The Community Chest helps by…
- supporting a wide range of local programs that provide human services to Concord and Carlisle residents.
- providing significant, critically needed financial support.
- offering a wide network of resources based on over 60 years of cultivated relationships.
- offering consultation services.
- providing seed money to new programs.
- assisting individuals in need through our Field of Interest Funds.
Organizations We Help
- All
- EDUCATION/PROGRAMS
- ELDER SERVICES
- FOOD/HEALTH/SAFETY
- LEGAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS
- MENTAL HEALTH/PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
Carlisle Council on Aging (COA)
The Carlisle COA is dedicated to serving senior citizens and assisting their families and friends with aging issues. In cooperation with other organizations, the COA serves both elders who are well and those with some degree of frailty.
Website: www.carlisle.org/coa
Center for Parents and Teachers
The Center for Parents and Teachers provides high-quality, low-cost workshops, training sessions, and forums for parents and teachers. Programs address topics relevant to children of all ages, from pre-school through high school. The organization also maintains a lending library of curriculum materials for early childhood teachers. Volunteers are needed to provide childcare in our fully equipped classroom during morning workshops for parents.
Website: centerforparentsandteachers.org
Community Outreach Coordinator
The Community Outreach Coordinator assists families or individuals in Concord and Carlisle with information, referral or assistance. The position was established and fully funded beginning in 2004 by the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, and is managed by the town of Concord. All services are confidential and free. Volunteers are needed beginning September
Contact Aileen Buford, 978-318-3034, abuford@concordma.gov
Communities for Restorative Justice (C4RJ)
C4RJ promotes the practice of restorative justice, an alternative to the traditional judicial system, in the Concord, Carlisle, and Acton areas. C4RJ’s trained volunteers work with young offenders, victims and supporters, convening in circles to discuss harms done and measures that can make amends and heal the community as well as those harmed. Police refer appropriate cases to circles, which have dealt with trespassing, shoplifting, vandalism and minor-in-possession cases, among others.
2014 Grant to support an alternative to the traditional judicial system that involves victims, young offenders, police and members of the community.
Website: www.c4rj.com
To volunteer, contact Erin Freeborn, 978-318-3447, efreeborn@c4rj.com
Concord Area Preschool Association (CAPA)
CAPA is a professional organization made up of area preschool teachers and directors. Its scholarship fund makes preschool possible for some families who otherwise could not afford for their children to attend.
Grants provide scholarships for Concord and Carlisle families who could not otherwise afford the cost of preschool for their children.
Contact Anita Stevanazzi-Hill at 978-318-3045
Concord Children’s Center
The Concord Children’s Center provides quality year-round care and early childhood education for over 200 children starting at ten weeks of age. Programs serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and after kindergartners at three locations in Concord—each of which offers a nurturing and stimulating environment in which a child can build the skills needed for growth in all aspects of development.
$43,000 grant covers partial tuition for children whose families live or work in Concord and Carlisle and who meet income guidelines for assistance.
Website: www.concordchildrenscenter.org
To volunteer, contact Joanne Saideh, 978-369-6790, jsaideh@concordchildrenscenter.org
Concord-Carlisle Adult & Community Education (CCACE)
CCACE provides opportunities for lifelong learning to the citizens of the school district and surrounding towns. CCACE responds to community needs and interests, calling upon local people and organizations to develop and coordinate programs and services for children, adolescents and adults throughout the year—making schools available for extended-day educational use for Concord and Carlisle residents, and promoting and supporting school and town projects that cannot be funded or presented in traditional ways.
Direct financial aid to students to reduce individual course fees for approximately 150 qualified families and individuals.
Website: www.concordcarlisleace.org
To volunteer or for further information, contact Jill Weintraub at 978-318-1432, jweintraub@concordcarlisle.org.
Concord-Carlisle Youth Services Coordinator
With grants from the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest, Youth Services Director Jennifer Clarke was hired to support youth, parents and families. Ms. Clarke is an active Concord resident with corporate work experience at the Levi Strauss Foundation. She has begun working closely with schools, residents, town organizations and local mental health agencies to provide resources and increase youth involvement in the community.
Jennifer Clarke can be reached at 978-318-3043 or by email jclarke@concordma.gov Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9-2:30 or by appointment.
Website :CC Youth Services Coordinator,
Concord Council on Aging (COA)
The Concord Council on Aging works to improve the quality of life of Concord’s citizens who are over the age of sixty. The COA strives to assist them in maintaining dignity, independence, and their role as full participants in the life of the community. The COA makes every effort to provide seniors with opportunities that enhance their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.
2015 grant supports a volunteer coordinator, outreach worker and social service coordinator who are critical to the delivery of services that improve the quality of life for seniors in Concord.
To volunteer, contact David Klein, 978-371-6693, dklein@concordma.gov
Concord Public Schools
Comprehensive counseling and mentoring provided to students for learning and living healthy lifestyles: Health Intervention and Prevention Counselor identifies and responds to risk factors and seeks to promote resiliency factors in the Concord-Carlisle adolescent population. Teen Buddy Program is an after school, older student/younger student social mentoring program. COMPASS Program serves at-risk students who are in danger of dropping out of school. Typically, these students have not benefited from other support at CCHS.
2015 Grant supports the Teen Buddy Program supervisor and the cost of activities for an after school enrichment and community program, which pairs older students with younger, at risk students in structured mentoring relationships.
Website: www.concordpublicschools.net
Contact Concord Public Schools, 978-341-2490
Concord Recreation Summer Camp
The Concord Recreation Department Summer Camp provides a daily program filled with activities ranging from sports and games, tennis and swimming lessons, to arts and crafts, archery, and field trips.
Partial support for scholarships for approximately 70 Concord and Carlisle families to enable their children to attend summer camp.
(978) 369-6460
Laura Lunig – Recreation Services Director
Website: https://summercamp.concordma.gov/
Cooperative Elder Services
Cooperative Elder Services’ mission is to enable frail elders to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. It offers a structured and supervised day program in Concord that includes skilled nursing services, therapeutic recreation, a full nutrition program including snacks and hot lunch, counseling services and much needed respite to families. The Community Chest scholarship support allows the most vulnerable and financially needy to attend and benefit from the care of its center.
Did you know that Cooperative Elder Services provided a total of 2,339 days of services to Concord and Carlisle residents last year?
Website: Cooperative Elder Services
Domestic Violence Services Network
The Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN) grew out of a needs assessment conducted by the Concord Carlisle Community Chest in 1995. DVSN offers unconditional support to families in Middlesex County living with domestic violence. Staff and highly trained volunteers listen sensitively to callers, assess the level of risk, identify options of action and refer callers to confidential sources. It has been documented that 7.5% of all calls to police in one unnamed privileged town in MetroWest Boston are related to domestic violence, including elder abuse, child abuse and spousal abuse. Further, it is estimated that approximately 50% of all domestic violence cases go unreported. Concord and Carlisle residents are fortunate to have DVSN available to support our most vulnerable community members.
Did you know that the Community Chest provided $45,000 in support to Domestic Violence Services Network last year?
Website: www.dvsn.org
Eliot Community Human Services
Eliot Community Human Services is a non-profit human service agency with a network of 80 programs and services including residential, social, and vocational programs, ombudsman services, consultation, education and training, as well as outpatient mental health services. The Eliot network is committed to serving the most vulnerable of populations, those who are most at risk and have limited or no resources to access help. Each day the network serves over 1,500 children, adolescents, families, adults and seniors in 55 communities.
Partial subsidization of fees charged to approximately 150 Concord and Carlisle recipients of mental health service which are not covered by insurance.
Deborah Garfield, 978-369-1113
Website: www.eliotchs.org
English At Large
English At Large provides free, practical, and accessible English language instruction to refugee and immigrant adults in 21 Boston area communities.
Grants provide English language and cultural instruction programs in Concord and Carlisle for new immigrants and refugees.
Call: 781-395-2374
Email: volunteer@englishatlarge.org or info@englishatlarge.org
https://www.englishatlarge.org
First Connections
First Connections serves families in the communities of Acton, Bedford, Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Harvard, Lincoln, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford.
First Connections is a family resource center whose mission is to provide comprehensive, quality, parenting support services to families with children birth through school age. Some of the programs offered by First Connections include: facilitated playgroups, parent support groups,educational seminars, home visits, challenging child support, weekend activities, adoptive family support. The programming at First Connections is aimed at enhancing parent-child interactions through education, modeling and support as it has been documented that young children’s earliest experiences and environments set the stage for future development and success in school and life.
Grants provide the program director, program coordinator and direct program expenses to emphasize parent involvement and education.
978-287-0221 ext. 201
Contact mbeilman@jri.org
https://www.firstconnections.org/
Friends in Service Helping (FISH)
FISH is an organization of volunteers that provides transportation to and from medical and similar appointments within Concord and the nearby area. This free service is available to all residents who are unable to drive themselves – not only senior citizens.
Need a ride? Contact 978-369-2244.
Want to volunteer? FISH depends on volunteers to drive and to take requests for services. Volunteers normally donate one day a month either as a driver or a phone volunteer. If you would like to volunteer, please call us at 978-369-2244 and leave your name and phone number. We will contact you for an interview.
Friday Night Fun Club
The Friday Night Fun Club provides affordable, quality, structured social programming for area special needs adults. The organization has been active since 1973.
In 2015, a $2,000 grant provided for quality, structured social programs for area special needs adults, including full funding for the cost of activities for Concord residents
Contact Ann Seamans, 781-275-8381
Gaining Ground
Gaining Ground grows organic vegetables and fruit with the help of hundreds of community volunteers and donates all of this fresh food (approximately 20,000 pounds of produce each growing season) to area meal programs and food pantries.
Grants support farm volunteer and food donation programs which supply organically raised produce to local food pantries and shelters.
Website: www.gainingground.org
To volunteer, contact Kristin Moore, 978 369-7281, office@gainingground.org
Household Goods
Household Goods provides a full range of donated furniture and household items, free of charge, to help people in need make a home. We accept donations of gently used household items. As a volunteer based organization, we depend on the generosity of community members for goods, time and financial support. Please consider supporting us so that we can continue to achieve our mission.
$7,000 grants provide for operations at Household Goods, which distributes recycled household goods to needy individuals and families in local communities.
Video: Click here
Website: www.hgrm.org
To volunteer, contact Sharon Martens at 978-635-1710 or volunteers@hgrm.org
Mass211, Inc.
Mass211 is a state-wide initiative to provide a universal 2-1-1 telephone number for locating social services and volunteer opportunities. Callers have free access to health and human services information and referral, and are guided in navigating the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. By making services easier to access, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency. It also is hoped that it will reduce the number of non-emergency calls inappropriately made to 911.
A state-wide initiative to provide a universal 2-1-1 telephone number for locating social services and volunteer opportunities.
Website: www.mass211.org
MetroWest Legal Services (MWLS)
MWLS provides free civil legal advocacy to protect and advance the rights of the poor, elderly, disabled, and other disenfranchised people. MWLS assists eligible persons in 36 communities in securing access to basic needs and in challenging institutional barriers in order to achieve equal justice for all—advocates represent battered victims in contested family law cases, defend tenants to prevent them from becoming homeless, advocate in schools for children with special needs, help elderly and disabled people in obtaining disability, welfare and medical benefits, and assist people making the transition from welfare to work. The MWLS staff represents approximately 2,200 low-income and elderly clients each year.
The direct provision of free civil legal services to poor, elderly and disabled residents of Concord and Carlisle.
Website: www.mwlegal.org
To volunteer, contact Elizabeth Soule at BSoule@mwlegal.org
Minute Man Arc for Human Services
Minute Man Arc is committed to enhancing the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities of all ages. We strive to enhance their inclusion in the community, to maximize personal choice and decision making, and to support them in reaching their full potential in all areas of their lives. Agency programs include Early Intervention, Family Services, Recreation activities for children and adults, and Adult Services (Employment, Residential, Adult Family Care, Shared Living, and Day Habilitation). During fiscal year 2010, more than 1,000 individuals and their families received services from one or more of the agency programs.
Gaps in state reimbursement for an early intervention program, as well as funding for a family services program, both of which enhance the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities.
Jean Goldsberry, 978-287-7900
Video: Click here
Website: www.minutemanarc.org
Minuteman Senior Services
Minuteman Senior Services helps elders and others with long-term care needs to remain in their own homes, safe, comfortable and independent, for as long as they are able, and to support their caregivers as they face the challenges presented by the competing needs of family, work and self. Minuteman offers information and referral, care management, nursing home screening, Alzheimer’s services, respite care, and meals-on-wheels.
Information and referral, care management, nursing home screening, Alzheimer’s services, respite care, Meals-on-Wheels
Website: www.minutemansenior.org
To volunteer, contact Joan Butler, 781-221-7087, j.butler@minutemansenior.org
The Nature Connection
The Nature Connection provides tailored, traveling nature-based therapeutic care and educational programs to people with disabilities, at-risk youth and elders with memory loss. The Nature Connection serves over 300 clients at nine sites, including MinuteMan Arc and Concord Park Assisted Living.
Program visits, caregiver training and family support workshops for two Concord-based sites that receive tailored, traveling, nature-based therapeutic programs.
Website: www.nature-connection.org
To volunteer, contact Sophie Wadsworth, 978-369-2585
Open Table
Open Table is an all-volunteer organization founded in 1989 in Concord by a group of citizens who saw the need to provide hunger relief for local area citizens. All who came were offered a hot meal and groceries, “no questions asked.” Today, Open Table Concord serves more than 100 guests of all ages each week, including families with young children as well as seniors.
Addressing issues of hunger and isolation through weekly family-style meals and food pantry. In 2015, a $24,500 grant provided a dairy protein program, which provides for the purchase of milk, eggs and cheese at the weekly food pantry in Concord.
To volunteer, contact Jeanine Calabria, 978-369-2275, info@opentable.org
Video: Click here
Website: www.opentable.org