NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Recent news, events and updates from the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging.
CMAA Helps Worcester Become An Age Friendly City
CMAA has been hard at work over the past year collaborating with community members, local organizations, and city leaders to make Worcester an age-friendly city. We’re proud to share that AARP has awarded Worcester an age-friendly designation this spring! Thanks to the Age Friendly Worcester Initiative, the Heart of the Commonwealth is well on its way to becoming a more livable, accessible place for people of all ages. Check out this video of our public announcement! We’d like to offer a big thank you to the City of Worcester – Government Television for filming this event and producing this piece.
Supporting “Grady’s Groceries” at the Clinton Senior Center
We are proud to help with the launch of “Grady’s Groceries”, a new food pantry right inside the Clinton Senior Center! Named after Mr. Grady, a longtime supporter and board member of the Clinton Senior Center, this food pantry offers seniors with appropriately sized food, personal care items, and cleaning products. The ribbon cutting celebration was a big success and we were so happy to be a part of it!
Learn more about “Grady’s Groceries” with this piece from the Telegram & Gazette.
CMAA Teams Up with AARP Massachusetts for Community Shred Events
Thank you to This Week in Worcester and Spectrum 1 News Worcester for your coverage of our community shred events. We are proud to partner with AARP Massachusetts to support senior financial safety through initiatives like these! Our next event is Monday, May 2nd at the Worcester Senior Center from 9:00am-12:00pm
Click here to see our feature in This Week in Worcester.
To watch our piece on Spectrum 1 News, click here
Age Friendly Worcester Press Event Invite
You’re invited to the Age Friendly Worcester Kick-off Event!
Age Friendly Worcester is on a mission to make the City of Worcester livable and accessible for folks of all ages. The goal of this effort is to secure AARP’s prestigious Age Friendly Community designation. Through collaborative partnerships and community insights, this initiative is excited to make a positive impact in the Heart of the Commonwealth.
Celebrate the official announcement of Age Friendly Worcester on May 11th at the Worcester Senior Center starting at 12:00pm. Hear from local officials and organizational leaders about the initiative and how YOU can get involved. Merch and refreshments will be available. In-person attendance is limited, so don’t delay in signing up!
Click the blue button above or scan the QR code to register.
Please note: The event organizers are also exploring a hybrid event (virtual AND in person), so stay tuned!
COVID-19 Booster Clinic and Job Fair on Friday, November 19th
Directions and Parking Information for COVID-19 Booster Clinic and Job Fair on Friday, November 19th
Thank you to everyone who is participating in this Friday’s COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Clinic and Job Fair for Older Adults. Here are some directions and parking info for our location:
CMAA is located directly off Route 20 in Worcester at 330 Southwest Cutoff. This is also the Teamsters’ Building. Our building is directly across the street from Miller Fence. You will see a sign with balloons at the entrance.
Please park in the back of the building as indicated by the map. The clinic entrance is in the back of the building and a CMAA staff member will be greeting folks. There are signs up to the clinic as well.
If you have any questions, please call CMAA at 508-852-5539 or email info@seniorconnection.org.
We look forward to seeing you!
COVID-19 Booster Clinic and Senior Job Fair For Older Adults Ages 65+ ($100 Holiday Grocery Gift Cards for Participants)
Older adults in Central Mass!
Get your FREE COVID-19 vaccine booster at 330 Southwest Cutoff in Worcester on Friday, November 19th from 9:30am-3:30pm.
$100 grocery gift cards for all participants!
Raffles for CVS and gas gift cards too!
Local job and volunteer resources will also be available on site.
Call (508) 852-5539 or email info@seniorconnection.org by November 16th to sign up. This clinic is for ages 65 and older.
This program is brought to you through a partnership between Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, Inc. and UMass Memorial Health.
CMAA Partnership Spotlight: Hope & Comfort
Dr. Moses Dixon Featured in Worcester Business Journal
Congratulations to Dr. Moses S. Dixon for being recognized as one of Worcester Business Journal’s ’40 Under Forty’ for 2021. To read the full article, click here.
CMAA Donates $3,000 to Support Clinton Senior Center Food Pantry
CLINTON – A project born out of the COVID-19 pandemic got a boost from a donation.
During COVID, the Clinton Senior Center, 271 Church St., opened a food pantry for Clinton seniors, called Stephanie’s Staples.
On Friday, Aug. 13, the senior center let the public know that the Central Mass. Agency on Aging provided a check for $3,000 to establish a senior food pantry.
According to a post on the Senior Center’s Facebook page, in addition to the usual staple items, this pantry will have items of use specifically for seniors.
“We will also have fresh produce and dairy items,” according to the post.
Debra Goodsell, director of the Clinton Council on Aging’s Senior Center, said Stephanie’s Staples was well received.
“Seniors were so happy to be able to individually go in an get items without having to go to the grocery store,” Goodsell said. “It was a so well received. Central Mass. Agency on Aging is supporting this mission. They are also looking to provide us with fresh produce. They are such a great source of support for us.”
The “Stephanie” of Stephanie’s Staples is meal site manager Stephanie Cerutti. She will be running the pantry.
“We will be using a space we now use for storage as the pantry,” Goodsell said, adding, “There are certain items that our seniors use that a regular pantry may not carry. Undergarments, denture grip, sugar-free items for our diabetics, heart healthy food items, etc.
“While at the center, we can also see if we can assist them in any other ways. Perhaps they qualify for SNAP, fuel assistance, or have other needs we can help with,” Goodsell said. “We are so excited to be able to help our seniors in yet another way.”
Donations can be made to the Clinton Senior Center. For information, call (978) 733-4747.
Bidders’ Conference – July 27, 2021
The Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging is pleased to announce a
Bidders’ Conference
Tuesday, July 27, 2021
10:00 AM
330 Southwest Cutoff (3rd Floor)
Worcester, MA
LEGAL NOTICE
The Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging will hold a Special Bidders’ Conference on Tuesday, July 27th, 2021 at 10:00 AM in the third floor conference room of 330 Southwest Cutoff Worcester, MA 01604.
The purpose of this Bidders’ Conference is to review our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Priorities, the application process, including letters of intent, and highlight criteria used by the Planning and Allocations Committee in its review of proposals.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP by July 20th, 2021 to Ethan Belding, Director of Planning and Research at ebelding@seniorconnection.org or 508-852-5539. Only organizations which submit a letter of intent that appropriately addresses ARPA Priorities will be invited to submit a full proposal.
The Planning and Allocations Committee determines the type of services to be funded by the area agency under each priority. The Committee reserves the right to request interviews with any or all applicants. Applicants’ letters of intent will then be considered for the following areas: *III B Supportive Services *III C Regional congregate and home delivered meal services *III D Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
With adequate notice, people with disabilities may request special accommodations (e.g. sign interpreter, sound system, etc.). For more information, please call CMAA at (508) 852-5539 V/TDD or 1- 800-244-3032. Website: www.seniorconnection.org
EOE/AA July 7, 2021