The Martha s Vineyard Times
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services
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On March 13, 2020, the novel coronavirus went from a distant concern to a full-fledged, in-our-backyard worry. The Island had not yet had its first case of COVID-19, but it was already feeling the effects.
Schools were shut down for what was initially expected to be two weeks, and cancellations began flooding into our email in-boxes faster than we could process them. Restaurants were told they would have to transition from in-person dining to “curbside pickup.” Virtually everything came to a crashing halt as we waited for the inevitable.
MVCS uses grant to strengthen family childcare on-Island
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (MVCS) has expanded its youth and family programming, thanks to a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship, according to a press release. The grant, which was received in the fall, is intended to support and strengthen the Island’s Family Child Care programs.
Part of the grant funds went to hiring Joanne Lambert to fill the new role of family childcare network coordinator. Lambert has a degree in human development from Lesley University, Child Development Association certification, and 24 years of experience as a Department of Early Education and Care licensed family childcare provider.
The Martha s Vineyard Times
‘They are our neighbors’: Homeless shelter sees ‘phenomenal successâ
With homelessness still prevalent on-Island, Harbor Homes provides support, and plans for the future.
Upon entering the shelter, director Lisa Belcastro (pictured) and staff provide fresh masks and hand sanitizer to guests.
Homelessness continues to be a major issue on-Island, with financial struggles of COVID, and winter weather exacerbating the danger for folks who do not have adequate and consistent living situations.
In January, Harbor Homes took the helm of homelessness prevention and remediation on Marthaâs Vineyard, with support from the county, Marthaâs Vineyard Hospital, Marthaâs Vineyard Bank, two family foundations, Bad Martha Farmerâs Brewery, Marthaâs Vineyard Community Services, and others.
The Martha s Vineyard Times
IGI prepares for upcoming growing season
Food Pantry in the works at P.A. Club; Thimble Farm prepares to maximize food production and minimize impact on soil.
Lynne Whiting, board president, and Tim Connelly, field manager, clean harvested butternut squash.
Island Grown to Go frozen soup.
The IGI Mobile Market delivers fresh produce directly to Islanders.
As the growing season approaches, Island Grown Initiative (IGI) is working on a number of projects to maximize production and access to fresh, healthy foods for the Vineyard. Laura Seguin, the development and communications coordinator for IGI, told The Times that now that IGI has merged with the Island Food Pantry and is moving the pantry location to the Portuguese-American Club in Oak Bluffs, food professionals at Thimble Farm are planning on ways to fill that space with locally grown produce.
Itâs time to change the conversation around substance use on-Island
As we round the corner on a year of living with COVID, most of us are aware of the impacts of the pandemic on our lives â isolation, anxiety, boredom, depleted savings, depleted tolerance, depleted goodwill (perhaps). An incredible thirst for travel, the sight of smiling faces, and spending time in crowded places.Â
In a story published on Tuesday in STAT, the Boston Globeâs daily health newsletter, the CDC reported another grim effect on the lives of Americans: a 20 percent increase in, and the highest-ever number of, fatal overdoses ever recorded in the U.S. in a single year.Â