News

GROVELAND — The Town of Groveland is pleased to announce that the Groveland Council on Aging has been awarded a FY23 Community Transit Program Grant. 

The $9,000 grant was awarded to the Groveland Council on Aging by the Baker-Polito Administration for its Operating Assistance Project, which provides assistance to seniors facing transportation challenges. The additional funding will allow the COA to expand transportation options for clients under age 60 with disability issues.

The FY23 Community Transit Program Grant is meant to fund transportation operations for older adults and individuals with disability issues across Massachusetts.

The funding will be used to supplement the salary of the Assistant Director, who acts as the contact and dispatch person for the COA. The programs that will be supported through this funding include the Groveland COA van, Northern Essex Elder Transport, CareRide via AgeSpan, and the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MVRTA).

Each program has its own database on which the Assistant Director is trained. Collected data is placed into the My Senior Care database and used for state and federal transit reports. 

The $9,000 in grant funding will be fully matched from the Executive Office of Elder Affairs State Formula Grant, resulting in $18,000 in added funding to the Council on Aging. This grant is earmarked by the state every year to help fund Council on Aging’s across Massachusetts. 

“The Groveland Council on Aging is thrilled to be awarded this grant. Transportation is one of the leading services we provide to seniors and ADA clients in our town,” said Assistant Director Nisha Burke. “We look forward to continuing these services for the community, and as the contact person for transportation, I know how important these services are to those who count on our assistance to get around the community.”

To learn more about the COA and COA transportation resources please call Assistant Director Burke at (978) 556-7216.

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GROVELAND — The Town of Groveland is pleased to announce that the Council on Aging has completed renovations of the food pantry thanks to generous donations from community groups.

Renovations began in July, and include electrical upgrades, new shelving, and a new refrigerator and freezer. With these improvements the pantry now offers both fresh and frozen foods.

The renovations were supported by a $4,000 donation from Pentucket Bank Community Funding and a $500 donation from the Haverhill Breakfast Exchange, both in June 2022.

Residents and community members are encouraged to visit to pantry to donate to those in need. Most items requested for donation are:

• Fresh produce (lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, squash, apples, strawberries, etc.)
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Meat
• Individual frozen meals
• Canned clam chowder
• Crackers/cheese and crackers/peanut butter and crackers
• Coffee/decaf coffee/tea bags
• Pies for the holidays
• Detergent
• Bodywash
• Tissue/paper towels/toilet paper
• Gift cards

The Groveland COA wishes to thank former Director Amanda Fisher for facilitating the renovation project and former Outreach Coordinator Maria Yagual for running the food pantry. The COA would also like to thank Ed Reed, Doug Soper, Steve McPherson, and Larry MacElhiney, who donated their time and skills to the project.

The COA would like to acknowledge the Groveland Congregational Church for its consistent donations of non-perishable food items and gift cards.

The food pantry is located in Groveland Town Hall/Council on Aging Outreach Office, 183 Main St., and is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Council on Aging food pantry is a certified partner with Our Neighbor’s Table in Amesbury and the Greater Boston Food Bank.

For all inquiries regarding the food pantry or any Council on Aging service, please contact Assistant Director Nisha Burke 978-372-1101 or 978-556-7216

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