News

A special thank you to Bank of America who is supporting WCAC’s YES (Youth Employment Seminar) program with a $6,000 grant. Pictured here are WCAC’s Executive Director Jill Dagilis, Job & Education Center Director Charla Hixson and Bank of America’s MJ Driscoll. YES offers small cohorts of disconnected youth soft skills, work and financial readiness training as well as case management and any required wrap around services required to get them job ready.

Southbridge Savings Bank’s Charitable Donations Committee recently announced the donation of $36,000 to Worcester Community Action Council to assist local residents with home heating costs. The bank is committing to a total of $4,000 to each community it serves. Read more here.

Learn about the volunteers at the heart of the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition, resources recently directed WCAC’s way to support various programs, as well as continued outreach for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Read more here.

As winters go, the winter of 2015-16 has, thus far, been a welcomed departure from the record setting snow fall and frigid temperatures endured last year. Despite the milder weather and decreases in the cost of home heating oil, Worcester Community Action Council knows there are families struggling and wants to ensure they know – help is available. Read more here.

WCAC is pleased to join Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc., (MassEdCO) in welcoming Massachusetts State Treasurer Deb Goldberg for a FREE Financial Literacy Summit: Financing a Postsecondary Education on Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester. Additional details and registration information available online. Download a flyer about the summit below.

2016-03-11 MassEdCO Financial Literacy Summit Invitation

Fallon Community Health Plan recently awarded WCAC’s Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County program $1,000 through its Pay It Forward program, where Fallon employees select an area charity to support. The resources will be used to support Healthy Families outreach,  home visits, education and community referrals for first-time parents. Pictured at the check presentation are Cheryl Schmaltz, Sharon Nolli, Christine Taylor and Christine Cassidy all of Fallon, along with Mimi Shea, Jilma Valdes and Charlotte Operach of Healthy Families.

In celebration of Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day, WCAC was pleased to join its partners in the Worcester Free Tax Service Coalition to kick off the 12th year of free tax preparation services for income eligible households. Read more here.

A look back, a look ahead. Free tax preparation services, fuel assistance at the ready and celebrating the season of generosity. Read more HERE in the latest edition of WCAC’s Enewsletter.

Community Generosity Keeps Children Warm

The Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. extends its heartfelt thanks for incredible community support demonstrated for its annual coat drive. This year’s drive provided nearly 450 new winter coats to children – infants through age 5 – enrolled in the agency’s Early Head Start, Head Start and Healthy Families programs, as well as to the children of young parents enrolled in WCAC’s Job & Education Center. Some 381 individual coats were donated as well as $3,200 in contributions by area corporations to support the effort. Read full story here.