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

Aug 25, 2017

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! 

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

11 Apr, 2024
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

By Melissa White • 11 Apr, 2024
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.

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

By Melissa White • 02 Apr, 2024
Featured in The Republican's 2024 Outlook issue, February 18,
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