+ Community Resources

Charlestown High School students and families, please use this page to find resources for yourself and your family during this time. Click HERE to learn more about CVOID-19, What you need to know, What to do if you’re sick, and a Fact Sheet.

COVID-19 Family Resources

We understand that with the temporary closure of our school that this may be a stressful time for families. It is our hope that the resources within this packet HERE will provide assistance to you during this time. In this packet you will find a variety of resources pertaining to: ● Access to Food & Internet ● Housing ● Help Paying Bills ● Emergency Money Foundations ● Educational Enrichment ○ Suggested Daily Schedule for Students

+ Food Resources

BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School Meals
Meals are available to students attending school in-person on the days that they are in school Based on their school, meals are offered in three different models:

  • grab and go from the cafeteria
  • grab and go from remote locations (not cafeteria),
  • direct delivery to the classroom.

3-day meal packs for students on the last day of the week they attend school in-person (Tuesdays for Group A and Fridays for Group B)

Super Sites provide

  • 5-day meal packs: 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches for Remote Learners
  • Breakfast and lunch daily for students on campus

Super Sites are open Monday and Thursday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Click HERE for more information and a list of city-wide meal sites.

To learn about additional food resources, contact Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline at (800) 645-8333.

Food Source Hotline Project Bread
They will screen callers for eligibility for SNAP and help them with the application. Their goal is to help the caller find as many resources as possible to put good food on the table. When relevant, they also connect callers with utility, fuel assistance, and MassHealth. And all information is kept strictly confidential. The FoodSource Hotline can provide information in 160 different languages — from Arabic to Cambodian, Russian to Vietnamese. This special service links callers with a translator who assists them with the call.
To find food resources in your community, call the FoodSource Hotline:

  • 1-800-645-8333 TTY 1-800-377-1292
  • Hotline Hours: Monday - Friday 8 A.M. - 7 P.M. Saturday 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.

JFK - Kennedy Center 23A Moulton Street, Charlestown

  • Food Pantry Bags distributed weekly on Fridays
  • FREE Grab and Go Breakfast & Lunch for Children 18 and Under
    • Monday - Friday from 8am - 12pm
  • Family Engagement Resources, books, and activities will also be available for families
  • For more information, contact Crystal Gavin: 617-241-8866 x. 1352 cgalvin@kennedycenter.org

The Harvest On Vine Pantry 49 Vine St, Charlestown, MA

  • Food is distributed on the second Saturday of every month at 10AM and the last Tuesday of the month at 7PM

Catholic Charities Yawkey Center - 185 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA

  • Food Pantry hours:

Codman Square Food Pantry - Greenwood Church, 378a Washington St, Dorchester, MA 02124

  • Food is available to patrons to be picked up once a month. All participants must bring proof of address and an official form of identification.
    • Tuesdays: 8am - 11am

Violence in Boston and Food for Soul: 651 Warren St. Dorchester, MA 02121

  • Giving out meals and supply relief
    • Lunch: 12pm-2pm; Dinner: 5pm-8pm

Lifeboat Boston Boston Temple Church: 105 Jersey St, Fenway, MA 02215

First Baptist: 633 Centre St, Jamaica Plain

  • Giving out meals - Wednesday: 6:30pm-7:30pm

Feed Our Youth The Breakfast Spot: 2805 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

  • Mention Romilda or Families for Justice and Healing to receive a free meal
    • Tuesday - Friday from 11:30am - 2:30pm
  • Call Romilda with questions: 617.363.6380

Fourth Presbyterian Church: 340 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA 02127

  • Go to Fourth Presbyterian Church where you will see a tent in the yard off of Dorchester Street – you may drive up or walk up to pick up food.
    • Monday - Friday from 11am - 1pm
  • Click here for more information: http://www.fourthboston.org/meals/

Haley House Soup Kitchen: 23 Dartmouth St, South End, 02116

Make Shift Boston: 549 Columbus Avenue, South End, 02118

Action for Boston Community Development: ABCD

If you need food assistance and live in Boston, please call one of the ABCD neighborhood centers listed here in advance to get on the list. If you live in Malden, Medford or Everett, please call our Mystic Valley Opportunity Center at 781.321.2501 to be referred to a nearby food pantry.

  • Allston/Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center: 617.903.3640
    • 640 Washington St #203, Brighton, MA 02135
    • Monday 11am-4pm
    • Wednesday 10am-4pm
    • Thursday 10am-2pm
    • Friday 10am-4pm

  • East Boston APAC: 617.567.8857
    • 21 Meridian St, East Boston, MA 02128
    • Monday through Friday 10am-3pm

  • Mattapan Family Service Center: 617.298.2045
    • 535 River St, Mattapan, MA 02126
    • Tuesday through Friday 12 pm-3:30 pm

  • Parker Hill/Fenway Neighborhood Service Center: 617.445.6000
    • 714 Parker St, Roxbury, MA 02120
    • Monday 9:30am-12:30pm
    • Tuesday 9:30am-12:30pm
    • Friday 9:30am-12:30pm

  • Roxbury/North Dorchester Neighborhood Opportunity Center: 617.442.5900
    • 565 Warren St, Boston, MA 02121
    • Monday through Wednesday 10am-12pm
    • 2nd and 4th Thursdays 10am-12pm

Food Access, City of Boston

City of Boston Food Resource Map
Sites and meal times are subject to change. Please call to confirm information before you head to the meal pickup site.

Aunt Bertha

FOOD DELIVERY SERVICES

MGH - Fresh Food Truck Program
Charlestown families in need of food delivery contact Carmen Horne at [617-724-8168][35]
The Fresh Truck box will include food for 1-2 people and last 1 week [35]: tel:+16177248168

West End House Boys and Girls Club 105 Allston Street, Allston, MA 02134

Shopping Angels
Shopping Angels is a community program designed to provide a grocery delivery service to those populations deemed especially at-risk for the novel COVID-19 virus that is spreading throughout the United States. Individuals aged 60+ and those with conditions that impair their immune function are specifically vulnerable to contracting this virus. Shopping Angels does not purchase groceries for clients, they buy them, and then deliver them, and then the client pays them back.

Feeding Children Everywhere
Full Cart is delivering groceries to families in need. Click HERE to apply. This application will place you into a virtual queue and you will be notified by email with instructions on how to redeem your bag of groceries if it is funded.

Khalsa Aid
If you cannot leave your home and are in need of basic groceries due to the recent Coronavirus Emergency please fill out the form below. We are all volunteers so we will do our best to fulfill your requests but this will be subject to availability.

Covaid Mutual Aid
This Mutual Aid tool is used to assist private citizens in finding resources during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

+ Computer and Internet Access

Chromebooks
Boston Public Schools are providing Chromebooks to BPS Students who do not have consistent access to a computer at home. Please click to fill out the request form in your language below.

Mobile Hotspot
If your child has a cell phone, you can check with the wireless provider to see if they can activate a personal mobile hotspot on their device. Both Sprint and T-Mobile are automatically adding the feature to all smart phones during the Covid-19 Emergency.

Si su hijo tiene un teléfono celular, puede consultar con el proveedor de servicios inalámbricos para ver si pueden activar un punto de acceso móvil personal en su dispositivo. Tanto Sprint como T-Mobile agregan automáticamente la función a todos los teléfonos inteligentes durante la emergencia Covid-19.

Se o seu filho tiver um telefone celular, você pode verificar com o provedor sem fio se ele pode ativar um ponto de acesso móvel pessoal no dispositivo. Tanto a Sprint quanto a T-Mobile adicionam automaticamente o recurso a todos os smartphones durante a Emergência Covid-19.

Internet Essentials
Comcast is providing a low cost internet service to families starting at $9.95 a month. During the Covid-19 Emergency, Comcast has increased their data speeds and they are giving customers two free months of Service. More information can be found at:
https://www.internetessentials.com/?fbclid=IwAR2Gi7KiDUBRQrDhMzqdm- oW_rexBQu-t2lJKeB2I_Fc4xvruowFWzhj_3A

Comcast también ofrece un servicio de internet de bajo costo a las familias desde $ 9.95 al mes. Durante la emergencia Covid-19, Comcast ha aumentado sus velocidades de datos y les está dando a los clientes dos meses de servicio gratis. Se puede encontrar más información en: https://es.internetessentials.com/?fbclid=IwAR2Gi7KiDUBRQrDhMzqdm-%20oW_rexBQu-t2lJKeB2I_Fc4xvruowFWzhj_3A

+ Housing Resources

Rental Relief Fund
This fund will help income-eligible tenants in the City of Boston who:

MCH HomeLink

  • Housing advocates are working remotely and can help people navigate to resources and programs that can help with stabilizing a housing crisis. HomeLink housing advocates will also assist people with filling out screening tools and applications for these programs and benefits, many of which can be accessed online.
  • Call Guissella DeLeon- 781-595-7570 ext. 24: Charlestown High School
    https://www.mahomeless.org/get-help

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition
The RAFT Program is a homelessness prevention program funded by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). RAFT provides short-term financial assistance to low-income families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Aunt Bertha

+ Health and Medical Assistance

Charlestown High School Health Center

  • All students enrolled at the Charlestown High School Health Center can access health resources at any NEW Health Center location.
    • North End - 332 Hanover St., Boston, MA 02113
    • Charlestown - 15 Tufts St., Boston, MA 02129
  • Click HERE or call 617-241-0209 for more information

Aunt Bertha

Health Insurance

  • Residents who need health insurance can call 877-623-6765
  • Go to MAhealthconnector.org to complete application, those who qualify will be offered subsidized plans with low premiums and co-pays, and no deductibles for all services

+ Mental Health Resources

Accessing mental health services during school closure. Follow this guidance from BPS.
In case of emergency:
Call the BEST team: 1-800-981-HELP (4357) The Boston Emergency Services Team (B.E.S.T.) sends mobile crisis clinicians to homes, schools, outpatient clinics, and many other community locations.
Call or text Samaritans’ 24/7 Helpline at 877-870-4673 Whatever the reason, you will get help from a trained volunteer offering non-judgmental support. Samaritans’ 24/7 crisis Helpline based in Massachusetts is confidential and free.

For Parents and Families

For Students

  • Second Step has free SEL activities and mindfulness resources for children and families to use during this time
  • Headspace is offering free support during this crisis. Headspace provides guided mindfulness activities, including sleep and movement exercises
  • Go Noodle has movement and mindfulness videos created by experts in child development. Free for families
  • Calm has gathered mindfulness meditations, exercises, and media.

+ Worker Relief Funds - By Industry

Hospitality/Food+Bev

Healthcare/Human Services

Artists/Entertainment

+ Financial Assistance

Lend-A-Hand Society
Apply for grants of up to $300 to help with rent arrears, utility bills where there is a risk of shut-off, critical medicines, medical or dental care. Please note that it can often take several weeks for them to process requests.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
The Family Support Fund will provide one-time grants of up to $2,000 to help families impacted by COVID 19.

  • From a cell phone you can dial 877-211-6277 or dial 211 from a landline phone to be connected to an operator who can best assist you and refer you to agencies in your area
  • Mass 2-1-1 has a website: https://mass211.org/ that offers a chat function in the top right-hand corner of the home page

+ Phone App Resources

Helpsteps

  • Finding shelter, food, and other resources

Down Dog or Yoga for Beginners (free until April 1st)

  • Yoga positions that can accommodate based on personal needs and experience levels

Youper (teens and adults)

  • Mood tracking and journaling
  • App also has an auto text message feature that can explore the client’s mood with them

White Noise A variety of sounds that can help relax people

Sanvello (teenagers and adults) (click skip once registered to access free features)

  • Addresses anxiety and depression: practices mindfulness and can log mood

Reflectly (preteens and teens) basic, free

  • Mood tracking/dreams/sleepless nights, or to generally have a place to log thoughts.

Relax Melodies

  • Customize sleep sounds

Generously supported by

Liberty Mutual

SAP

The Hayden Foundation

Contact Us

info@charlestownhs.org
240 Medford St.
Charlestown, MA 02129
T 617.635.9914 | F 617.635.9928

 

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