGBTQ+ lead peer support groups to provide a sense of mutual support and community. 


Addressing some of the unique challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face through targeted prevention efforts helps to encourage well-being and mental health for LGBTQ+ individuals while also strengthening the community as a whole. Empowering individuals with the supports and resources they need can help them lead fulfilling and healthy lives.

Happy Pride everyone!  

Kristen Cuddy-Pease

Program Associate, Opioid Task Force

OTF Members in the News

"For Hampshire and Franklin County Offenders, Drug Diversion and Recovery Starts Here" ~ Daily Hampshire Gazette (6/11/24)


Maria Pantoja credits her late aunt and dearest friend Doris Colon with giving her a valuable lesson about helping people in the throes of drug addiction. “She showed me how to treat the person, then the problem,” Pantoja said.


Colon had her own struggles with drugs and died at 43 in 1998. Pantoja went on to work in the Hampden and Northwestern district attorney’s offices, and has headed the Drug Diversion and Treatment Program in Hampshire and Franklin counties since 2018.

Last month, the Hampshire County Bar Association awarded her its Contribution to Justice Award “in appreciation of her dedication, knowledge, patience and fairness in furthering the interests of justice in Hampshire County.”


“I was overwhelmed when they called me for this,” Pantoja said. It makes her especially proud to know she’s the first Latina to win the award.


She knows about struggling for acceptance. Her dad was the first Spanish teacher in the Holyoke schools, in 1970, she said, and had to battle for a classroom bigger than a closet. Similarly, she was the only Spanish-speaking person in Holyoke District Court when she began working there in 1997 and experienced prejudice and dismissiveness as part of the daily routine. But she kept going, returning to college in 2011 and graduating magna cum laude from Bay Path University in 2015.


Pantoja accepts offenders to the drug diversion program based on her own intake assessment. It starts with a drug charge and an appearance in court, where a prosecutor may see someone as a suitable candidate and refer them to the diversion program.


Becky Michaels, an assistant district attorney and director of community prosecution projects, said Pantoja’s qualities go beyond being organized and having the trust of court personnel. “She brings such a sense of hope for every person she works with,” Michaels said. “She helps them believe they can get out of the situation they’re in.” Pantoja has great empathy for people struggling with addiction, she said, and an ability to see good in them even at their darkest moments.


Intake may take an hour or two, Pantoja said. She has to know the person is serious about committing to treatment and going through the program, which takes at least six months to complete. The court case stays active until the offender completes treatment, after which charges are dismissed.


Pantoja works closely with Clinical & Support Options and the Center for Human Development to develop individual treatment plans. John Sullivan at the Northampton Recovery Center is another important resource, she said.


If the client misses an appointment, Pantoja will know about it — and she’ll call them on it. She sees herself as the human face of the court system, but if people want to stay out of court itself, they need to follow through.

People who have completed the program often stay in touch with Pantoja afterward. A 30-year-old single mother who had lost custody of her children and was at rock bottom when she was arrested in February 2023 sent Pantoja a video to say she had saved her life. “I did the program and graduated and since then my life has done nothing but get better,” the woman said, describing Pantoja as a “hard-ass.” “If you’re not doing what you need to be doing, she’ll kick you out of the program. You have to do the work. I have a huge spot in my heart for Maria.”


Those accepted for diversion are primarily nonviolent offenders. If there is a victim in the case, Pantoja will consult with the victim/witness advocates to make sure they’re in agreement. The first person she worked with was a former police officer, she said, who had become addicted to opiates after breaking his back on a police call.


“I learned a lot,” she said. District Attorney David Sullivan said his office has received dozens of letters of thanks from people who

have completed the program. “We’re so proud of Maria,” he said. “It’s an award she richly deserves.” She goes above and beyond to help clients, he said, putting a human face on criminal justice. “They realize we're a human system, and people will respect them if they respect themselves,” he said.


In her time, the diversion program has served more than 630 people, she said. Numbers at any one time are fluid: As of Friday, there were 50 in various stages of recovery. Pantoja runs the program with help from a diversion specialist who works in Franklin County.


“I love to see the transformation” that some in the program undergo, she said. “We’ve had some wonderful successes. But some can’t do it.” Overall, she said, there are more completions than terminations. The vast majority of those who complete the program stay off drugs afterward, though some may be on maintenance drugs such as methadone for years to come.


The drugs themselves are an evolving challenge. ... Pantoja said she was speaking recently with a young woman, just turned 21, who told her she had overdosed 10 times.


Pantoja said she told her she must be blessed. “I want them to understand they’re valuable,” she said of the people in the program. “I want to see them succeed.”



(Staff File Photo/James Pentland)

"Local Woman Up for Judgeship" ~ Greenfield Recorder (6/12/24)




 

A Greenfield woman is likely a few weeks away from becoming a judge after she received rave reviews at a public hearing held in her hometown.


In May, Alexandra Flanders, a judicial case manager, was nominated by Gov. Maura Healey to be an associate justice of the Probate and Family Court, an institution she has been associated with since 2013. All nominees go up for consideration by the Governor’s Council, and Councilor Tara Jacobs, who represents District 8 in the western part of the state, helped arrange for a local public hearing at the Franklin County Justice Center on Monday so residents wouldn’t have to drive to Boston to make their comments.


“[It was] very humbling and very moving, and I’m so grateful to people for being willing to do this,” Flanders said inside the third-floor jury pool room, “because this feels like a big ask — to come speak in a roomful of people.”


According to the state’s website, Flanders’ job as judicial case manager makes her responsible for providing legal expertise

to judges and responding to questions from staff, attorneys and the public. The website states she was part of the creation of the first family treatment court in Massachusetts, which serves families affected by substance use disorder. Flanders earned a bachelor’s degree from Bard College in New York and a law degree from New York University School of Law.


Flanders told the Greenfield Recorder that the eight-member Governor ’s Council is scheduled to hold a hearing in Boston on June 26 and vote within the following week or two whether to appoint her as a judge. She has been nominated to a newly created circuit position and is unsure where she would be assigned.


“As many of you know, applying to be a judge is a lengthy process and requires a lot of work. Thank you to the people that have mentored and encouraged me, many of whom are in this room, and who have talked me down and offered support during this process,” she told guests to some laughter. “I’ve been so fortunate to work with many talented judges during my time with the Probate and Family Court. I’ve learned so much and I’m so grateful to the judges who have been willing to answer my questions, engage in dialogue about perplexing issues and who urged me to take this step.”


The Probate and Family Court Department handles matters that involve families and children, such as divorce, child support and wills.


Monday’s hearing in Greenfield was attended by roughly 45 people, and commenters consisted of Flanders’ past and present coworkers, all of whom sang her praises.

Kathleen Sandman, first justice of the Probate and Family Court, said she has for years known Flanders, who a handful of years ago became her judicial case manager.


“She has managed our court and provided exceptional ability and leadership in executing that role,” Sandman said of Flanders. “She is without a doubt the glue that holds it all together here at Franklin Probate.”

She also emphasized Flanders’ intelligence, experience and accessibility.


Retired Judge Geoffrey Wilson said Flanders has a knack for connecting with people.


“You know, there are a lot of people who understand the law. But not all of those people know how to relate it to other people and to understand what other people are saying, and particularly who have the patience to listen to what other people are saying,” he said. “The intelligence

is only a part of becoming a good judge. The demeanor is really the most important thing, and I’d have to say Alexa has it in spades.”

He also said Flanders’ sense of humor and sympathetic nature will do her well on the bench.


“I think … she’s the ideal choice to be a judge,” he said. “I don’t think that in the commonwealth of Massachusetts you’re going to find somebody who’s better qualified.”


Jodie Nolan, Flanders’ predecessor as judicial case manager, said Flanders has worked with and learned from numerous judges over the years.


“This has given Alexa a unique and intimate perspective on the day-to-day work of a Family Court judge,” Nolan said.


Benjamin Simanski, the first assistant clerk magistrate who organized Monday ’s hearing, said Flanders “truly is one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met.”


Debra McLaughlin, coordinator of the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region, also spoke in favor of Flanders’ appointment to the bench, as did local attorney Leslie Powers.


In addition to Flanders, Healey also nominated Jessica Dubin, Mikalen Howe, and Carla Salvucci as associate justices to the Probate and Family Court.


“The Probate and Family Court plays an essential role in providing justice for families across the state, and I’m confident that these distinguished attorneys will make strong additions to the bench,” Healey said in a statement. “I’m proud to nominate them and appreciate the Governor’s Council’s consideration.”




Staff Photo/Paul Franz)

***Locals Share Successes in Wake of 10% Drop in Fatal ODs***

As newly released data shows 2023 saw the largest decline in opioid-related overdose deaths in 13 years, members of the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region shared their successes with representatives from the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday afternoon.


At its Executive Council meeting at Greenfield Community College, the Opioid Task Force gave DPH Commissioner Dr. Robert Goldstein a rundown on the successful prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery programs and initiatives the wide-ranging coalition has brought into the region since its founding in 2013.


“It’s been very impactful for us as a community,” said Franklin County Sheriff and Opioid Task Force Co-Chair Christopher Donelan, adding that he suspects the opioid epidemic would have been drastically worse without the task force. “We’re the model that people have followed and we’re very proud of that.”


Goldstein was joined by Bureau of Substance Addiction Services Director Deirdre Calvert and Julia Newhall, director of opioid abatement strategy and implementation. Following the meeting at GCC, Goldstein, Calvert and Newhall traveled to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments’ office to meet with community health department staff.


The meeting with state officials came the same day that the DPH announced that preliminary data shows opioid-related overdose deaths decreased by 10% in Massachusetts, representing the largest single-year decline since 2009. In 2023, there were 2,125 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths, which was 232 fewer than in 2022.


While this came as welcome news for the state as a whole, Opioid Task Force Coordinator Debra McLaughlin noted the 2023 preliminary data for Franklin County and Athol shows 32 fatal opioid related overdoses compared to 28 the year prior. “This has not been our experience here,” McLaughlin said, noting she was “heartened” by the statewide numbers. “We have a number of disparities that we are continuing to address in our region.”


In other areas, though, the Opioid Task Force has seen great success. Kat Allen, coalition coordinator with FRCOG, said the partnerships they’ve formed with schools and community agencies for prevention programs have contributed to youth substance abuse plummeting from 53% in 2003 to just 25%.


Heather Bialecki-Canning, executive director of the North Quabbin Community Coalition, added that a lot of the work has been focused on ensuring there’s a consistent message everywhere from Athol to Rowe, and ensuring that silos between agencies are broken down as many issues are interconnected.

“Substance misuse prevention is heavily tied into addressing mental health concerns, addressing trauma and addressing racial equity,” Bialecki-Canning said, adding that resources in school are essential to this work. “We need more. We need them to be stronger and more connected to the community outside the school walls.”


While the prevention successes are a step forward, opioid-related treatment work here in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region is leading the nation. In 2013, there were zero residential treatment beds in the region and in 2024, there are now 324. Northwestern District Attorney and Opioid Task Force Co-Chair David Sullivan called this “tremendous” progress. Additionally, Dr. Ruth Potee and Donelan worked in 2019 to secure a license for the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction to be one of the first jails in the United States to administer methadone to inmates. “If every county looked like Franklin County, I think our overdose rates would have dropped further,” Po t e e said, adding that “our little tiny country jail” has trained others across the country in administering methadone.


One of the last major topics discussed was the complicated funding formula for a nationwide opioid settlement, which FRCOG Director of Community Health Phoebe Walker said puts rural communities at a disadvantage. She noted parameters like school staff are put into the equation and severely disadvantage towns that have regional districts, providing an example of a disparity between two towns with similar populations. Gill will receive just under $5,500 over the course of the opioid settlement, while Erving is slated to receive nearly $87,000, according to state data. “This formula is really inequitable for rural communities,” Walker said, “a place where there is significant substance abuse.”


The DPH officials said they’ve heard these concerns from other communities, but due to the nationwide aspect of the opioid settlement, the funding is fixed. To help towns that are getting only a small amount of money, the agency is looking into grant programs for municipalities. “Sadly, I’ve received the same information that this is just set in stone and there is no changing it,” said Newhall.


The Opioid Task Force Executive Council will reconvene in September. For more information about the regional coalition and its work, visit opioidtaskforce.org.


(Staff Photo/Paul Franz)

UPCOMING OTF COMMITTEE & WORKGROUP MEETINGS


Virtual: Emergency Services for Unhoused Individuals Task Force

July 8, 2024

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Zoom details here.


Hybrid: Sexual Exploitation & Trafficking Workgroup

July 8, 2024

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Franklin County Reentry Center

106 Main Street, Greenfield

Zoom details here.


Virtual: Education & Prevention Committee

July 9, 2024

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Zoom details here.


Virtual: Harm Reduction Workgroup

July 10, 2024

11:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

Zoom details here.


Virtual: Joint Treatment & Recovery and Health Care Solutions Committee

July 12, 2024

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Zoom details here.


Virtual: Joint Healthcare Solutions and Treatment & Recovery Committee

July 12, 2024

10:00 AM - 11:30 Noon

Zoom details here.


Hybrid: Public Safety & Justice Committee

August 5, 2024

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Franklin County Reentry Center

106 Main Street, Greenfield

Zoom details here.


Virtual: Methadone Workgroup

August 8, 2024

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Zoom details here.


Virtual: Housing & Workforce Development Committee

August 9, 2024

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Zoom details here.


Virtual: CAM Workgroup

August 13, 2024

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Zoom details here.







Consult our website or Facebook Page for updates. Please email us with any questions!

FEATURED EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONNECT: Post-Opioid Overdose Outreach Services

Support & Resources After the HEALing Communities Study

Learn more at HealTogetherMA.org

IMPORTANT UPDATE: HEALTH CARE RESOURCE CENTERS

Medication Supported Recovery Conversation Group - CHD

Mondays 9-10 AM, Tuesdays 9-10 AM or 3-4 PM

Time Sensitive Announcements

June 1 - 30 Diaper Drive

June 21 Navigating the Joys and Challenges of Kinship Caregiving

June 21 & 28 Friday Storytime

June 22 Orange Riverfest

June 22 Family Fun Day

June 22 Kids Safety Day

June 22 Cartographies: Mapping the Interior

June 22 Wendell Free Library Summer Reading Kickoff

with Ed the Wizard

June 22 Stone Soup Cafe Menu

June 22 & 23 Story Walks

June 23 Community Conversation: Improving Library Accessibility for Patrons with Limited Mobility, Vision, and Hearing

June 23 Welcoming Wellness Workshop

June 24 Western MA Policy Forum

June 24 Hack This Painting!

June 24- June Book Discussion "How the South Won the Civil War"

June 24 - August 3 Kids' Summer Reading Program

June 24 - August 16 Summer Meals Under the Tent

June 25 Tie Dye at NQRC

June 25 Summer Reading Kick Off

June 25 Parents Supporting Parents BBQ

June 26 Walk-In Clothing Donation Event

June 26 Overdose Prevention & Narcan Training

Register Here!

June 26 Busting Housing Myths in Franklin County

June 26 Court Service Center Walk-In Days at the NQ Patch

June 27 Fair Housing 101

June 27 Cooking with Gratitude, Local to Global

Women Healing Women Healing Earth

June 28 Homeschool Hangout

June 28 Outdoor Family Concert with Grumpytime Club Band!

June 28 Bad News Jazz & Blues Orchestra

June 29 Trap the Zhu Zhu!

June 29 Piti Theatre presents Story Wizards

June 29 Dinner & A Show Hosted By Rob Peck to benefit Stone Soup Cafe

We are thrilled to invite you to a special evening hosted by our longtime supporter, Rob Peck, in celebration of his 70th birthday and to benefit Stone Soup Café!


When: Saturday, June 29th

Where: Amherst, MA - Cherry Hill Cohousing

--> 6:00 PM - Buffet Dinner: A chef's dinner of savory summer fare

--> 7:30 PM - Delightful entertainment!


A grand time for a great cause, this event promises to delight the ear, dazzle the eye, and tickle your funny bone!


The night begins with a delicious chef-prepared dinner from our Stone Soup Café team, featuring savory summer delights with gluten-free and vegan options to cater to everyone. During intermission, savor a slice of our special scrumptious chocolate mocha birthday cake and join us in serenading Rob!


We hope to see you there!


BUY A TICKET: https://givebutter.com/ROBis70


June 30 Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum

A Chat with Author Antonia Hylton

July 5 & 28 Friday Storytime

July 6 Potluck BBQ at Porter Family Farm

July 8 - July 12 Drop Off for Free Clothing Exchange (Clothing Exchange - July 13)

July 9 & July 10 A Community Conversation

July 10 Buildwave Workshop

July 10 & July 17 North Quabbin Teen FREE Summer Fun (Wednesdays through August 14)

July 11 Expressive Jewelry Making

Women Healing Women Healing Earth

July 12 Down by The River with Wildcat O'Halloran

July 15 Join the Fun Building Boxville

July 15 - August 29 Tuition Free Training in Culinary Arts

MONTHLY/WORKSHOP CALENDRS AND WEEKLY STANDING MEETINGS/EVENTS

Improving Housing to Improve Health News

June at The Art Garden

June Brick House Events

June Community Action Family Center Calendar

June Programs at Franklin County Reentry Center

June Programs - Great Falls Discovery Center

June Greenfield Public Library Programs

June Montague Public Library Programs

June Events at Sunderland Public Library

June Union 28 Community Network for Children Program Calendar

NQRC Summer Hours

July - August at Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre

LifePath's FREE Healthy Living Summer Workshops

Spring & Summer Pothole Pictures

Youth Works Summer 2024

Summer at The Art Garden

Montague Community Band 2024 Summer Concert Series

The Shelburne Falls Military Band Summer 2024 Schedule

2024 Seeds of Solidarity Calendar of Events

SNAP Application Assistance
Always Open! Community Labyrinth in Greenfield

NQRC Weekly Schedule

RECOVER Project Groups At a Glance
Weekdays All Recovery Meeting at
The RECOVER Project

Monday/Wednesday/Friday

The Community Closet at The Franklin County Reentry Center

Monday - Friday
Movement Group with North Quabbin Recovery Center Peer Leaders
Mondays North Quabbin Patch Parents' Council

Mondays Breaking Barriers at the Franklin County

Reentry Center

Mondays Art Guild Meetings
Mondays Advanced Manufacturing Info Sessions
Monday Drug Court Alumni Group - North Quabbin

Mondays Community Yoga at Wildflower Alliance

Mondays at FCSO Reentry Center - Recovery Through Creativity

Second Mondays of the Month - North Quabbin B.R.A.V.E. Task Force Meetings

Mondays Alternatives to Suicide Group

2nd Mondays

Greenfield Healing Clinic

2nd and 4th Mondays
Parenting Together at the Brick House

Third Monday Alphabet & Allies

Third Monday Parenting With Pride

Mondays and Thursdays

Hygiene Supplies Pick Up at the Brick House

Tuesdays Peer-Led Grief and Loss Circle

Every Other Tuesday - Housing Support Drop In Hours

First Tuesday - Dads' Group at Valuing Our Children

Tuesday Tea Time & Community Resource Drop-In

Tuesdays North Quabbin Recovery Center Coffee Hour

Tuesdays Greenfield Suicide Loss Group

First Tuesday - P.A.R.T. Task Force

Tuesdays Drop-In Knitting & Sewing Sessions

2nd Tuesdays New Member Orientation at the RECOVER Project

Tuesday & Thursdays Weekly Reentry Groups

Tuesday Men's Anger Management Group

Wednesday Women's Anger Management Group

Wednesdays - Wendell Library Playgroup with Sylvia

Wednesdays - Playgroup at the Leverett Library with Gillian

Wednesdays HEROES Study Hub at GCC
First & Third Thursdays Parent Support Group

Thursdays Dungeons and Dragons

Thursdays Mens Group in the RPX

Thursdays Recovery Support Group Meetings at the Franklin County Reentry Center
Thursdays Coffee Hour at the Brick House
Thursdays Beyond Trauma Group in Spanish
Second Thursdays Every Month, Peer Grief Support

Fridays FreeWrite of Franklin County

First Friday of Every Month: Open Mic at the RP

Every Friday - The Garden Path

Every First & Third Friday - Grandparents & Kinship Support Group

Every Second Friday Chosen Family Night

Every Third Friday: Karaoke at The RECOVER Project

Last Friday of the Month: Gardening in Recovery
Homeshare Program with LifePath
Act Now to Stay Covered with MassHealth

Probation Case Specialist Position at Greenfield District Court

Outreach Specialist Position at CHOiCE Recovery Coaching

Community Support Navigator at CHD

DIAL/SELF AmeriCorps Opportunity at
Montague Catholic Social Ministries
CHCFC OBAT Same Day & Tele-Health Appointment Information
Free English Classes
Free Meals and Essentials
Saints James and Andrews Parish Hall
Come Cook with Franklin County
Community Meals Program
CONNECTIONS -
A Residential Program of Behavioral Health Network
Orange Food Pantry Seeking Non-Food Donations
The Franklin County Community Meals Program seeking non-food donations for its Orange Food Pantry

When people think of donating to our agency and food pantry, they often think of food- however, that's easier for us to obtain with local partnerships with farms and retailers. What we struggle to keep stocked are hygienic & household products, such as:

  • Adult pull-ups size Medium, Large, & XL
  • Menstrual products
  • Bath products- bath wash or bar soap, shampoo, conditioner
  • Deodorant
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Toothpaste (we have plenty of toothbrushes currently!)
  • Paper Towels
  • Toilet Paper
  • Laundry Detergent
  • Dish Soap
  • Household cleaners- Windex, multi-surface, floor cleaner, etc.

Dozen-sized egg cartons for repackaging the hundreds of eggs we receive weekly from retailers are also needed.

Please share this list amongst your networks! Donations can be dropped off at 324 Wells Street (the Franklin County Community Distribution Center) at our office, or if donating a large amount, drop-off can be coordinated via donate@fccmp.org. (Image credit: Pixabay)
Family Self-Sufficiency Program Available
Eviction Self-Help Booklets Available in Multiple Languages

MLRI has recently updated and translated some of our self-help booklets for unrepresented tenants facing eviction. While we still recommend tenants facing eviction seek legal help, we know resources are limited and many tenants have to represent themselves. We hope these booklets can be helpful to pro se tenants and their advocates.

You can see the full list of booklets below, or at MassLegalHelp. The booklets can help tenants prepare for court, outline their legal claims, and file court forms. There is also a booklet to help public housing tenants navigate the Grievance process.

Please reach out if you have any questions about the booklets and how they can be used.

What steps to take before going to court and what to bring to court.

An easy-to-use checklist that tells you what conditions violate the State Sanitary Code. You can also use the free self-help guided interview, MADE: Up To Code.

The Answer is a court form that tenants facing evictions can file with the court to outline your legal claims and tell the court your side of the story. You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services’ free self-help guided interview, MADE

How to ask the court to accept your Answer and Discovery forms late.  You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services’ free self-help guided interview, MADE.

A form with instructions for tenants facing eviction to get information to prepare for their trial.

A form with instructions for tenants in foreclosed properties to get information to prepare their case. 

A form you can file to transfer your eviction case from a District Court to a Housing Court.

How to get a new court date if you missed your court date.

If you lost your eviction trial and think you have a good case, you may appeal. This document tells you which Appeal form to use.

How to file an appeal from a case in Housing Court.

How to file an appeal from a case in District Court.

How to get time to stay in your home if you lost your case.

How to ask the court to pay for court costs. 

How to think through the terms you want in an agreement. Includes a worksheet and stipulation forms to use when you go to court. Read this booklet as webpages and watch the videos!

How to correct errors on your online court records. The Booklet includes the court form you can save to your computer, fill out, save again and print when ready.

A booklet for tenants in Mass. about the grievance process, including worksheets to help you prepare for a grievance hearing.

Update! Greenfield CSC New Hybrid Operations Change
The Greenfield Court Service Center is located at 43 Hope St., 1st Floor, Greenfield, MA.

They offer in-person services on Tuesdays & Thursdays, ONLY, from 8:30 am-1 pm, and 2 pm-4 pm. Remote services (email, phone, Zoom) are available on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.

For an intake, contact the Virtual Court Service Center, Mon. thru Fri. 9 am-12 pm by telephone: 1-646-828-7666, press #, #, then enter meeting ID: 161 526 1140 or by video: www.zoomgov.com/j/1615261140.

COMMUNITY JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region www.opioidtaskforce.org
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