Food Resources
- Food Pantry – A comprehensive list of Worcester area food pantries, locations and hours of operation.
- Food Help Worcester – Connects Worcester residents in need of food assistance with local providers of healthy food and meals.
- Food Finder – Enter your location to search for food resources near you. Powered by the Worcester County Food Bank.
- Woo Fridges – Woo Fridge believes having daily access to fresh food is a human right. Community fridges located throughout the City of Worcester are open 24/7, leaving limited barriers in the way of someone accessing fresh, healthy food of their choosing.
- The Bridge Fridge – The WellStorm, Inc. aims to bridging the gap in accessing resources. Engaging community in building connections, mutual aid, and support for people experiencing homelessness, mental health struggles and food insecurity. The group manages a community fridge located in Southbridge.
- Community Fridges – Worcester Community Fridges is a grassroots mutual aid project organizing a network of free fridges.
- Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) – state program managed by the Department of Transitional Assistance which puts money back on a client’s EBT card when it is used SNAP to buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors/farmers markets.
Community/Financial Resources
- Family Resource Centers– statewide network of community-based providers offering multi-cultural parenting programs, support groups, information and referral resources and education for families whose children range in age from birth to 18 years of age. Family Resource Centers are located in 24 communities throughout Massachusetts to provide easy access to information and assistance related to health care, safety, employment training, education and peer support. In each of these communities and centers, the goal is to support families to strengthen their bonds, connect to others, and engage in their community.
- The Worcester Parent/Caregiver Guide to Community Resources
- La Guia de Recursos Comunitarios para Padres/Cuidadores de Worcester
- Housing Counseling & Financial Services – RCAP’s Housing Counseling & Financial Services include the Housing Consumer Education Center (HCEC) including homeownership education and landlord/tenant issues, financial assistance for renters (the RAFT program), help with finding housing, home modification loans, and more.
- Affordable Connectivity Program -The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
- Elder Home Repair – Elder Home Repair is a unique program targeting the special needs of fixed and often low-income elder homeowners. We support the age network concept of ‘aging in place’ by helping assure a physically safe and healthful home. Specifically, the program corrects unsafe housing conditions (while contained at a manageable scale), which if left unattended, threaten the immediate health and safety of elders at home as well as the structural integrity of their homes. Charges are for materials only; there is no fee for labor.
- Elder Resources – Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc. can help navigate the sometimes bewildering network of programs and long term care services. Our Information and Referral Community Resource Specialists can answer questions about elder care, suggest solutions, mail information and make referrals when appropriate. We have the most current information on services for elders in Central Worcester County. Our Community Resource Specialists will follow up to find out if further assistance is needed. There is no charge for this service.
- Durable Medical Equipment – REquipment is a durable medical equipment (DME) re-use program offering free refurbished wheelchairs, scooters, shower chairs and more to adults, children and elders living in Massachusetts. Search inventory and request items you need.
- Home Modification Loan Program -The Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP) is a state-funded lending program that provides no-interest loans to homeowners to fund necessary changes to keep themselves or a family member with a disability or mobility impairment living comfortably in their own home. The program has generous income guidelines and allows for accessibility renovations based on the household member’s medical need. This program can benefit anyone in the house who has a disability or mobility impairment; the homeowner themself, their child, or an elderly family member. Loans can range from $1,000 to $50,000 are based on medical need and income eligibility. RCAP Solutions administers this program to Central Massachusetts residents in collaboration with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC).