JAMES E. DOLIN

PRESIDENT

MARK A. SULLIVAN, JR.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FRANK S. SULLIVAN

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR




Welcome to Citizens for Citizens


People living in poverty often need assistance with emergency situations and help with their own efforts to improve the circumstances under which they live. Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) is the Community Action Agency serving the cities of Fall River and Taunton. Additionally, CFC also serves the surrounding towns of Berkley, Dighton, Freetown, Lakeville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.

Citizens for Citizens, Inc. is an antipoverty social services agency, assisting over 42,000  households  each year by providing short-term services that support families during financial crisis situations through its Fuel Assistance, Food Pantry, and Rental Assistance programs. In addition, CFC provides long-range solutions through diverse programs that seek to empower low-income individuals and families with the ability to overcome the burdens of poverty by giving them the tools necessary to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency by offering programs such as Weatherization Assistance, Heart Start, Early Head Start, After School Day Care, HEART WAP, Senior Aide, Foster Grandparent, RSVP’s, Family Planning, and Volunteer Income Tax Return Preparation.

In keeping with the standards established during more than forty years of service to the low-income community, the dedicated management and staff of Citizens for Citizens, Inc. are continuing to search for and develop innovative new programs to combat poverty and help families to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives.

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2010-2011 Fuel Assistance & Weatherization Income Guidelines

Wondering if you qualify for Fuel Assistance? If you do you may also apply for the Weatherization Program and the Home Heating Repair / Replacement Program. Please call the numbers listed below to apply for the Fuel Assistance Program and then you can apply for these energy saving programs.

Here’s a brief overview of the income guidelines for most typical families:

Household Size Maximum 4 weeks Gross income or Gross Yearly
1 $2,365 / $30,751 year
2 $3,093/ $40,213 year
3 $3,821 / $49,675 year
4 $4,549/ $59,137 year

For information on larger families, or for other Fuel Assistance related inquiries, please call our offices at (508) 676-7397 or (508) 676-7398


CFC Head Start Program Now Registering Students for 2010-2011 School Year

The Citizens for Citizens Inc. (CFC) Head Start Program is currently enrolling children who are:

Three years old (by September, 2010) through age five, from families who meet income requirements.

The Head Start Program is a free child development program that provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition and social services. The primary goal of Head Start is to increase a child’s effectiveness in dealing with everyday life and later responsibilities in school and life. Head Start also provides many opportunities for parents to become involved in the program, and to improve their own education and employment potential. The Head Start Program welcomes children with disabilities and accepts Child Care vouchers. The CFC Head Start Program serves the city of Fall River, and the towns of Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Freetown, Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Berkley, and Lakeville.

If you wish to enroll your child in Head Start, please call 508-675-2151, Ext. 204. An appointment must be made with a Head Start family worker for an interview. The interview will discuss documentation of income, health concerns, developmental and social concerns, family history, and other relevant matters.

See our flyer for Head Start locations and additional information.

CFC’s WIC Program Celebrates Parenthood

On August 6, 2010, the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. WIC (Women, Infants & Children) Program, now in its 31st year of serving the Greater Taunton Area, began a 19th Annual Celebration of Parenthood. Liberty Union Park, in downtown Taunton, was the site for this activity, held in conjunction with World Breast Feeding Week.

The setting at Liberty Union Park resembled a Ringling Brothers Circus location. There were magic shows, face painting, balloons tethered to strings, and plenty of fun-filled games for the families who attended the celebration. An early part of the event found many of the children dancing to the music of DJ Al Martinez from Spinn Productions. Dancing and keeping fit was highlighted as being a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle.

DJ Al Martinez from Spinn Productions
DJ Al Martinez from Spinn Productions

Organizers of the Celebration of Parenthood program also made sure that vital nutrition information was disseminated to the gathering of WIC parents and other visitors to the park. Samples of the new WIC food packages, which emphasize whole grain bread, brown rice, canned fish and other healthy foods, were distributed.

Samples of food that can be purchased with WIC coupons
Samples of food that can be purchased with WIC coupons

Many children entered the park under the banner of the “Parade of Fruits,” with each child wearing a homemade hat covered with decorative paper images of fruit. The significance of the fruit was to remind the children and parents that they should eat proper amounts of fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy and balanced diet.

Children martching in the "Parade of Fruits"
Children martching in the "Parade of Fruits"

Several awards were presented at the event, in three categories:
Breastfeeding Awards:
Ms. Daidra Chaves
Ms. Tuany Machado
Ms. Ashley Aiello

Community Service Award:
Ms. Kathleen Doherty – Lactation Consultant

Foster Parent Award:
Ms. Ann McLean
Mr. Stephen O’Neill

Several elected officials were on hand to commemorate the occasion. An official commendation was submitted by State Representative James H. Fagan, and presented by his wife; Christine A. Fagan. Taunton Mayor Charles Crawley also was present for the festivities.

Diana Martell looks on as CFC's WIC Director, Karen Swass accepts award from Taunton Mayor Charles Crawley
Diana Martell looks on as CFC's WIC Director, Karen Swass accepts award from Taunton Mayor Charles Crawley

The WIC Program provides valuable nutrition and health education, healthy food, and other services free of charge to Massachusetts families who meet the qualification guidelines. To obtain more information on the WIC program and learn how to apply for assistance, please visit the Massachusetts WIC website. An overview of CFC’s participation in the WIC program for the past year can be read here [pdf].

The WIC Program eligibility is determined by household income to see if you qualify please check the income guidelines here.

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