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Heating assistance funds running out early as brutal winter continues

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:08:50 GMT

Seen on Western Mass News

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Heating assistance for many local families has run out with weeks of winter weather still ahead, leaving some households scrambling for ways to stay warm.

The Valley Opportunity Council, which helps approximately 20,000 local households stay warm each winter, may have already surpassed that number this year despite it only being February. Many families have already burned through their benefits due to what officials call a ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances. “I haven’t seen anything like this. The number of people running out of benefit and how early they have run out is significantly concerning,” said Melissa White, director of programs at Valley Opportunity Council.

Valley Opportunity Council begins processing heating assistance applications after shutdown

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 15:12:16 GMT

Seen on Western Mass News

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - As arctic cold grips western Massachusetts, thousands of families who’ve been choosing between heating and groceries can finally turn up their thermostats. Federal funding for the low-income home energy assistance program was released after a month-long delay.

Important Fuel Assistance Updates

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:43:27 GMT

Federal Shutdown Ends and HEAP (Fuel Assistance) Funding to Resume

With the end of the Government Shutdown, VOC is gearing up to begin processing applications beyond heating emergencies as federal funding for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) has resumed.

It is anticipated to take a minimum of 4-6 weeks for the federal funds to be distributed to Massachusetts, and once funds are received from the federal government, state administrative processes will take place to award benefits.

We understand that many families are experiencing further strain as temperatures drop, and we appreciate their patience as we work diligently to review applications and award benefits as quickly as possible.

Applications already submitted will continue to be processed in the order they were received. Households do not need to reapply or take additional steps if they've already applied.

If a household is experiencing a heating emergency -such as no heat, less than 1/8 tank of oil, or a termination notice-they should contact us immediately for assistance by calling 413-552-1548 .

Please note that there is a moratorium on shut-offs that began October 27 and will continue through April 1, 2026. Homes that use natural gas or electricity as a heating source will not be shut off during the winter.

Currently, our 555 State Street office in Springfield and 300 High Street office in Holyoke , are open

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.

Home heating assurance needed by many amid rising costs

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:07:16 GMT

Seen on Western Mass News: Home heating assurance needed by many amid rising costs

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Valley Opportunity Council has been known for helping those who are income eligible with heating assistance, but with the weather getting colder and amidst recent events, their efforts are necessary more than ever.

Belcher Apartments: New affordable housing in Chicopee

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 17:00:49 GMT

Seen on WWLP: A look inside the new Belcher Apartments in Chicopee to tackle housing insecurity

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Valley Opportunity Council celebrated the opening of the Belcher Apartments in Chicopee with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant step in providing affordable housing in the area.

Heating assistance threatened during government shutdown

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:50:07 GMT

Seen on Western Mass News: Thousands of households in the greater Springfield area rely on heating assistance to stay warm.

Valley Opportunity Council hosts trunk or treat in Chicopee

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:39:23 GMT

Valley Opportunity Council hosted its annual Trunk or Treat event in Chicopee, providing a safe and festive environment for families to celebrate Halloween.

Important Fuel Assistance Update

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 17:04:28 GMT

1) Only those households experiencing a heating-related emergency will be served by the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) while the shutdown is in place.

Emergencies Include: No heat, A termination notice from a utility, less than 1/8 of a tank of oil, less than three days’ supply of other deliverable fuels
Limited Funding Available starting November 1 Only for Heating Emergencies

2) Standard fuel assistance supports through Valley Opportunity Council are not currently available until the Federal Government shutdown ends and Fuel Assistance funds are restored to the budget

If you believe you are experiencing a heating emergency,

please call 413-552-1548 and a member of our fuel assistance team will assist.

Seeing on Western Mass News: Assistance available to help combat rising heating costs

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:40:37 GMT

[Western Mass News] SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - As we go deeper into fall, heating costs are expected to increase once again. And right now, there is a way for some to get assistance, while the commonwealth looks to do something about this issue.

Seen on Western Mass News: Home heating assistance applications available

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 20:31:18 GMT

Melissa White, Director of Programs at Valley Opportunity Council, is interviewed by Western Mass News about the coming heating season.

Belcher Apartments Lottery April 28 at 10 a.m.

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:59:44 GMT

The Belcher Apartments is a new development located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, offering 25 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Apartments will be available for households earning less than 30% Area median Income (AMI), less than 50% AMI and 60% AMI as well as households with the ability to pay market rent.

Amenities

Air Conditioning
Quality Cabinetry & Windows
Cable and Internet ready
Energy Star Appliances
Emergency Maintenance
On-Site Laundry
Assigned Parking

Floor Plans

The Belcher Apartments lottery will be held via Zoom:

Monday, April 28, 2025

10:00 a.m.

Meeting ID: 810 7656 6374

Passcode: 553829

All applicants who submitted a complete application by the deadline have been successfully

entered into the lottery and have received a registration code by mail. This code is essential for

maintaining the confidentiality of each applicant's identity. Be prepared with your registration code to check your ranking in the lottery. Following the lottery, only the top applicants will be contacted. So stay tuned!

VOC/GEAR UP Program Boasts 300 College Acceptances, Over $3 Million in Scholarships for Holyoke Grads

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 21:38:42 GMT

This year’s initiative saw the highest level of participation and success since onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 312 on-the-spot college acceptances

The VOC/GEAR UP program, which serves students in Holyoke at the STEM Academy, William J. Dean Technical High School, and Holyoke High North School, recently hosted two Massachusetts College Application Celebration (MCAC) events for local seniors, resulting in more than 300 college acceptances and $3.6 million in scholarships for one year.

More than 160 high school seniors from Holyoke participated in the MCAC events at William J. Dean Tech High School on November 21 and Holyoke High North on November 25 and 26. The events offered students the opportunity to engage directly with college representatives, workforce development programs, and career-focused organizations.

During the events, seniors were able to receive personalized assistance with applying to colleges, completing the Common App, finalizing college essays, and navigating the scholarship and financial aid processes. Additionally, students had the opportunity to create resumes, undergo interviews, and receive on-the-spot college acceptances, including merit scholarship offers.

The VOC/GEAR UP program announced that this year’s events saw the highest level of participation and success since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic:

● 164 Seniors from Holyoke participated

● 447 Applications completed

● 312 On-the-Spot Acceptances

● $3,634,281 offered in scholarships for one year

“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s MCAC events and the positive impact they had on our seniors as they prepare for their next steps after high school,” said a VOC/GEAR UP program representative. “We are grateful for the support of the principals at Dean Tech and Holyoke High, as well as the dedicated school counselors who worked tirelessly to help organize and prepare our students for this important milestone.”

The VOC/GEAR UP program (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs) aims to increase college readiness and success for low-income, first-generation students. Through a variety of initiatives, VOC/GEAR UP provides academic support, career exploration, and guidance to help students navigate the path to higher education and beyond.

The VOC/GEAR UP program is committed to supporting students in their pursuit of higher education and career success, and events like MCAC play a key role in equipping them with the tools they need to succeed.

For more information on the VOC/GEAR UP program, please contact Mary Colon mcolon@valleyopp.com.

Seen on WWLP: Valley Opportunity Council to reopen Women, Infants & Children office in Ludlow

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:35:08 GMT

LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) – The Valley Opportunity Council will reopen its Women, Infants & Children’s (WIC) office in Ludlow on Wednesday.

The Ludlow office, located at 14 Chestnut Place, closed during the pandemic, and a grand re-opening ceremony is set for 10:00 a.m., according to a news release from the Valley Opportunity Council. The grand reopening ceremony will feature snacks, activities, and a raffle, and will provide information to the community about available resources offered through the WIC program.

WIC is a nutrition program that serves qualified families in Massachusetts. They provide nutrition education, referrals to healthcare, and social service agencies, and a WIC card that can be redeemed at certain grocery stores and pharmacies. There are WIC offices in Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield.

The Valley Opportunity Council also offers assistance with housing, energy, and early education. They are the largest and most diverse Community Action Agency in western Massachusetts with an annual budget of $45 million.

AP: New WIC rules include more money for fruits and veggies. They also expand food choices

mwhite@valleyopp.com ( Melissa White) — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 14:28:23 GMT

The federal Women, Infants and Children program that helps pay for groceries for millions of low-income mothers, babies and young kids has announced rule changes that will emphasize and increase monthly cash vouchers for more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as provide more choices of foods from different cultures.

FILE - A woman browses produce for sale at a grocery store, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, in New York. In final rule changes announced Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the federal program that helps millions of low-income mothers, babies and young kids will soon emphasize more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as provide a wider choice of foods from different cultures. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie, File)

Outlook 2024: Valley Opportunity Council improving lives, one resident at a time

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 16:55:03 GMT

Featured in The Republican's 2024 Outlook issue, February 18,

Valley Opportunity Council opens new location in West Springfield

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 16:42:32 GMT

by: Melissa Torres

Posted: Feb 14, 2024 / 05:15 PM EST

Updated: Feb 14, 2024 / 06:39 PM EST

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Valley Opportunity Council hosted an open house Wednesday for their new location in West Springfield.

There are now five locations in Hampden County for people to access the wide range of resources and services provided at the Valley Opportunity Council. West side residents can now access programs that provide fuel assistance, supplemental nutrition benefits, as well as adult education programs for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners.

The VOC is dedicated to providing a helping hand to low- and moderate-income neighbors, families and friends to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life.

Melissa White, Director of Programs at VOC, told 22News, “We’re really excited to have this location in West Springfield to be able to offer articles for the community. If you’re curious about housing, childcare, fuel assistance, tax preparation… we will connect you to those services and also we’re going to try to do our best to connect you to services in the community.”

They are also offering a free tax preparation service at their location in West Springfield. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides volunteer tax professionals certified
in preparing and filing federal and state income tax returns.

VOC also offers assistance with energy, food, early education, youth programs, housing and more. More about their programs are available on their website .

Join Us: Open House at Our New West Springfield Location

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 21:13:25 GMT

Featured on Mass Appeal: Valley Opportunity Council wants you to help end senior loneliness

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 15:58:18 GMT

Andrea Holden, Director of the Senior Companion Program at VOC, was featured on Mass Appeal to talk about the program.

(Mass Appeal) – The United States Surgeon General has stated that loneliness in our country has become an epidemic, causing the deterioration of both our mental and physical health, and some of those most at risk are our seniors.

Andrea Holden, Director of the Senior Companion Program at the Valley Opportunity Council, is here to tell us about a program where you can help our senior neighbors.

MassLive: Valley Opportunity Council, continuing downtown Chicopee investment, buys closed Polish National branch

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 17:55:28 GMT

Published on MassLive - December 29, 2023

By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com

CHICOPEE — The Valley Opportunity Council — seeking to provide parking for its redevelopment of 30 Center St. — has purchased the former Polish National Credit Union branch at 244 Exchange St. for $418,000.

The sale was recorded at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Dec. 12.

Upcoming Board of Directors Meetings

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 21:18:00 GMT

The VOC Board of Directors will meet on the following dates:

March 16, 2023
April 20, 2023
May 18, 2023
June 15, 2023

Please contact 413-552-1554 for more information.

Featured on Spectrum News: Wilbraham retiree applying different strategies to stay warm this winter

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 15:37:00 GMT

BY RICHARD DAMAS HAMPDEN COUNTY
PUBLISHED 6:44 PM ET FEB. 13, 2023

What You Need To Know

Xenophon Beake is a Wilbraham retiree who receives fuel assistance from The Valley Opportunity Council
The Valley Opportunity Council is a non-profit organization based in Hampden County that provides community support to low- and moderate-income families
The council has seen a rise in applicants over the years, with over 12,000 applications this winter alone
The nonprofit suspects the cost of living to be a huge reason for the rise in applicants

WILBRAHAM, Mass. - Life has dealt Xenophon Beake some challenges and he now has to use different methods to stay warm during the winter.

"I was my late wife's caregiver," he said. "As soon as she passed away, my income was cut in half."

Beake receives fuel assistance from The Valley Opportunity Council. He takes steps to make sure he’s not letting any of it go to waste including adjusting the threshold on his door to handle incoming drafts.

"If you raise the threshold, then the rubbing of that wipe will eliminate a lot of the draft and then that's when the draft dodger comes in," Beake said, demonstrating the process. "It eliminates the rest."

Beake has also made lifestyle adjustments from opening window shades to let the sunshine warm up his home to keeping the lights off whenever he's not in a room.

"I keep the temperature at 69 to 70 degrees," he said. "But I've gotten accustomed to wearing a sweater in the house. If you're sitting here watching TV or working on the computer. You don't move around so you can get chilly very quickly."

According to the Valley Opportunity Council, there’s been a rise in the number of people receiving help over the years and this winter they have more than 12,000 applicants already in Hampden County.

The nonprofit suspects higher inflation as well as the pandemic are playing a huge factor in the need for assistance. Xenophon said the program is helping him survive.

"So what does it mean to me to have fuel assistance?" he said. "It means that I can keep my home. That's the bottom line and I won't apologize for reaching my hand out because I qualify and I worked for it."

Featured in The Republican / MassLive: Bracing for Winter; Municipal utilities work to keep high energy costs at bay

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:19:00 GMT

By Jim Kinney | jkinney@repub.com

WESTFIELD — One morning last week Westfield Gas & Electric bought 30,000 dekatherms of natural gas for its customers to use in the cold of January and February, The price was $5 a dekatherm, said Thomas P. Flaherty, the municipal utility’s general manager. Minutes after the purchase, news hit the market of then-Hurricane Ian taking aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast and threatening the petroleum industry. The price shot up 50 cents. Just a few minutes saved Westfield Gas & Electric and its customers $15,000. And that’s just one transaction for a tiny sliver of the 1.5 million to 2 million dekatherms of natural gas Westfield Gas & Electric will buy in a year, Flaherty said.

“We are not managing our business like that, trying to play the short-term market,” Flaherty said. “We are trying to manage our budget. Every day we are making the best choices for providing reliable and affordable energy to our customers here in Westfield.”

Flaherty is among those who deal in energy daily, and he’s become used to seeing dollar-wide swings in the energy markets. Fifteen or 20 years ago, a 10-cent or 20-cent jump was a big deal.

“It would have put some panic in,” he said. “There are so many variables, think Europe, Ukraine and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” he said.

What’s more, natural gas prices are driving up the cost of electricity.

“If all the liquified natural gas is going to Europe at $100, it is not going to come here for $50,” Flaherty said. “It’s a capitalist market.”

Cheap natural gas and environmental regulations pushed out other forms of power generation in New England. But now with Europe calling for American natural gas and pipeline bottlenecks, the region’s bracing for price increases.

Ten days ago, Judy Chang, the Bay State’s undersecretary of energy and climate solutions in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, warned , “This winter will be, at best, a very high-cost energy winter,” adding that the Baker administration has “been working with our federal partners in developing a plan for New England’s winter.”

“So everybody should conserve. Everybody who has close friends, please tell them conserve,” Change said. “I think it’s useful for everyone to be aware of that, and spread the word for conservation as much as possible.”

National Grid announced many of its 1.3 million electric customers in Massachusetts are going to get eye-popping bills when winter rolls around thanks to the price of natural gas being “significantly higher this winter due to global conflict, inflation and high demand.”

National Grid warned that the monthly bill of a typical residential electric customer using 600 kWh will increase from $179 in the winter 2021-2022 season, to approximately $293 for the winter 2022-2023 season, or a 64% increase, Likewise, Eversource was urging its customers take efforts to conserve . If its proposal to the state Department of Public Utilities for rates to take effect on Nov. 1 is approved, “an average residential customer in the former NSTAR Gas service territory using 126 therms of gas per month will see an increase of roughly 38% or $86 on their natural gas bill per month over last winter. An average residential customer in the former Columbia Gas service territory using 132 therms of gas per month will see an increase of approximately 25% or $61 on their natural gas bill per month over last winter.”

Municipal utilities in Western Massachusetts, like Westfield and Holyoke, say their customers, too, will not be immune to rising costs.

“WG+E customers may see their winter gas bills increase about 32% from the 2021-2022 heating season. With the winter rates which are starting in October, the average residential customer’s January bill will be about $70 higher than last January,” said Keziah Bednarsky, senior quantitative risk analyst for Westfield Gas & Electric. “Electric rates will increase about 15%, which is nearly a $20 increase per month for the typical household. WG &E’s rates for the year are expected to remain below the state average.”

Holyoke Gas & Electric is looking at a 10% increase in electric rates and a 39% to 40% increase in natural gas, said James Lavelle, HG&E’s general manager.

At Chicopee Electric Light, general manager James Lisowski said power rates went up 15% to 20% over the past year and he anticipates another 15 to 20% increase in 2023.

Lisowski said municipalities have more flexibility to buy ahead as a hedge.

“We can have investments in plants, we can have long term contracts,” he said. “We have things in place that can shelter us from some of the extremes in the market.”

Justin Connell, director of energy markets for Ludlow-based Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. , said the cooperative has generating capacity for its member and participating utilities, including the Stony Brook Energy Center in Ludlow and the the Seabrook and Millstone nuclear plants.

“We basically, in a somewhat disciplined way, time the market and build a portfolio,” he said.

And Stony Brook is valuable because it is dual fuel, running on natural gas or ultra low sulfur diesel. It also turns on quickly, allowing grid operator ISO New England to rely on it for fast power, Connell said.

“So when the grid needs the megawatts, we are available to provide those,” he said.

Connell said it’s not just the war in Ukraine that’s spawned the rising costs. Energy prices started rising two years ago, as the economy began emerging from COVID-19.

For Holyoke Gas & Electric, energy diversity means hydropower, said Lavelle. It’s the same energy that built the Paper City as an industrial powerhouse in the 19th century.

In an average year, two-thirds of Holyoke’s electricity comes from its own hydroelectric.

“Over half the electricity in New England is generated by natural gas,” he said. “Our market exposure is much less because of the assets that we have.”

But, Lavelle noted, this summer was the driest year since Holyoke Gas & Electric ’s records started in 1958 and generation was down. Fortunately, September’s rains brought more water.

Lavelle said Holyke’s energy storage — battery storage at the Mount Tom solar station which replaced a coal plant and the Martin J. Dunn Energy Center — allow it to store energy at times of low need and release it for use when demand is high.

Utilities are not the only ones planning ahead. Michael V. Behn, president and chief operating officer of the Greenfield-headquartered Sandri Companies, said customers are buying home heating oil contracts ahead of winter.

“It’s fairly expensive compared to previous years,” he said. “People are buying it and buying it heavily much to my surprise. Heating oil has been dropping a bit on the wholesale market, and supply looks to be good for us to get through the winter.”

He also reported brisk business in wood pellets, with customers buying wood-pellet burners or dusting off ones they quit using when oil prices fell.

Sandri is also busy installing furnaces that can burn waste engine oil. Dealerships and repair garages are once again looking to waste oil as a heat source, Behn noted.

People worried about home heating costs are also rushing to sign up for LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Stephen Huntley, executive director of Valley Opportunity Council , said his agency, the only one responsible for handling applications for all of Hampden County, has already certified 2,000 homes for assistance.

“We are double where we were a year ago at this time,” Huntley said. “We expect to to be such a difficult year, such a busy year for the program.”

That 2,000 households is a lot to have signed up by the first week of October, but only a tenth of the 20,000 households Huntley expects to sign up by the end of winter.

He’s hired 17 additional workers for the winter, five of those represent an increase once Valley Opportunity Council’s takeover of LIHEAP work once performed by the New England Farm Workers is factored in.

New England governors asked Congress to support at least $500 million in emergency funds to help address the forecasted spike in home energy bills, a request Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker reiterated on a visit to Barnes Air National Guard Base Tuesday.

The bill passed to President Joe Biden’s desk on Friday with an estimated $36.9 million in additional funding for Massachusetts residents, according to U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.

Neal, chairman of the House Committee on Ways & Means explained that the LIHEAP program was championed in its early days by the late U.S. Rep. Silvio O. Conte, R-Pittsfield.

The Springfield congressman said it is clear that the unrest in world markets is now being driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The job is to stand up to the aggression in Ukraine while at the same time making sure that vulnerable people here at home have heat this winter.

In Westfield, Flaherty said he’s already getting phone calls from churches and civic organizations both offering to help people pay utility bills and inquiring about the help available for members.

“It’s not too late to get a home energy audit,” he said.

Read Our 2019 Annual Report and 2020 Update

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 18:52:00 GMT

This year we decided to share our Annual Report in a different way, to highlight 2019’s achievements along with organization updates during the time of COVID-19.

WIC Day May 2nd

Wed, 01 May 2019 11:14:00 GMT

VOC's Community Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 02:43:00 GMT

VOC’s leadership team began planning for our 2018-2020 Community Assessment Report and Strategic Plan in June of 2016. Since then, we have distributed, collected, and analyzed hundreds of surveys from community members, participants, board members, and employees. We have held multiple focus groups, interviewed various key stakeholders, and researched the causes and conditions of poverty in our community. All of this data was studied and compiled into our 2018-2020 Community Assessment Report and Strategic Plan (CARSP).

As a result of this process, VOC is planning to focus on creating and enhancing the following programming:

Increasing the number of safe and affordable housing units available in Chicopee and Holyoke
Increasing the access and availability of affordable child care
Increasing job training programs
Providing individuals and families with referrals and resources for drug and alcohol addiction services
Decreasing the amount of low-income families with food insecurity

VOC Celebrates Kendall Re-Opening!

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 19:09:00 GMT

On November 8, 2017 VOC leaders hosted a ribbon cutting for the newly renovated Kendall Apartment units located at 2 Springfield Street in Chicopee. Mayor Kos and several city officials joined VOC staff members in celebrating the re-opening of the building, which now consists of 41 studio apartments.

We would like to thank WWLP and Masslive for joining us for the event. Please check out the coverage from WWLP: 19th century hotel fills 21st century housing need in Chicopee

and from Masslive: Renovated Kendall house in Chicopee celebrates opening of 41 new studio apartments

We are excited to announce that all of the units have been rented but we are keeping applicants on a wait list and will use that list to fill the apartments as they become available. For more information, please contact our housing department at 413-594-3271.

Mt. Carmel Center Kids Help Plant Trees at VOC

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 18:12:00 GMT

On October 5th, kids from VOC's Mt. Carmel Early Education and Care program joined staff from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to plant trees on VOC's property. VOC has been collaborating with the DCR for our Greening the Gateway Cities program. This program is designed to increase the tree canopy in the Willimansett section of Chicopee.

Check out the great articles from WWLP Youngsters Helped Out in Chicopee Tree Planting and Masslive Chicopee Children Plant Trees .

To learn how you can Adopt-a-Tree that has already been planted or to find out how to get a FREE tree planted in your yard give us a call at 413-612-0206 and ask for Kevin!

Congratulations to VOC's Mt. Carmel After School Program Staff!

Fri, 25 Aug 2017 15:20:00 GMT

During the school year we offer after school care from 2:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. and VOC transportation servies picks up children from 6 Chicopee Public Schools and brings them to the program. While the children are in our care, they enjoy an afternoon snack, outdoor play, homework assistance, literacy and science programing on a weekly basis to provide enrichment activities for all of the children. We also have special visitors such as Mad Science, Forest Park Zoo on the Go, Ed Popielarcyzk, and Zumba fitness instructors who come in throughout the year.

We also offer extended care on school vacations and snow days. During the summer, the extended day offers children the opportunity to engage in literacy activities and thematic curriculum activities from the Creative Minds and/or Nature Curriculum where they can plan, design, and grow a garden and participate in cooking with some of the vegetables from the garden. Additionally, we receive visits from the Chicopee Library Bookmobile, have daily swimming at the public pool and take weekly field trips.

We do have openings available so give us a call at 413-552-1559 to sign up!

New Affordable Housing in Chicopee

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 15:43:00 GMT

VOC has recently renovated the Kendall Building, located at 2 Springfield Street in Chicopee. The building now has 41 enhanced studios which feature cook tops, refrigerators, microwave/convection ovens, and private bathrooms. Some of the additional features include private entrances, on site washers and dryers, central AC and heat, handicap accessible, on site security, non-somoking, and heat, hot water, and electricity is included in the rent.

Please also check out the coverage WWLP's coverage of VOC's Kendall Building .

For more information please contact our housing department at 413-594-3271 or stop by their office on 516 Chicopee Street in Chicopee Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30.

You can also download a copy of the application below.

Read Our 2016 Annual Report

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 23:50:00 GMT

download our 2016 Annual Report

Valley Opportunity Council Helps Immigrants on Path to Citizenship

Fri, 09 Jun 2017 23:48:00 GMT

Source: MassLive

CHICOPEE - What a visitor encounters in a third-floor classroom in Valley Opportunity Council's Mount Carmel Avenue offices in Chicopee every Thursday evening looks very much like the "face of the world."

About 18 people, each from a different corner of the globe, participate in a 10-week class designed to prepare them for the interview and test they must successfully complete in order to become citizens of the United States.

The road to U.S. citizenship is not easy, and the interview and test aspiring citizens must pass is rendered as part of a one-on-one interview with a U.S. immigration officer. It is comforting for members of this Valley Opportunity Council class that the woman teaching the course has walked in the same shoes as her students.

While the class is small, the impact to participants is life-changing.

For Helena Dixon, the journey that brought her to Valley Opportunity Council, where she serves as instructor of its citizenship Class, started in Brazil. Today, she lives in Ludlow, where, in addition to her career, she joins her husband, a native of New Jersey, as an active volunteer in the community.

Little did Dixon know that the pathway to becoming a U.S. citizen that included taking the Valley Opportunity Council citizenship course would lead to her one day teaching the classes.

Read the entire MassLive article about VOC's Citizenship class: http://www.masslive.com