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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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

During the open house, Head Start programs from across the state will host visits from state representatives.

In Fall River, state Rep. David Sullivan will visit CFC Head Start’s Maple Center, located at 881 Maple St. Rep. Michael Rodrigues will visit the Aldrich Center, located at 295 Harrison St.

In Greater Fall River, state Rep. Steven D’Amico will visit CFC Head Start’s Rehoboth Center, located at 139 Bay State Road. Rep. Pat Haddad has already visited the Ocean Grove Center in Swansea and plans to visit again.

State representatives will be able to see Head Start classrooms and participate by reading stories to children.

They will also meet with Head Start parents and staff and learn about the issues that are important to them, such as the state’s economy and unemployment rates.

Head Start is a comprehensive child development program that seeks to help young children from low-income families prepare to attend school. Citizens for Citizens, Inc. has operated the Head Start Program in Greater Fall River since 1965 and provides services to expectant families and children to age five.

Hundreds of needy families got some help on Saturday when Citizens for Citizens distributed toys, winter clothes and other items for its annual Operation Christmas campaign.
Operation Christmas helped about 3,000 Taunton area children last year and, although the final numbers for this year haven’t yet been tallied, organizers expect it to surpass last year’s total.
“For a lot of people coming in, it was their first time doing it, and some were amazed at what they got,” said Debbie Araujo, director of the Citizens for Citizens Taunton office. “People were very happy. I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and this is the happiest I’ve seen them.”
The growing number of people needing help is rooted, in large part, to the economic recession, she said.
“Our fuel assistance application numbers are up as well,” she added.
Despite the poor economy, a lot of people were still able to step up and make donations this year.
“Donations have been pretty good,” Araujo said. “The community has been unbelievable bringing in monetary donations, toys and clothing.”
Araujo said the Taunton teachers collected books for the drive, the Taunton High School Key Club brought in about $800 worth of toys, the Taunton Jaycees donated pajamas and winter jackets and the Barboza family of Giant RV World brought an RV loaded with toys.
“Donations continue to come in,” Araujo said. “We’ll offer assistance right up to Christmas Eve.”
To apply for Operation Christmas, eligible parents must fill out an application, which must then be approved by an authorized agency.
“We’re trying to help them out as much as we can to maintain spirit of Christmas for these kids,” Araujo said”

“Courtesy of the Taunton Daily Gazette”

Parents waiting in line for toys

This is the day when the work of numerous volunteers, combined with generous donations from people living in Greater Fall River, culminates in the giving out of toys for children whose families can not afford to purchase gifts for them. Operation Christmas helps to make the Christmas holidays a little brighter for the less fortunate families living in our community.

New toys on the tables ready for distribution

The doors at the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Griffin Street office opened at 9 a.m. and parents advanced under the attentive direction of CFC First Vice President, Butch Almeida.

CFC's First Vice President Butch Almeida conversing with the clients waiting in line for their toys

After parents’ names were verified in huge logbooks, where each entry was marked with the number and gender of children in the household, slips of paper were given to volunteers, who then filled large plastic bags with suitable toys for the children. Periodically throughout the day, trucks holding boxes of toys were unloaded and the toys were placed on tables marked with the appropriate age and gender of the recipient children.

CFC President Jim Dolin and former CFC staffer Marifran Davis checking names in the logbooks

Barbara Travis, CFC Operation Christmas Coordinator, oversees the volunteers and makes sure that all facets of the program proceed smoothly and efficiently. At the present time, more than 6,000 toys are distributed to the families that wait in line for long hours to ensure that their child has a gift under the tree on Christmas morning.

Barbara Travis reviewing data of the days activities

Barbara repeatedly states that without her “elves” (a.k.a. volunteers), this day could never happen. The volunteers help transform the big hall in the CFC main office at Griffin St. Friday evening by placing the toys on the tables along with setting out hats and mittens that were knitted by a small army of Retired Senior Volunteers from the RSVP program. Barbara arrives at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and begins to orchestrate the day’s events. Generous local vendors supply the volunteers with enough coffee and carbohydrates to keep them going throughout the day.

Volunteers Becky and Chris Dansereau

Since 1975, Citizens for Citizens, Inc. has provided Christmas toys for eligible area children (infant through 12 years of age) through the Operation Christmas Program. Each child receives two toys, along with stocking stuffers and knitted hats and mittens. At the end of the day, when everyone has collected their toys and the CFC office doors are locked, an army of Operation Christmas volunteers breath a sigh of relief, having satisfaction in the knowledge that their efforts will bring happiness to many children they may never meet, but have certainly touched with the real meaning of the Christmas season.

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In 1975, the Operation Christmas program began with a distribution of used toys to Fall River tots. The program has grown tremendously and now provides new toys at Christmastime to over 5,000 Greater Fall River area children. Operation Christmas is funded entirely by donations from area residents and businesses, with all funds raised used to purchase new toys for local children.

The story of CFC’s Operation Christmas is one of community spirit, of sharing and compassion. This year, as in years past, thousands of youngsters who may have otherwise gone without gifts will receive toys for Christmas. In December, Citizens for Citizens, Inc. staff people and volunteers will dedicate countless hours to the work of preparing gifts from Santa Claus, culminating in the distribution of toys and games to families that otherwise would be facing a bleak holiday.

Volunteers helping to auction off items to raise funds

Under the able leadership and convincing diplomacy of Operation Christmas Coordinator, Barbara Travis, the Fall River effort has achieved dramatic success over the years. According to Ms. Travis, “It is a wonderful feeling to see how our community rallies around Operation Christmas. The telethon, auction, and organizing of the toy distribution involve many dedicated people who put a great deal of time and energy into the project.

Barbara Travis taking a break from her fund raising duties

We rely on community support and it is there for all to see when the cameras are turned on and we go live into the homes of thousands of city residents.” Special praise was given to the Durfee High School students who are enrolled in the FRED TV production and supply all the technical direction and live feed production to Fall River cable customers.

FRED TV students broadcasting the telethon to the local audience

The Operation Christmas Telethon has become a holiday tradition for many Fall Riverites. Local and regional dignitaries get involved in the two-day event, donating their time to promote the fund raising campaign. This year the telethon was visited by United States Senate candidate, Representative Michael Capuano from Somerville. Mr. Capuano sat down with CFC’s Executive Director, Mark A. Sullivan, Jr. and Barbara Travis to speak about the toy drive and other programs that CFC operates.

Mark A. Sullivan, Jr., Michael Capuano , Barbara Travis and Dave Sullivan

One of the many talented youths performing at the telethon

All of the donations to Operation Christmas are used to purchase new toys and games for children up to age 12 years old. Distribution of the Operation Christmas gifts will take place on December 19th at the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. Griffin Street location, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

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Announcement of Graduation

The Senior Cyber Café Program has been a tremendous success. Now in its 7th year of operation, the Senior Cyber Café has had nearly one thousand Fall River area senior citizens complete its computer training classes. Shellie Castro, CFC’s Human Resource Director, created the program after witnessing cyber cafes firsthand while traveling throughout Europe.

The need for the computer training classes has not diminished since the inception of the program and there is a waiting list of seniors wishing to enroll in the program. The Senior Cyber Café classes offer seniors a friendly atmosphere in which to learn basic computer use, including an introduction to use of the Internet. The computer training classes run for a ten-week session, providing forty hours of training.

Starting off the graduation celebration, Shellie Castro welcomed the graduating senior students and congratulated them on completing the course work.

Shellie Castro welcomes the cyber cafe students

CFC’s First Vice President, Butch Almeida, served as master of ceremonies and provided all in attendance with a dose of mirth and merriment. Butch also explained that the CFC Senior Aide Program Director, James Souza, had assisted in securing the funding for the computer training instructor and the first generation of computers used by the students in the Senior Cyber Café.

CFC First Vice President address the students

Also in attendance was the Assistant Secretary of Elder Affairs for Massachusetts, Ruth Palombo. Ms. Palombo told the seniors that she used to get “cold sweats when ever she had to turn on her computer,” and said, “I am so happy that all of you have learned new skills to assist you in searching for jobs.” She closed by saying, “I want you all to know that the Department of Elderly Affairs supports these types of programs and we stand behind your efforts in learning the new skills.”

Assistant Secretary of Elder Affairs for Massachusetts,Ruth Palombo speaks to the Cyber Cafe students

Senior Cyber Café instructor Arlene Zajac presented a Certificate of Completion to all the graduates in attendance, and a buffet lunch was provided after the graduation ceremonies were completed.

Cyber Café instructor Arlene Zajac congratulates a Cyber Cafe student

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The Health & Wellness Fair activities began with the raising of the AIDS Flag at Gromada Plaza in downtown Fall River. The 2009 Fair had more than twenty participating agencies disseminating information on HIV counseling, HIV tests, birth control, and other matters concerning health and wellness. The CFC Family Planning Safe Teen Health Youths group created a banner that included the theme, “Human Rights & Access to Treatment,” for this year’s World AIDS Day.

Safe Teen Health Youths proudly display the banner they created for World AIDS Day

Stationed at the Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) Family Planning booth were Jessica Pereira and Isaiah Darby. The positions for both Jessica and Isaiah at Citizens for Citizens, Inc. are being funded by a Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

Jessica Pereira and Isaiah Darby

Ann Medeiros, CFC Family Planning Health Education Director standing with Jessica Pereira and Isaiah Darby

mini-James Carey and Maria LaVault from New England Gas present Barbara Travis with Operation Christmas donation

Fund raising for Operation Christmas will again begin with the CFC Annual Telethon. The Telethon will take place at the New Harbor Mall on Friday, December 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, December 5 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; and Sunday, December 6 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Since 1975, the small program that began with the distribution of used toys to city tots has now grown to a much larger operation that will supply Christmas gifts to over 5,000 Greater Fall River area children. Operation Christmas is funded entirely by donations from area residents and businesses, with all the funds that are raised being used to purchase new toys for the children of low-income families.

November 27, 2009 is the deadline for families to register their children for Operation Christmas gifts at the CFC 264 Griffin Street location. Children from the age of birth to 12 years old that reside with a parent or legal guardian are eligible. Parents will need to bring an ID card or document for themselves, and social security cards or Mass Health cards for their children in order to register for the Operation Christmas Program.

The home of John Cruz & his wife Kimberly Benoit-Cruz resembled an invasion of energy efficient warriors determined to reduce the energy usage of the homeowners. Professional weatherization contractors were removing the siding of their home so insulation could be blown into the wall cavities. Insulated covers were fabricated so after the attic was insulated the attic pull down stairs could be covered to prevent the heated air from escaping through any cracks or openings leading to the attic.

WAP Contractor preparing the walls for blown in insullation

Energy Bucks Diana Duffy speaking to the gathering

All of these activities are the result of Citizens for Citizens Weatherization Program (WAP) located at 427 Robeson Street, Fall River. Weatherization Director: Madeleine Cormier said “CFC’s WAP program recently received more than $8,500,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to weatherize more than 1,200 homes in the Greater Fall River, Taunton and New Bedford areas over the next 2 ½ years.”

Weatherization Director Madeleine Cormier and State Rep. Mike Rodrigues discussing the WAP program

Also on hand was State Representative, Michael J. Rodrigues who addressed the gathering “I have always been a strong supporter of the weatherization activities that CFC provides to the residents in Fall River area.” Representing the Energy Bucks Program was Senior Program Manager: Diana Duffy. Ms Duffy explained the partnership between CFC & Energy Bucks and the importance of the contributions of the utility sponsored program to supplement the weatherization activities. Liz Berube CFC’s Fuel Assistance Director explained that the Fuel Assistance Program provides the Weatherization and Home Heating Repair/Replacement Programs with the income verification necessary to determine income eligibility.

The Cruz family qualified for the Fuel Assistance Program which automatically qualified them for the WAP Program. After they applied for weatherization, a site specific energy audit was performed by one of CFC’s Department of Energy certified auditors and the results of the audit determines what type of energy efficient work should be installed. The audit is returned to the WAP office and work orders are prepared for private contractors. After the work has been completed all the measures are inspected to ensure that the work was performed in accordance with state specifications. All work is performed by licensed and insured private contractors. Many of the contractors have been providing energy efficient measures for CFC for numerous years.

Some of the measures that can be provided at no cost to the homeowner or tenants include: Attic and wall insulation, weather-stripping doors and windows, sealing air leaks throughout the home, low flow shower heads and other energy saving measures.

People interested in applying for the Weatherization Program should call 508-675-2157 and ask for the weatherization program for more information or click here.

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