One short summer: A lot of work, and a lot of care

Through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Special Open Order, VACA received funding in June that had to be put to work quickly before the end of the fiscal year.

By July, that support had already reached our community: about 80 households received rent assistance, around 20 people received e-bikes, about 20 received laptops or digital devices, and roughly 30 others received help with household essentials and urgent expenses such as mattresses, appliances, utilities, citizenship-related costs, and other basic needs.

E-biked:

Laptops or Digital devices:

VACA prioritized families and individuals facing some of the greatest barriers, including caregivers of children with disabilities, newcomers with little or no income, survivors of human trafficking, and families experiencing financial hardship.

With a small team and a very short timeline, our staff and partners worked quickly to assess needs, complete the required documentation, purchase supplies, assemble equipment, and deliver support directly to families.

What matters most is not the number of items distributed, but what they meant in everyday life: a family able to stay in their home, a parent able to get groceries, a newcomer able to continue learning, and a household able to feel a little more stable.