A Flurry of activity at The United Way of Tri-County

WINTER 2023

211 Day: Thank you to our dedicated call-takers at Mass211 and Call2Talk

At Mass211 and Call2Talk, we celebrated 2-1-1 Day with a ceremony at our Framingham headquarters on Feb. 10.

Everett L. Handford, Regional Director of New England U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and Taylor Bryan Turner, the Assistant Regional Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), praised the work of our call-takers in providing help to callers during this time of an "unprecedented mental health and substance abuse crisis."

Heart of Hunger Challenge: Running in the cold to help us feed the hungry

Hip, hip, hooray to the hundreds of participants in our Heart of Hunger winter fitness challenge! These individuals have committed to going outside—even in the cold and snow—and walking or running at least 1 mile a day during the month of February. It's a heart-healthy challenge and also heartwarming, since their registration fees go directly to feeding the hungry.

At long last: Evening sit-down meal service returns to the
﻿Pearl Street Café

We're thrilled to announce that sit-down evening meal service begins again on Wednesday, March 1 at our Pearl Street Cupboard & Café.

Team Framingham:
﻿Go, runners, go!

Call2Talk has four “Team Framingham” runners in this year's Boston Marathon: Jen Artick Pellegrino, Melissa Roach, Tara Mahnk and Brendan Manzella.

Q&A with Jan Wade, Director of the Boston Ability Center

  Our Heart of Hunger Challenge, which encouraged outdoor physical fitness during the month of February, raised MONEY this year to help us feed the hungry. The Boston Ability Center was a sponsor and has been one of the biggest supporters of the challenge since its start in 2021.  

New Expanded Hours
at WHEAT

Our food pantry at WHEAT Community Connections has expanded its hours for clients to come in for groceries. WHEAT is now open the second Saturday of every month from 10am-1pm.
WHEAT’s pantry hours are:
Mon., Tues. & Wed. 10am-1pm
Thursday 10am-1pm and 3-6pm
Friday CLOSED
  Saturday: 10am-1pm on the  
second Saturday of every month only

UPCOMING EVENTS

Look for us at
﻿The Taste of MetroWest

Join us at The Taste of MetroWest on Monday, March 13. Stop by our booth and try a sampling from our Community Cooks cookbook. Purchase a cookbook to support the Pearl Street Cupboard & Café. Spin the wheel to win a United Way T-shirt.

Golf FORE! A good cause

Grab your clubs and let's have some fun at our Annual United Way Golf Classic. This year's tournament will be at the Hopkinton Country Club on Monday, July 24

COMMUNITY CORNER

UWDS United Way Distribution Services

Our team at United Way Distribution Services was glad to help a local family of four that lost their home in a fire. We provided mattresses, bed frames, clothes and appliances—and we wish them all the best as they recover. 

 Call2Talk
Mental Health Program

  Meet Morgan, a call-taker at Call2Talk, our mental health helpline (Reach it by dialing 211 x25). If you like listening to people’s stories, consider becoming one, too! mass211.org/volunteer-call2talk  

WHEAT Community Connections

  The Girl Scouts of Clinton and Lancaster saved the day by making and packaging 442 lunches and dinners to be delivered and handed out to residents before we closed. Of the 442 meals, 431 were distributed by 1:30 p.m.!   

Pearl Street
Cupboard & Café at Park

  With extra COVID SNAP benefits ending and the cost of groceries so high, we’re helping not only existing clients but new ones as well put food in the table. Thank you WBZ / CBS News Boston and Beth Germano for telling this story.  

Marlborough Community Cupboard

  This serenade from Walter, a supporter of our Marlborough Community Cupboard, really warms our hearts this Valentine's Day—and so does his sweet gesture of donating his #SuperBowl winnings! Thank you for helping us feed the hungry. ♥  

Ready to Read
Early Literacy program

  Thank you to our platinum sponsor Sunovion Pharmaceuticals for supporting our Ready to Read program! We were glad to drop supplies for your employees "hands-on" volunteer time. The kids who receive the final product will be so happy.  

We Need Your Help!
Share your time. Share your talents. Share your love for community.

The Volunteer Center offers a variety of programs and opportunities that make it easy for you to volunteer, no matter what your schedule is. The Volunteer Center connects employers and employees with organizations and programs that match their talents and interests.