Needham Community Council Inc

SEE ATTACHED PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS.

1) THE COUNCIL'S FOOD PANTRY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE YEARS. WE CURRENTLY SERVE CLOSE TO 200 NEEDHAM FAMILIES EACH MONTH. CLIENTS RECEIVE FOOD, PAPER GOODS, BREAD AND PASTRY. FOOD IS GENEROUSLY DONATED BY ROCHE BROTHERS, SUDBURY FARMS, TRADER JOE'S, NEEDHAM'S HOUSES OF WORSHIP, NEEDHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BOY SCOUTS AND POSTAL WORKERS' FOOD DRIVES, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. THE COUNCIL IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK.2) THE CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION PROGRAM (CAP) IS A CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THEIR VULNERABILITY TO VERBAL, PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHOOLS, TRAINED VOLUNTEER PREVENTION SPECIALISTS PRESENT BASIC, AGE-APPROPRIATE, SKILL-ORIENTED PREVENTION WORKSHOPS IN THE CLASSROOM. A COMPONENT FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS PREPARES ADULTS TO RESPOND TO CHILDREN WHO NEED THEIR HELP AND TO SUPPORT PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES.3) THE COUNCIL OFFERS "NEW-TO-YOU" CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES AT THE CLOTHES CLOSET AND FLEA MARKET. THE FLEA MARKET OFFERS UNIQUE AND EVERYDAY ITEMS AT A NOMINAL CHARGE. OUR SHOPPERS ARE EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE BARGAINS THAT THEY FIND.

-ACCESSING HEALTHY FOODS IN NEEDHAM-THE FOOD PANTRY HELPS TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR OVER 600 NEEDHAM RESIDENTS. THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS OF NEEDHAM WHO ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF FOOD INSECURITY. AS THE NEED FOR FOOD HAS INCREASED SO HAS OUR COMMITMENT TO NOT JUST PROVIDING FOOD BUT OFFERING HEALTHY, FRESH FOOD THAT WILL GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR WELLBEING THROUGH NUTRITIOUS MEALS. WE PROVIDE EVERYTHING FROM FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND LEAN PROTEINS TO CLEANING SUPPLIES AND TOILETRY ITEMS. OUR CUSTOMERS SHOP WITH US TWO TIMES A MONTH AND BENEFIT FROM OTHER PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR NEEDS LIKE THE HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM AND THE BIRTHDAY PROGRAM.

-ACCESSING TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL-IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AND THE RESULTING INCREASE IN SOCIAL ISOLATION, THE NEEDHAM COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL ON AGING FORMED A PARTNERSHIP TO EQUIP ADULTS IN NEEDHAM WITH FREE ELECTRONIC TABLETS AND TUTOR SUPPORTS TO HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO USE THE DEVICE. THE GOAL IS TO ALLOW RECIPIENTS TO ENGAGE IN SOCIAL, RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND ON-LINE ORDERING OF ESSENTIALS LIKE PRESCRIPTIONS AND FOOD. A TEAM OF VOLUNTEER TUTORS ALONG WITH ONE FULL-TIME STAFF PERSON HELP RECIPIENTS FEEL COMFORTABLE USING THE DEVICE. AFTER A THOROUGH INTERVIEW PROCESS TO EVALUATE THE NEW USERS' INTERESTS, THE TABLET IS PERSONALIZED WITH APPS AND WEBSITES THAT THEY MIGHT FIND MOST HELPFUL. THROUGH A VARIETY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM ONE-ON-ONE TRAINING TO GROUP CLASSES, NEW USERS ARE CONNECTING TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND DISCOVERING THE BENEFITS OF ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

-FREE ENGLISH LEARNING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN NEEDHAM-TRAINED ELL VOLUNTEERS HELP ADULT LEARNERS AT ALL LEVELS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. TUTORS HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE NEW TO THE US LEARN ENGLISH AND ADJUST TO THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN THEIR NEW CULTURE. SUCCESSFUL TUTORS ARE WELCOMING, PATIENT, FLEXIBLE AND ABLE TO WORK WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEERS SHOULD BE FLUENT ENGLISH SPEAKERS AND FAMILIAR WITH AMERICAN CULTURE. VOLUNTEERS ATTEND A FALL OR SPRING TRAINING SERIES THAT PREPARES THEM TO WORK WITH ELL LEARNERS. AFTER COMPLETING THE TRAINING, THE TUTORS ARE PLACED WITH A STUDENT WHOSE SCHEDULE MATCHES THEIR OWN. PAIRS THEN MEET REGULARLY ONCE A WEEK, FOCUSING ON THE STUDENT'S PARTICULAR NEEDS.

THE COUNCIL OFFERS VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS WHICH SUPPORT PEOPLE IN NEEDHAM WHO HAVE UNDER-MET HEALTH, EDUCATION OR SOCIAL NEEDS.