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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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2009-2010 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 $2,240 / $29,126 year
2 $2,929 / $38,087 year
3 $3,619 / $47,049 year
4 $4,308 / $56,011 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 Elects Officers for Board of Directors at 45th Annual Meeting

SWANSEA – James E. Dolin of Swansea, MA has been re-elected to serve as President of the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Board of Directors. Mr. Dolin was chosen by a unanimous vote during the CFC Annual Meeting held at the Venus De Milo Restaurant on June 23, 2010. Also re-elected as CFC officers were First Vice President, Butch Almeida; Second Vice President, Ida Cabral; Treasurer, Jacqueline Cummings; and Secretary, Ronald Costa.

Board President, James E. Dolin presiding over the meeting
Board President, James E. Dolin presiding over the meeting

The Citizens for Citizens, Inc. Executive Director, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. presented the Directors’ Annual Report and thanked the Board of Directors for the selfless sacrifices they make while serving as members of the Board.

CFC Executive Director, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. reporting on the CFC Annual Report
CFC Executive Director, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. reporting on the CFC Annual Report

He emphasized that they should be proud of the work CFC has accomplished during their tenure. “During this upcoming year, CFC will expand to an annual budget of more than $36,000,000 and the need for the services we provide will grow, as we continue to help families in need. Local companies, such as Minuteman Harley Davidson Company from Dartmouth, are donating funds to programs like the CFC Food Pantry, where employees and volunteers help numerous needy families put food on their tables. Many families continue to reach out to CFC for help, often for the first time.”

CFC Board Member Eugene J. Kosinski, Jr. presented the Edward J. Sullivan Scholarship Award to Michael Massoud. Michael will be attending the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, where he will major in nursing. Michael ranked 76th out of 467 graduates in the 2010 Durfee High School graduating class. Michael resides with his parents, Clifford and Holly Massoud, and 3 siblings in Fall River.

Michael Massoud with his proud parents
Michael Massoud with his proud parents

A Robert J. Nagle Community Service Award was presented to Jessica Masse. Presenting the award was CFC Board Member, Monique Campeau. This particular award is given annually to the parent of a current or former CFC Head Start or Day Care participant. Jessica is a single parent with 4 children and she currently attends Bristol Community College. While pursuing a degree in applied science/culinary arts, Jessica is maintaining a grade point average (GPA) of 3.52. She has been very active in the Head Start Program, currently serving on the Policy Council. Jessica’s career goal is to own and operate a bakery.

Monquie and Jessica Masse
Monquie and Jessica Masse

Debbie Arujo and Manny Cardoso
Debbie Arujo and Manny Cardoso

Also receiving a Robert J. Nagle Community Service Award was Manny Cardoso of Taunton. Presenting the award was the CFC Taunton Office Manager, Debbie Araujo.
Since the age of thirteen, Mr. Cardoso has been volunteering with the distribution of toys for the Operation Christmas Program. Ms. Araujo said, “Manny has never failed to show up to help with any task that is required to distribute toys to needy families in the Greater Taunton area.” In accepting his award, Mr. Cardoso thanked the CFC Board of Directors for the award and said, “If I don’t show up to lend a hand, it’s because I’m dead.”

Crystal Arpa, Assistant Director of the CFC Fall River Food Pantry, presented the Hubert H. Humphrey Business Award to the Minuteman Harley Davidson Company of Dartmouth, MA. Crystal noted that the Minuteman Harley Davidson Company has generously donated funds to the food pantry throughout the past year.

Martha and Dan Desmond with Crystal Arpa
Martha and Dan Desmond with Crystal Arpa

Daniel R. (Dan) Desmond, Dealer Principal for the company, accepted this award. Upon receiving the award, Mr. Desmond presented Crystal with a check for $250.00 for the Food Pantry. Mr. Desmond said, “The donations come from the customers who frequent our store. Minuteman Harley Davidson plans on continuing to raise funds to help feed families in need.”

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CFC’s Head Start Program Hosts 29th Annual Banquet

On June 11, an event organized by the CFC Head Start Policy Council members was held at McGovern’s Family Restaurant in Fall River. Alicia Jansen, Policy Council Chairperson, welcomed the attendees to the 29th Head Start Program Annual Banquet and thanked everyone for their attendance and support of the Head Start Program. The Policy Council functions in an advisory role, similar to a board of directors, for the staff of the Head Start Program. Alicia Jansen, presented awards to the Policy Council members in appreciation of their participation in this year’s Head Start Policy activities.

Head Start Director, Neil Lynch presents a certificate of appreciation to Policy Council Chairperson Alicia Jansen
Head Start Director, Neil Lynch presents a certificate of appreciation to Policy Council Chairperson Alicia Jansen

The current Head Start Policy Council officers are:

Alicia Jansen – Policy Council Chairperson
Wesley Yost – Policy Council Vice Chairperson
Jessica Masse – Policy Council Treasurer
Nichole Goodis – Policy Council Secretary

Other members of the Policy Council are:

Deborah Silva, Christina Devoe, David Melanson, Jessica Masse,
Kelly Pike, Maritza Rodriquez, Eric Larrivee, Dwane Lewis,
Nicole Leite, Robin Dechaine, Angie Pacheco, April Souza. and
Ada Pantoja

Citizens for Citizens, Inc.’s Executive Director, Mark A Sullivan, Jr., thanked the Policy Council members and Head Start parents for their continued involvement in the program and reminded them that, “They (the parents) are the best teachers for their children. Studies have demonstrated that children who enter and complete the Head Start Program perform better than other students when they enter kindergarten and succeeding grade levels. One of the reasons that the participating children do well is the parent participation component.” Mr. Sullivan also said that the “Head Start Program was one of the first programs that CFC operated, now in its 45th year of operation.”

Mr. Sullivan presented a twenty-five year service award to Neil Lynch, the Head Start Director. Neil thanked the staff and parents, and expressed his appreciation for their assistance during his tenure as Director of the Head Start Program. Neil Lynch also thanked the Banquet Committee members and all the volunteers who helped to make this annual event a success.

Neil Lynch receives twenty-five year award from CFC Executive Director Mark A. Sullivan, Jr
Neil Lynch receives twenty-five year award from CFC Executive Director Mark A. Sullivan, Jr

Neil Lynch was joined by Head Start Assistant Director, Pamela Wildnauer to present service awards to the following employees:

For five years service – Melissa Botelho, Dina Fonseca, Amy King and Breken Perry

For ten years service – Michelle Arpa, Cheryl Dennis, Rosa Resendes and Aida Trevera

For fifteen years service – Norma Monteiro

For twenty years service – William Hackett, Jr.

For twenty-five years of service – Elaine Gifford, Mary Leger, Sheila Cabral, Donna Morris, Janice Tremblay, and Linda Viveiros

For thirty years service – Sharon Gonsalves

For thirty-five years service– Helen Raposo

Ms. Raposo received an engraved desk clock to commemorate her service to the Head Start Program.

Helen Raposo proudly displays her engraved clock for thirty-five years of service
Helen Raposo proudly displays her engraved clock for thirty-five years of service

Alicia Jansen presented the following Policy Council members with appreciation awards:

Dwayne Lewis (The Good Guy Award)
Jessica Masse – Policy Council Treasurer
Jackie Cummings – Community Representative
Christina Devoe
Nicole Leite

After the award presentations were concluded, the attendees enjoyed dancing well into the night to music played by local DJ’s, Joan and Rick Mello.

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