The coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop the Salvation Army Massachusetts Division from hosting its annual Christmas Castle event in Dorchester Monday. About 5,000 families were able to get food and toys for Christmas, including Alice Ramos and her nephew. “This COVID’s been really hard. My sister tested out positive at the beginning of COVID and it made it difficult for her…
A toy drive for recently fired Boston hotel workers and their children brought a spark of holiday spirit in tough times as the call for donations also circulates across the city. Friday’s toy drive at the Marriott Copley and Revere Hotel organized by UNITE HERE Local 26 joined together struggling hotel employees who have lost work due to the pandemic, some…
In the nine months that the coronavirus pandemic has ravaged the U.S., the most vulnerable Americans have struggled to keep up with monthly expenses. Eight million Americans have fallen into poverty since May, and today, there are 10 million fewer employed people than there were before the pandemic. By quickly passing the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, Congress was able to stave off…
As winter approaches along with the persisting pandemic, more families are staying home. This means facing potential significant hikes in household heating bills. Fueling up a tank can cost anywhere from $200 to $500. Depending on the frequency of use, the tank may need to be refilled at least 3-4 times over the winter months. This is a significant cost,…
This holiday season is punctuated by unrelenting need – a need sparked by pandemic-induced job loss in neighborhoods already afflicted by poverty, health and economic disparities, and racial inequity. Children, families and seniors in Dorchester and other city neighborhoods can’t wait any longer for the federal government to pass virus relief funding that will keep food on their tables and…
Lines at food pantries and soup kitchens normally grow around this time of year, but the pandemic has doubled them, aid workers say. With an unprecedented amount of need, relief centers are pooling their resources to make sure everyone is fed, though it may not be enough. ICNA Relief, a Muslim charity in Roxbury, has started a delivery service for…
Thanksgiving looks different for everyone in 2020, and the ABCD North End/West End Neighborhood Service Center (NE/WE NSC) is no exception! The center missed having its annual turkey feast with all the trimmings, including visits from elected officials wanting to visit with and give gifts to their constituents. However, it still strove to provide a special holiday experience for all…
With temperatures in East Boston expected to dip into the 20s at night this week, and not exceed 50 degrees for the next few days many residents will find it hard to pay their heating bill this winter. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused even more uncertainty in the neighborhood as job loss, food insecurity and loss of income has become…
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) is urging senior citizens and families struggling during the coronavirus pandemic to apply for home heating fuel assistance as winter approaches. Last year, the non-profit organization helped keep the heat on for 25,000 households in the Boston and Mystic Valley areas through the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which the agency…
Life Science Cares Boston, a nonprofit group that raises money from the life sciences industry, has awarded $755,000 in grants to 27 social service organizations for a second year. The 2020 awards bring the collective member organization’s four-year total of donations to more than $3.8 million. Life Science Cares was founded in 2016 to combat poverty. In addition to its…