Artic air brought temperatures in the single digits and teens to most of Massachusetts on Tuesday. As people struggle to stay warm during the cold snap with space heaters, fire safety officials and anti-poverty advocates shared advice on how to stay safe. Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said space heater safety should be foremost in people’s minds, especially in…
WASHINGTON—With a colder winter forecast and energy prices higher compared to last year, unpaid utility bills couldpile up in New England like the snow outside. So the Biden administration and members of Congress from the region on Friday alerted low-income households to a major boost in federal money to help them keep the heat on. The American Rescue Plan enacted…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJanuary 4, 2022 CONTACT: Susan Koopersteinskooperstein@comcast.net617.875.3619 Lee Phennerlee.phenner@bostonabcd.org339.368.1140 MA Fuel Assistance Top Benefit Now $1,650 ABCD urges residents to apply for fuel aid NOW as bitter winter weather, COVID surge, hit New England Action for Boston Community Development announces that households at or below the federal poverty level can now receive $1,650 in fuel assistance, while those with slightly…
ABCD sends its warmest thank you to the Boston Herald for its outstanding support of the ABCD Toy Drive. In particular, the heartwarming article by Marie Szaniszlo (“6,000 Toys Needed by Dec. 15,” Dec. 7, 2021) alerted hundreds of donors and helped kick off a widespread media campaign. In 10 days our toy drive climbed from 400 to 6,000 toys,…
What kept low- and moderate-income families with children afloat in 2021 as COVID-19 variants battered their world and soaring prices bore down on them? The Child Tax Credit. Throughout 2021 this lifesaving program based in the IRS provided families with a monthly payment of $300 per child under age 6 and $250 for each child ages 6 to 12 years…
Employees of East West Mortgage on Hallet Street participated in donating and assembling $5,000 in holiday gifts for children in the annual ABCD Christmas Toy Drive. “We went out and bought 26 bikes and 26 helmets, and over a few days we assembled them,” said company president Steve Borgerson. He said they purchased $700 worth of additional toys, and the…
During her seven years as a Boston City Councilor, Michelle Wu led the advancement of issues that aligned with the ABCD mission and daily operations. As she gets down to the work of being mayor, we anticipate countless opportunities to join forces for the betterment of under-resourced residents and for Boston overall. As the first elected woman and first Asian…
Millions of children lifted out of poverty once more face harsh conditions The significant and historic Child Tax Credit that this year lifted more than 3.6 million children in America out of poverty must be extended beyond December 2021. “On behalf of the millions of families and children who will be losing this life-saving benefit in January, we beg the…
ABCD is proud to announce that we have been awarded $250,000 from the Office of Community Services, an Office of the Administration for Children and Families. This funding will be used to launch the GoodBEANS program (Building Efficiency and Access in Nutritious Services), which is designed to bring more food to those in need by strengthening our food systems. GoodBEANS…
‘Twas three weeks before Christmas and… The ABCD toy room was rather empty. About 400 toys rested on the distribution tables. Meanwhile requests for help were pouring in at an unprecedented rate. SIX THOUSAND toys were needed for families seeking to celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, Channukah and Three Kings Day. “With the pandemic still impacting the families we serve in Boston…
