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.

.

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

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

Crystal Arpa receiving certificates for help with Toys for Tots

The Toys for Tots Program was founded in 1947 and is run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve. The program collects new toys during the autumn of each year and then distributes the toys locally to less fortunate families as Christmas gifts for youngsters who might not otherwise receive presents during the holiday season.

In 2011, the Somerset Toys for Tots Program generously donated over 2000 toys to the CFC Operation Christmas Program. Citizens for Citizens, Inc. has reciprocated by presenting the Somerset Marine Corps League this past year with more than ten boxes of various toiletries, office supplies, and health care products that will be sent to troops serving in Afghanistan. Since both programs are dedicated to serving the local low-income community, working together assures that families in need will receive the best possible assistance during difficult times.

“These are very difficult economic times and this toy drive was our way of bringing some joy to families in need during this holiday season”, stated Mr. Enright.

The story that appeard in the Taunton Gazette can be read here.

The After School Child Care children preparing to board the Duckmobile

The Cape Cod Duckmobiles are completely renovated U.S. military amphibious vehicles that provide a unique touring experience of the many interesting sites in the Hyannis area. Once the ASCC group had reached Duckmobile headquarters, they spent the first part of the sunny summer day learning the proper “quacking” techniques needed for their ride through town streets and ocean waters.

The Duck Boats then rode through Hyannis to sites such as the oldest ice cream shop on Cape Cod and the church that the Kennedy family attended. The children thought it was very cool when the Duck Boats drove down a ramp and entered the water. While riding through Harbor waters, the Duck Boats passed pirate ship tours and a large ferry. After a tasty lunch back in Hyannis, the children had time to play some sports games on a large grassy area in town. A bit tired after so many fun-filled activities, most of the ASCC children enjoyed a long nap on the bus ride back to Fall River.

Rolande Sullivan, Madeleine Cormier, Jennifer Fallon, Monica Trial and Cheryl White at the start of the Jimmy Fund Marathon Walk (Karen Langevin was not available for this photo)

The Jimmy Fund was founded in 1948 to support the research in fighting cancer in children and adults done by the Boston-based Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The important research work done by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is helping to increase the ability of patients worldwide to survive cancer.

The CFC Jimmy Fund Walk Team completed the entire course in just over eight hours of steady walking, finishing in a weary but triumphant fashion, raising a total of $2,625. Team members included CFC employees, along with CFC employee family members and supporters. The successful team members were  Team Captain:Monica Trial, Madeleine Cormier, Jennifer Fallon, Cheryl White, Rolande Sullivan, and Karen Langevin.

At the Finish Line!

The 2011 Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk broke the previous fund raising record, with over 8500 walkers raising more than $9.5 million.