Swansea, MA

More than 200 participants in CFC’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) from the Fall River and Taunton areas attended the annual RSVP Recognition Breakfast on June 18, 2008 at the Venus De Milo restaurant in Swansea.

Bill Leary, Director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, introduced the Cliftonaires, a singing group of Retired Senior Volunteers that perform for residents in area nursing homes. Prior to breakfast being served, the group entertained attendees with songs from days past, led by Tillie Lima on piano.

CFC’s Executive Director, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. praised the work performed by the volunteers, stating “I want to thank you on behalf of all the people you help. With the high cost of fuel and gasoline, along with the increasing overall cost of providing social services, the effort of volunteers takes on a more vital role in the community”. Sullivan went on to say, “CFC received more than 14,000 requests for fuel assistance this winter and each month more than 700 families wait in line for a bag of food at CFC’s Food Pantry”. “It’s getting more and more difficult for families to get by, and our volunteers help in so many ways”, Sullivan added.

Mrs. Joan B. McKinnon of Newton, a volunteer math tutor at the Bennett School in Taunton, received the annual Olivia Giannini Volunteerism Award. Mrs. McKinnon was nominated by Michele A. Higgins, a second grade teacher at the Bennett School. Ms. Higgins stated, “It has been a pleasure to have Mrs. McKinnon provide math help to the students in our Grade 2 program. She brings a wealth of experience from when she was a classroom teacher. She has been able to assess the needs of her students and provide the extra support that is needed to master needed skills.” Mrs. McKinnon said that she loves working with the children and helping them to understand and solve math problems. Joanne Green, Senior Volunteer Coordinator in Taunton, wishes she had more volunteers like Joan. “Joan’s help allows students that are having difficulties with math to achieve parity with their classmates.”

Also on hand for the ceremonies were Representatives David B. Sullivan and Kevin Aguiar; Senator Joan Menard’s Chief of Staff, Barbara Laughlin; and Taunton Budget Director Gill Enos, representing Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley.

Tags: Uncategorized by amello
Comments Off

Spring marks the beginning of Head Start’s intense recruitment activities. Although children are enrolled throughout the year for both programs, we are now in the process of enrolling 3 and 4 year old children for September’s Part and Full Day program. To be eligible, a child must be three (3) years old by September 1st. and be income eligible. We also have a small number of over-income slots available. Head Start / Early Head Start serve Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Freetown; Lakeville, Berkley, Dighton, Rehoboth and Seekonk

To determine if your 3 or 4 year old child is eligible, call for an intake appointment at 508 675-2151 ext. 204 or Early Head Start (for infants-toddlers and Pregnant Moms) call 508 678-5287.

Citizens For Citizens Head Start and Early Head Start provide Part-Day Center Based classes, Full-Day/Full Year Center Based classes, Home Based pre-school groups. Early Head Start is exclusively Home Based.

In addition to its Fall River locations, CFC Head Start operates centers in: Westport, Freetown, Swansea and Rehoboth.

Tags: headstart by amello
Comments Off

Students of Citizens for Citizens, Inc Tri-City Regional Individual Development Account have completed their first year of participation in the program. Each student has contributed their pre-agreed amount of funds to the IDA account and will receive the  match amount of funds for the purchase of a home.

The custodial accounts are held by Citizens for Citizens and the funds can only be used towards expenses for the purchase of a home, e.g., home inspections, appraisals, closing cost, down payments etc. All the students completed Financial Education Training classes and received their Certificate of Completions in a ceremony held at the Maple Tree Child Care Center.

The students have been attending monthly savings club meetings to discuss and share ideas about different savings strategies and other ideas related to first time home purchase. The next step towards the purchase of the home is for students to complete First Time Home Ownership Training course provided by the Director of the Fall River Affordable Housing Corporation, Robert Landry.

Funding for the program has been provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation, Citizens Union Savings Bank, Bank of America and the Department of Health & Human Services All funds deposited in the IDA account will be paid directly to the vendor for the costs of the home purchase

Tags: Uncategorized by amello
Comments Off