Who We Help

The Carlisle Council on Aging’s mission is to continually improve the quality of life for Carlisle’s seniors, by identifying the needs of the population and matching available resources to meet those needs.
www.carlisle.org/coa

Many parents here have spent time in Carlisle with their kids at the current Castle Playground, which was built in 1988. The Castle Playground Project Committee was formed to reimagine an updated playground on the site that will be a gathering destination that is inclusive to all, designed to cater to the community as a whole. Half of the funds for the Castle Playground Project have been raised, and a playground vendor has been selected.
https://www.castleplaygroundproject.com/

Partners in Rhyme is a six-week intergenerational poetry program where older adults join a CCHS English class to read, discuss, and write poetry with students. Partners in Rhyme enriches student life and CCHS academics by providing opportunities for social and emotional learning through poetry. For the first nine years, CCHS hosted the Partners in Rhyme series in its English classes once a year.
https://www.concordcarlisle.org/

Since 1987, Center for Parents and Teachers has offered educational programming to increase parent effectiveness and enhance teacher training through high quality, low cost workshops and forums. CPT hosts parenting workshops, often in multi-session series to address the issues of youth stress, anxiety and the prevention of unhealthy risk-taking behaviors in adolescence, plus new strategies to address challenging early childhood behaviors and complex parenting dilemmas. For over 20 years, the Community Chest has been pleased to support the Center for Parents and Teachers.

We would like to thank Sally Quinn Reed and the CPT Board for all that they have done for this vital community resource. Happily, CPT’s work will continue through Concord-Carlisle Adult and Community Education! 
www.centerforparentsandteachers.org

CAPA is a professional organization made up of teachers and directors from area preschools, childcare centers and other agencies serving young children in Concord, Carlisle, Maynard, Bedford and Lincoln. Members pay annual dues and attend meetings intended to foster relationships between programs, provide mentoring opportunities, share information, and offer professional development. A primary focus is on availability and affordability of a quality preschool experience for children in Concord, Carlisle and the surrounding communities.
Anita Stevanazzi-Hill
ahill@concordma.gov; 978-318-3045

CCACE provides opportunities for lifelong learning to the citizens of the school district and surrounding towns.  It promotes and supports school and community learning projects that cannot be funded or presented in traditional ways. These include Instrumental Music School of Concord and Carlisle lessons, Driver Education classes, and a variety of continuing Adult Education classes. 
www.concordcarlisleace.org

Since its founding in 1975 as a non-profit, Concord Children’s Center has provided quality, year-round childcare and early education for children starting with infants at ten weeks of age.
www.concordchildrenscenter.org

The Concord Council on Aging strives to improve the quality of life of Concord’s citizens who are over the age of sixty. Their goal is to provide seniors with opportunities that enhance their physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual wellbeing with the support of their Information and Referral, Outreach, Educational, Wellness, Fitness, Social, Mental Health, Recreational, Intergenerational and Transportation programs. 
https://www.concordma.gov/916/Council-on-AgingSenior-Services

The Concord Recreation Department provides activities designed to meet the year-round recreation needs of the Concord community. Concord Rec offers a full range of programs from preschool through adults, including summer camps for children and youth.
https://summercamp.concordma.gov/

Cooperative Elder Services, Inc. (CESI) serves seniors and adults with medical or cognitive challenges through their adult day health center with a host of activities and resources to support their needs. Through comprehensive nursing care, therapeutic activities, nutrition program, service coordination, specialized memory care, transportation, and caregiver support, clients are empowered to age in place comfortably.
http://www.elderdayservices.org/Services-Concord/

Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN) provides support and resources to victims of domestic violence in collaboration with highly trained volunteer civilian advocates, law enforcement, the Concord District Court, and a rich tapestry of community agencies. They strive to serve all people in ways that respect their dignity, choices and confidentiality while promoting their safety. During the pandemic, they continued their services virtually, and expanded the necessary hours for their Technology & Project Coordinator.
www.dvsn.org

Providing a full range of affordable outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to individuals across the life span, The Eliot Center’s services include crisis intervention and 24-hour emergency coverage.
www.eliotchs.org

Dignity In Asylum provides safe transitional housing and community support services to people seeking asylum who are at risk of homelessness, abuse and trafficking in the Boston area. Apart from a room for each guest, Dignity in Asylum also provides food, transportation to appointments, English classes and overall support.
https://www.dignityinasylum.org/

First Connections provides comprehensive parenting education and support services to families with children from birth through age eight.  These services include parent/child activities, First Year of Life parent support, as well as educational seminars and support groups aimed at fostering healthy parenting. Additionally, First Connections provides a gateway for families to find and access high quality preschool and support services. 
https://www.firstconnections.org/

Habitat for Humanity works to strengthen families and communities by building and renovating decent, healthy, energy efficient and affordable homes in partnership with corporations, like-minded community groups, faith-based organizations and individual volunteers. Since inception, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell’s Critical Home Repair program has provided home repairs for 66 low-income seniors, veterans and area families. Habitat for Humanity is completing work on 50 homes in Concord currently.
https://lowellhabitat.org/

Mass211 connects Massachusetts residents to information about critical health and human services available in their community. The confidential service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week all year long by dialing 2-1-1 from any phone or visiting mass211.org, and is available in translation in 140+ languages.
https://mass211.org/

MetroWest Legal Services provides free civil legal services to low-income, elderly, and disabled residents of Concord and Carlisle, in the areas of housing, domestic violence, immigration for victims of domestic violence and unaccompanied minors, elder law, access to special education services, among others.
www.mwlegal.org

The Minute Man Arc has long been the primary support organization for children and adults with disabilities for Concord and Carlisle and many of the surrounding communities. They provide a community of lifelong care through therapeutic services, employment opportunities, supportive living arrangements, and recreation and community involvement. 
www.minutemanarc.org

Minuteman Senior Services helps seniors and people with disabilities live in the setting of their choice by engaging community resources and supporting caregivers.
www.minutemansenior.org

Nashoba Learning Group offers a school for children and a day program for adults with Autism Spectrum disorders. The adult day program serves individuals with more severe needs than are generally accommodated at other adult day programs by providing the opportunity to learn habitative skills, engage in the activities of daily life, and access volunteer and/or paid work.
https://nashobalearninggroup.org/

Open Table is a food pantry program and mobile program serving 21 towns in Middlesex county. Currently, the food pantry programs operate at their Maynard site as a “fresh air” pantry with drive-through and walk-up options and in Concord and other communities through their mobile food program where they partner with local agencies. Last year there were more than 8,800 visits to the “fresh air” pantry. Open Table now distributes meals as part of the pantry program, through a “grab-and-go” distribution method and through their mobile food program.
www.opentable.org

The Decibels Foundation supports The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialty Program at Minuteman Arc Early Intervention Program in Concord. This is a specialized early intervention program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children and includes sign and spoken language training and tailored communication plans.
https://www.decibelsfoundation.org/

The Nature Connection’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities through the therapeutic use of nature. They do this by connecting youth at risk, elders with Alzheimer’s, and people of all ages with disabilities with nature’s capacity to teach and heal.
www.nature-connection.org

Focused on youth learning by taking action to impact others, ThinkGive’s mission is to inspire young people to use kindness to engage with the world around them. Students explore questions around identity, social courage, and inclusion, empathize with other perspectives, building meaningful connections, and discover their own capacity to positively impact their lives and the lives of others. With a multi week program implemented in local schools, curriculum for the program helps students break down stereotypes of fellow students and connect one on one.
https://www.thinkgiveproject.org/

The Healing Garden’s mission is to provide a healing community of support where integrative therapies, educational programs, and therapeutic services complement medical care to improve the quality of life and well-being for all those affected by cancer. Programs and services include: case management, individual and family counseling, support groups, and a variety of educational offerings.
https://healinggardensupport.org/