One year in a state of emergency: Worcester officials, clergy reflect on pandemic s toll
WORCESTER There was a time when it was possible for the average resident to not know anyone who died from, or even came down with, the COVID-19 virus.
Not anymore. Few of us remain who don t know someone who simply had to isolate for a few weeks with mild symptoms, or someone who spent time in the hospital, or someone who had it with no symptoms at all. Or someone who died. A grandparent. A cousin. An in-law.
As the enormity of the situation started to crystalize in March 2020 and more and more cases starting popping up in Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency effective Wednesday, March 11.
Worcester Together awards $1 million in Reimagining Grants; 6 nonprofits benefit
WORCESTER Six local nonprofits will share $1 million in Reimagining Grants from the Worcester Together Fund.
The fund is a joint effort between the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the United Way of Central Massachusetts. It works in partnership with the city.
In the last year, Worcester Together has provided over $10.6 million to assist Central Massachusetts nonprofits that work to help families facing issues such as lost income, unstable housing, food insecurity and more.
The Reimagining Grants are the fund’s final phase of grant making and were designed to encourage local leaders to step back from the immediate consequences of a social issue and address the root causes. The scale of these grants, at over $100,000 each, will position organizations to make lasting and fundamental changes,” said GWCF President and CEO Barbara Fields.
UMass Medical School launches Vaccine Corps, backed by philanthropy, to support statewide vaccine rollout
UMass Medical School Communications February 17, 2021
Philanthropic donations totaling $435,000 have been raised to support the Vaccine Corps launched by UMass Medical School, the statewide initiative to recruit and deploy volunteers to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Massachusetts.
Kara Kennedy (right) is among the UMMS students volunteering at the large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site at Worcester State University.
The Vaccine Corps began with Medical School faculty and students supporting the equitable distribution of vaccine to vulnerable populations and has been expanded in partnership with Commonwealth Medicine, the consulting and operations division of UMass Medical School. More than 1,800 volunteers have registered through the Vaccine Corps to volunteer at vaccination sites in a variety of roles. Trained and licensed volunteers and medical and
Mark Wagner
COVID-19 has reduced incomes and disrupted some food supply chains, such that hunger is on the rise. And while food insecurity is impacting vulnerable households everywhere, Worcester has responded in admirable ways.
On four January mornings in the north parking lot at Worcester State, an event organized by Tim Garvin of The United Way and President Barry Maloney at WSU, numerous organizations joined forces to address food insecurity.
These community leaders included The Woo Sox, Ocean State Job Lot, the United Way, Polar Beverages, Table Talk Pies, Girls Inc. and Massachusetts Military Support Foundation. They created drive-through food pantries, distributing about 102,480 pounds of fresh and shelf life food and cases of water, more than 6,000 tasty pies, and close to 1,000 cartons of feminine hygiene products to families who have been suffering during the year of COVID-19 and an unsettled political landscape.