ABCD has recently been notified of a generous grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to expand the capacity of its English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program. The new DESE grant supports a 33% increase in capacity through the addition of five classes, enabling 72 additional students to enroll in classes. ABCD currently offers…
Ten years ago, the man who led ABCD for 41 of his 45 years with the organization passed away. Robert M. Coard, renowned as a builder of social institutions, was a catalyst in the national community action movement launched with the passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Robert Coard “had ideas that the city could be better, that…
Action for Boston Community Development says it will have the thousands of toys it needs to make it a merry Christmas for hundreds of Boston families — thanks to a local couple who stepped up to help with the largest donation ever received by the nonprofit. On Thursday, ABCD said it…
With the recent cold snap in Boston ABCD has seen more people applying for fuel assistance earlier. The fuel assistance program helps low-income residents obtain home heating assistance to keep them and their families warm. Watch the video below to see Boston 25 interview ABCD President and CEO John Drew about the program and the need for in throughout the…
BOSTON — A Massachusetts organization is in need of thousands of toys for the holidays. Action for Boston Community Development, or ABCD, is hoping to fulfill the dreams of thousands of children in need this holiday season. The group said Thursday that it is still in need of 3,000 toys. Organizers said they believe Christmas crept up on people this…
Bedford resident Eileen Dern, director of community services at MelroseWakefield Healthcare, was named a 2019 ABCD Community Heroes by Action for Boston Community Development, an anti-poverty, community development and human services organization. Dern was one of 23 local community leaders honored by ABCD as “every day, extraordinary volunteers who share their skills, time and compassion to light the way for…
The short turnaround between Thanksgiving and Christmas means everyone is scrambling and that’s affecting some nonprofits that collect toy donations this time of year. At ABCD’s Dorchester distribution center, they’ve received about 500 toys so far but they need thousands more to help some 800 families who have signed up for help this year. ABCD collects toys for kids up…
The men and women of the Boston Fire Department volunteer during their time off to increase community outreach and guide young adults on how to become firefighters one day. The Boston Fire Department has increased efforts to boost diversity among its ranks. A friendship between two firefighters on the basketball court led to the creation of the Community Enrichment Program. Young…
The President and CEO of ABCD, John Drew, talks about its fuel assistance program and other efforts to meet the needs of families and individuals during the holidays and through the winter. Interview for BNN News. Aired December 9, 2019.
In our land of plenty, too many go without the basic necessities like food and shelter. We don’t need statistics to say whether homelessness has increased or decreased — we see it all around us. The opioid crisis has exacerbated the problem. Bottom line is that we must do more. Even one homeless family is one too many Sadly, for…