Girls Inc. of the Valley is looking to the community for support as it launches its 2023 Giving Tuesday fundraiser. All donations from Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving, will help Girls Inc. of the Valley continue to offer programs to youth in the Valley at no cost to their families.
In addition to raising funds on Giving Tuesday, Girls Inc. participants will be giving back to their community. Members of the Girls Inc. Teen Center will be distributing menstrual hygiene kits at the program center and throughout Holyoke on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, as part of their ongoing Project Red initiative.
The online Giving Tuesday fundraising page can be found here. Donations will be accepted through Sunday, Dec. 31.
****************************************************************
The Polish National Credit Union announced a donation of $25,000 to the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club. These funds will support the construction of the club’s Teen Center.
The Teen Center will be built across from the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club’s main building located at 664 Meadow St., Chicopee. The project is anticipated to be ready by late spring 2024.
******************************************************************
LiftTruck Parts & Service Inc., a local, family-owned business, has launched a “Fill a Forklift” fundraiser to benefit Head Start in the eastern and western parts of Massachusetts, Head Start Brockton and HCS Head Start (Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield) Head Start.
LiftTruck will be collecting monetary donations at their Brockton and West Springfield locations and accepting donations online through December.
LiftTruck Brockton is located at 140 Manley St., Brockton, and LiftTruck West Springfield is at 20 Parkside St, West Springfield.
**************************************************************
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation announced the launch of a new grant program, Supporting Health Coverage Enrollment Efforts, that will support organizations statewide that help eligible people secure and maintain MassHealth (Medicaid) or other insurance coverage. The foundation awarded a total of $600,000 to 10 community-based organizations across the state.
The grant program prioritizes community-based organizations that primarily serve people who have been socially, economically, culturally or racially marginalized and areas of the state that are in need of stronger enrollment support.
Two Western Massachusetts organizations received grants:
Ecu-Health Care, a nonprofit based in North Adams, which will provide outreach, education and application enrollment assistance to uninsured and underinsured individuals across Northern Berkshire County.
Hilltown Community Health Centers, located in Western Massachusetts, which reach some of the most rural areas of the commonwealth and will focus on unhoused individuals, immigrant populations, senior citizens and families needing assistance.
*************************************************************
Canna Provisions was voted by the Lee Chamber of Commerce as Corporate Citizen of the Year for 2023. It is the first time the nearly 100-year-old chamber has voted for a cannabis company for the award.
The award recognizes a local corporate citizen whose generosity in charitable giving impacts the region being served.
*********************************************************
Atlas Chiropractic of Holyoke recently presented a check for over $8,000 to Jennie Adamczyk of Providence Ministries at Atlas Chiropractic’s office on Dwight Street.
For the past 11 years Atlas Chiropractic, Dr James McCann, staff and his practice members have donated cash (and food — previously) for the needy as part of its Annual Patient Appreciation Event, where all practice members are treated in exchange for a cash donation or previously canned goods and non-perishable food items.
Patients voluntarily make an appointment during the month-long event. In exchange for their donation, members receive chiropractic adjustments. First-time patients were provided with a consultation and exam, including any necessary X-rays, and neurological scans for $99 (not the usual $220). This money was also to be donated in full to Kate’s Kitchen. Last year, Atlas practice members donated $4,151.
***********************************************************
North Brookfield Savings Bank was named among the top banks in the United States by The Institute for Extraordinary Banking.
The bank was recognized with the Institute’s Banky Award for its commitment to strong community banking.
********************************************************
On Nov. 20, Marcotte Ford became the first Ford dealership in Massachusetts to complete the installation of electric vehicle charging stations on its campus.
Marcotte Ford invested over $1 million for the installation, which includes two level-2 electric vehicle charging stations and two level-3 electric vehicle charging stations.
In attendance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony were Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, Holyoke Chamber President Jordan Hart, Holyoke Planning and Economic Development Department, Holyoke City Council members, regional Ford representatives, Holyoke Gas and Electric, JM Electrical and ChargePoint.
Marcotte Ford is located at 1025 Main St., Holyoke.
