New beer will support United Way COVID-19 Funds across Central Massachusetts communities
Wachusett Brewing Company and Atlas Distributing are releasing a new beer together that will directly raise money to support three COVID-19 response funds in the communities where they operate. The funds are the United Way of North Central Massachusetts Stand United Fund, the United Way of Tri-County Community Response Fund and ‘Worcester Together’, a joint effort between the United Way of Central Massachusetts and the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
“During these difficult days, we are humbled to partner with Wachusett Brewing and United Way to offer some assistance to our local communities”, said Jamie Salois, of Atlas Distributing. “We are so grateful to both Wachusett and United Way for their continued work in the community we serve every day.”
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Atlas Distributing and United Way” said Christian McMahan, President of Wachusett Brewing Company.“We work in these communities, our employees and their families live in these communities, and we want to do everything we can to help support these communities when they need it the most.These are crazy times, if we can find a way to do some good through of all of this, that’s exactly what we will do”
“We could not be more grateful”, says Tim Garvin, President & CEO of United Way of Central Massachusetts. “Atlas and Wachusett both have a long history of philanthropy in Central Massachusetts and to do something like this during this crisis is incredible.”
“We are proud to partner with Wachusett Brewing Company on this important initiative to support our community during this unprecedented time” added Kory Eng, President of United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
Glory American IPA is an approachable and modern expression of the IPA style that is double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Citra and Azacca hops.It will be released in 6pks the week of April 13ta.
Celebrating 25 years in 2019, WBC produces a diverse, award-winning line of beers ranging from their best-selling Blueberry Ale to their highly-rated Wally New England IPA series. WBC was named of the top 50 largest craft breweries in the US in 2019.
About Atlas Distributing
Atlas Distributing, Inc. is a family owned and operated, full-service beer and beverage distribution company servicing licensed and non-licensed customers throughout the central Massachusetts market. Atlas has proudly served customers, consumers, and the community since 1933. The Atlas Team is proud, honored, and humbled to be serving this community for over 86 years!
The Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (FRA) is pleased to announce the launch of its Emergency Economic Development Resiliency Grant for local businesses within the city of Fitchburg as a result of the impact of the coronavirus.
In view of the current state of the local economy due to the coronavirus, the FRA has developed the Emergency Economic Resiliency Grant consisting of an award of up to $2,500 to eligible grantees having a physical space within the Fitchburg business community. Funding is limited but the FRA hopes to provide relief to approximately 40 businesses that have been significantly vulnerable during this unprecedented time.
Applications for the grants will be available online through the FRA’s new website y Facebook page starting Monday, April 13, 2020 and review will continue until the funding runs out.
Since the summer of 2019, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) and the Division of Insurance (DOI) have engaged the public by holding a series of PMFL private plan standards listening and drafting sessions.
On April 3, 2020, the DOI released Filing Guidance 2020 – A: Paid Family and Medical Leave. Previously, insurance carriers issued an Insurance Declaration Document (IDD) to employers as proof of satisfying PFML insurance requirements. Coverage through private insurance is required to commence no later than January 1, 2021 (for medical leave insurance) and July 1, 2021 (for family leave insurance). Employers that qualify for an exemption are exempt from remitting contributions to the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund.
This new Filing Guidance includes a Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Policy Template, which outlines the standard provisions that PFML private insurance policies must contain in order to meet the exemption requirements of M.G.L. c. 175M, § 11. The guidance documents are the result of a collaboration between the DOI, the DFML, and life and accident insurance stakeholders to ensure consistency in PFML insurance products offered in the Massachusetts employer marketplace.
Private Plan Updated Guidance:
Insurance carriers will submit their policy forms to the DOI for review on or before June 3, 2020.
After the DOI reviews the policy forms using a PFML Policy Forms Checklist, insurance carriers will issue policies to their employer policyholders.
Previously approved exemption applicants will be required to verify the use of an approved policy during their renewal period. The DFML will request policy form numbers from employers at the time of exemption renewal and will update its website to describe these procedures at a later date.
Employers that have secured PFML private insurance coverage but have not filed an application for an exemption must complete a Request for Exemption using the Department of Revenue’s web-based filing system, MassTaxConnect. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and specific deadlines and timelines are explained further on our website.
For employers filing for a new exemption who have not yet received a policy form number from an insurance carrier, please submit an IDD signed by both a representative of the employer and a representative of the insurance carrier confirming sufficient PFML private plan insurance coverage.
For those employers filing for a new exemption that were issued a policy form number from its insurance carrier prior to filing the Request for Exemption, please submit an IDD with the policy form number listed on the document or provide the policy form number when submitting the exemption application on MassTaxConnect.
The DOI does not regulate self-insured employers. Self-insured employers should not make submissions to the DOI. However, employers seeking a self-insured exemption may use the standards listed in the PFML Policy Template to ensure that their self-administered PFML private plans comply with the PFML statute and regulations.
For more information please contact Public Affairs Manager, Christopher McDermott, at o VISIT HERE.
Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse of Leominster has launched Comeketo Essentials Online Pop Market – delivering essential products straight to your door. Be their first 10 shoppers & get a $10 gift card for a dine in experience when they reopen to the public! SHOP NOW
Donations part of multi-tiered approach to provide customers with financial assistance
HAMPTON, N.H., April 1, 2020 — Unitil Corporation, (unitil.com), a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, has donated $225,000 to help customers with their utility bills and other pressing needs during this difficult time.
Unitil has created the Unitil Customer Assistance & Recovery Effort (U-CARE) Fund and has donated $150,000 directly to Community Action Programs (CAPs) working locally in Unitil’s service territories to provide direct utility assistance to residential customers impacted by COVID-19 related job loss or reduced wages. The remaining $75,000 will be donated to COVID-19 based programs at agencies, such as the United Way, to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse, while also supporting first responders where we can.
“As an organization, we care deeply about the well-being of our customers,” Unitil CEO and President Tom Meissner said. “The creation of this fund is part of a comprehensive plan designed to give families and businesses as much support as possible as the economic impact of the fight against this virus comes into focus.”
On top of the donations, Unitil has made the following commitments to its customers:
Unitil customers will not have to worry about losing service while staying safe and caring for loved ones during this crisis. Until further notice, all shutoff and collection activities have been suspended.
Unitil recognizes flexibility and understanding is required as we work together to protect both the local businesses that drive our economy and our loved ones most at risk from this disease. All late payment or non-payment fees are currently being waived.
Unitil’s customer service team will work with you to set up a personalized payment plan designed to spread costs out over time.
Unitil is working closely with federal and local assistance agencies. Our customer service team can discuss a wide array of assistance programs, including those available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which may be able to help.
Unitil urges all customers with financial challenges to reach out to their local CAP Agency or our own representatives at 1-888-301-7700 so we can provide assistance to get families through this ongoing crisis.
About Unitil Corporation
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices and technologies that lead to dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 106,000 electric customers and 83,600 natural gas customers. For more information about our people, technologies and community involvement please visit unitil.com.
I wanted to provide you with another update on the Chamber’s efforts to support local businesses and our communities during the Coronavirus crisis. We understand the tremendous impact that this health crisis is having on our members and communities and have focused all of our efforts and resources on helping you navigate this unprecedented challenge. At the same time, we are looking ahead and preparing post-crisis recovery efforts to help you recover quickly and get back to business once this has passed, and it will pass!
CARES Act: Last week Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES). Among its many provisions, the CARES Act will include $377B in loans and loan forgiveness for small businesses. The Act also includes tax relief measures and various grant programs for impacted industries. Haz clic aquí for a summary of those aspects of the legislation most relevant to our region. More information will be made available in the days and weeks to come as the federal government works out the details. We encourage you to check our website for updates and for upcoming webinars on the CARES Act;
Emergency Loans: Unfortunately, we have seen very strong interest in our Emergency Loan Program. Our team has been working hard to keep up with the requests and move them through the process quickly. To assist businesses, we have reduced our interest rate and have eliminated the closing fee on these emergency loans. We are also structuring the loans with favorable terms. If you need a small loan to get you through this period until stimulus money kicks in, then please contact Sandie Cataldo at or Brendan Hannen . We are in the process of recapitalizing our fund to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of local businesses. Also, for those of you that may require a larger loan, the SBA Disaster Loan Program can now provide up to $10 million dollars;
Video Message: If you have not seen it, then I would encourage you to view a special video we premiered on March 22 on the Chamber’s Facebook page. You can haz clic aquí to view it. This short video with its message of hope, community and resiliency was developed by our team in an effort to inspire people and raise spirts. The video has already been shared over 330 times and has had over 37,000 views and growing on Facebook! That doesn’t include the video views on our other social media platforms (YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn) and the Chamber website. Special thanks to member and motivational speaker Maria Milagros for narrating the video;
Chamber Office: The Chamber is deemed an essential business under the guidelines announced by Governor Baker last week. However, as a safety precaution, we have closed the office temporarily and will limit access to the public. We will be available by appointment at the office to provide services that need to be made in person, such as certificates of export for our manufacturers and insurance related matters. We will also be performing loan closings at the office related to our Emergency Loan Program. Except for these instances, staff will work remotely per the protocols that we have in place. Please contact us if you need to schedule an appointment;
Equipment Donations: All four of our hospital systems – Health Alliance, Heywood, Nashoba Medical and Emerson – reached out to us and requested help securing additional personal protective equipment (PPE). We have been proactive in our outreach to businesses to secure donations and we have also reached out to most of the region’s manufacturers to inquire if they can modify their production to assist with producing these products. We have received a tremendous response. Thank you to all of you that reached out. It has been very inspiring to see our members rally together to offer any help they could during this time of crisis. Please contact us for more information on how to donate items or if your company is interested in producing PPE items. The state also just established an online portal for PPE donations and procurement that can be found here;
Webinars: We have already conducted several webinars to help businesses, with several more in the works. The webinars were recorded and are available on our website to view. We also have a webinar this week that will review the CARES Act and another scheduled for next week on applying for the new Payroll Protection Program and other grants/loans through the SBA. I encourage you to check out our website and social media for updates;
Coronavirus Information & Resources: Our Coronavirus Information Page is continuously updated with the latest guidance from local, state and federal authorities. We are committed to keeping our members and the public informed and will continue posting throughout this crisis on our various social media platforms as information becomes available. If you have not done so yet, please follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter y Instagram;
Jobs Board: We have been updating our WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board to help recently displaced workers find new jobs opportunities, as well as help those employers that need immediate help because their needs have changed due to the crisis;
Advocacy & Support: We have been in regular communication with our local, state and federal officials to help with efforts and stay updated on the government’s response. We also continue to collect survey responses from businesses on the impact to their operations. This input from members will be helpful as we communicate with policy leaders, and will help set the stage for recovery efforts;
Finally, I want to extend my thanks to all of those members and their dedicated employees, across all sectors, who are in many cases risking their own safety to respond to this national and global pandemic. These include our health care institutions on the front line, our manufacturers who are playing an important role in the supply chain, our markets and farms who are working to keep people fed, and many more. Stay strong. We will get through this, together.
At a special meeting on Thursday, March 26, the Clinton Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to make $150,000 available from the town’s Community Development Fund to create a Small Business Resiliency Program to assist Clinton’s small businesses absorb financial impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 State of Emergency.
Loans of up to $5,000 are available, subject to the availability of funds. Requests for larger amounts may be considered on a case- by-case basis.
“Small businesses, which are historically sensitive to interruptions of cash flow, have been meaningfully affected by the ongoing State of Emergency,” said Clinton Community and Economic Development Director Philip Duffy. “The intent of this program is to get this money out quickly. It’s likely that larger assistance from the federal government will be arriving at some point. In the meantime, we want to address the needs of some of our businesses that are under stress right now, to make sure they’re still here when this is all over.”
Businesses located in Clinton, as evidenced by a commercial lease or mortgage, or Clinton businesses that, in addition to the owner, withhold payroll taxes for at least one employee are eligible.
Small Business Resiliency assistance targets financial impacts of COVID-19 from March 10 to April 30, 2020, including:
Difficulty in meeting monthly fixed costs as a result of COVID-19
Loss of business, as demonstrated by either:
a greater than 50-percent reduction in gross receipts, or
a greater than 50-percent reduction in full- or part-time staffing
Certain increased expenses that result from COVID-19
If approved, eligible Clinton businesses can use this funding for such things as:
Employee payroll and benefits
Rent and other fixed costs
Loss of inventory
Unusual expense related to COVID-19 response
For a loan application and more information, including criteria for consideration and loan terms, GO HERE.
Questions about the program should be directed to:
Phillip Duffy
Director, Community and Economic Development Office
242 Church Street Clinton, MA 01510
978-365-4113
Leominster/Fitchburg, MA (March 26, 2020) – Rollstone Bank & Trust today announced it will donate an initial $19,000 to communities it serves to help cope with burdens resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.
The money will be earmarked for meeting critical needs of some of the most vulnerable members of the community, including children and the elderly.
“This is a time when we all must pull together, and we at Rollstone are determined to do our part,” said Martin F. Connors Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust, “We are an integral part of the community and we are compelled to support those who need it most.”
Connors reached out to leaders from across the region to identify gaps in critical services and found that the need varies from town to town. Funds for the City of Leominster will help provide internet access to students so they can continue learning remotely, while the Fitchburg Public Schools will use their grant to provide meals to students and families. Additional funding will also be provided to Montachusett Opportunity Council (MOC), Loaves & Fishes, Townsend Ecumenical Outreach (TEO), and the Gardner Community Action Committee (CAC) for food as well as personal care and other essential items. Connors said he hopes Rollstone’s donations will help improve the lives of many people across the area.
The Rollstone Charitable Foundation is also accepting donations from other individuals and organizations that wish to support the community effort. Donations can be sent to Rollstone Charitable Foundation, 24 Monument Square, Leominster, MA 01453. Checks should have “COVID-19 Relief Fund” in the memo line of the check.
“I encourage anyone who can to donate to this effort,” Connors said.
About Rollstone Bank & Trust
At Rollstone Bank & Trust, we deliver personalized service that goes above & beyond. Our dedication to providing our customers with superior bank and wealth management solutions, along with the support they need to prosper at work and at home, has enabled us to build one of the most trusted banks in the region. With branches located throughout central Massachusetts, customers have peace of mind knowing we are FDIC & DIF insured, and never far from home. Rollstone Bank & Trust – it’s where you matter most.
Last week, Congress passed the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act). This 880-page legislation was passed in response to the Coronavirus crisis and has major implications for our economy. More information and details will emerge in the coming days and weeks, but below is a summary of some of the key features of the legislation that are relevant to our members and industries here in North Central Massachusetts:
Paycheck Protection Program: This includes $350 billion in funding for loans to small businesses and other entities, including 501 (c) 3 non-profits with zero-fee loans of up to $10 million. Up to 8 weeks of average payroll and other costs will be forgiven if the business retains its employees and their salary levels. Principal and interest is deferred for up to a year and all borrower fees are waived. This temporary emergency assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury can be used in coordination with other COVID-financing assistance established in the bill or any other existing SBA loan program.
Emergency Economic Injury Grants: This includes $10 billion in funding for a provision to provide an advance of $10,000 to small businesses and nonprofits that apply for an SBA economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) within three days of applying for the loan. EIDLs are loans of up to $2 million that carry interest rates up to 3.75 percent for companies and up to 2.75 percent for nonprofits, as well as principal and interest deferment for up to 4 years. The loans may be used to pay for expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred, including payroll and other operating expenses.
The EIDL grant does not need to be repaid, even if the grantee is subsequently denied an EIDL, and may be used to provide paid sick leave to employees, maintaining payroll, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent and mortgage payments. Eligible grant recipients must have been in operation on January 31, 2020. The grant is available to small businesses, private nonprofits, sole proprietors and independent contractors, tribal businesses, as well as cooperatives and employee-owned businesses.
A business that receives an EIDL between January 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 as a result of a COVID-19 disaster declaration is eligible to apply for a PPP loan or the business may refinance their EIDL into a PPP loan. In either case, the emergency EIDL grant award of up to $10,000 would be subtracted from the amount forgiven in the Paycheck Protection Plan.
Support for Impacted Industries, States and Cities: It directs $454 billion to the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve to aid affected industries with secured loans, loan guarantees, and other financial measures.
Tax relief to mitigate losses, pay employees, and cover utilities: Impacted businesses may temporarily defer tax liability, access an Employee Retention Tax Credit, delay or eliminate estimated quarterly tax payments and filings deadlines, and carry-back the Net Operating Loss (NOL) Deduction.
Support for Hospital and Other Health Care Providers: It directs $100 billion to reimburse eligible health care providers for health care related expenses or lost revenues not otherwise reimbursed that are directly attributable to COVID-19. Eligible providers are defined as public entities, Medicare- or Medicaid-enrolled suppliers and providers, and other for-profit and non-profit entities as specified by the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary.
Please consider the Chamber a resource as you navigate this crisis. If you have any questions regarding this legislation or the public sector’s response to COVID-19 at the federal, state, or municipal levels, please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber’s public affairs manager, Christopher McDermott, at or 978.353.7600 ext. 224.
First batch of hand sanitizer produced in Revolutionary Clinics’ Fitchburg-based cultivation facility to be delivered Monday
FITCHBURG, March 27, 2020 — Revolutionary Clinics, one of the state’s leading providers of medical marijuana, has begun producing hand sanitizer at its cultivation facility in Fitchburg to be donated free of charge to Massachusetts hospitals with the initial batch of 35 gallons to be donated Monday, March 30. Regular cannabis operations will continue alongside and separately from the hand sanitizer production. This initiative is being carried out to support local health care clinicians’ ongoing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is key component of a broader hand sanitizer partnership between the Commonwealth Dispensary Association (CDA), of which Revolutionary Clinics is a member, and the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA).
“I am proud of a Fitchburg-based operation making a pivot from its usual activities to support the fight against COVID-19. Revolutionary Clinics is a prime example of how businesses can leverage their resources to help our communities tackle this pandemic together,” said Stephen L. DiNatale, Mayor of Fitchburg. “Efforts like this demonstrate the potential for good that exists when all members of the community band together to face these historic challenges.”
The COVID-19 outbreak has created a shortage in the availability of medical supplies, including hand sanitizer. While the production of hand sanitizer is not overly sophisticated, the materials involved are expensive and it requires specialized equipment. Given the distillation processes that regularly happen at cannabis cultivation facilities, these operations are well-suited to produce hand sanitizer. A public health emergency order issued by Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH, on March 23rd officially granted cannabis operators the authority to produce hand sanitizer for clinicians and health facilities. On March 30ta, Revolutionary Clinics will deliver its initial batch of 35 gallons of hand sanitizer to be distributed to local hospitals. The next round, 80-90 gallons, will be ready for delivery by the end of the week.
“In a very difficult time for people across the globe, we felt it was incumbent upon us to step up and use our infrastructure and our know-how to support those who are on the front lines of fighting this pandemic, our health care workers,” said Keith Cooper, CEO of Revolutionary Clinics. “I am extremely proud of our employees who have enthusiastically embraced this project in addition to our continued mission of serving our medical patients and I would also like to give credit to my fellow CDA Board Member, John Hillier of Central Ave. Compassionate Care and Gage Cannabis for bringing this initiative to our attention. The cannabis community is passionate about doing good in our neighborhood and we are always looking for opportunities to do so.”
The production of hand sanitizer at Revolutionary Clinics’ Fitchburg-based cultivation facility is being carried out by Lab Team members Stephen Golden, Danielle Desmond, David Nunes, Ryan Corrazini and Evan Lambert under the supervision of lab manager and Vice President of Product Dan Gillan using protocols and standard operating procedures provided by members of MHA. Gillan estimates that the facility can produce upwards of 200 gallons of hand sanitizer per week that can be fully donated to hospitals. To facilitate the production, Revolutionary Clinics applied the World Health Organization’s guidelines to its cannabis machinery and will fill five gallon jugs so that the hand sanitizer can be transported for use in hospitals. All ingredients were sourced and paid for by Revolutionary Clinics. Hand sanitizer inventory will be transported to Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency for distribution to individual hospitals.
“Recognizing the massive and immediate demand for medical supplies, the biggest challenge for us was getting set up to start producing as quickly as possible so that we could get hand sanitizer to hospitals,” said Dan Gillan, Vice President of Product at Revolutionary Clinics. “Securing the necessary raw ingredients required a couple of days and a couple hundred phone calls to suppliers. After accumulating what was needed, we converted our ethanol extraction laboratory from cannabis extraction to hand sanitizer production and created a sanitary work environment. Since our standard operational needs for cannabis extraction meant that we already had about 90 percent of what it took to produce hand sanitizer, it was a no brainer for us to take on this effort once we were given the go-ahead. The entire team is excited and humbled by the ability to step up and do this for our health care system during such a critical time.”
Earlier this month, Revolutionary Clinics announced that it will donate two percent of all sales through April 20 to the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund which was activated to support residents in Cambridge affected by COVID-19. Revolutionary Clinics currently operates three locations in Somerville and Cambridge and has served Massachusetts medical marijuana patients since 2017 and supports the arts and a host of local charities through its corporate social responsibility program, Cannabis with a Conscience.
About Revolutionary Clinics
Revolutionary Clinics is harnessing the positive power of the emerging cannabis industry to raise the standard for alternative care and generate economic opportunity across Massachusetts. At its three registered marijuana dispensaries in Cambridge and Somerville, Revolutionary Clinics provides the highest quality medical marijuana products and the very best in patient care, and was named best medical dispensary in the state by its peers in 2019. Its state-of-the-art cultivation facility in Fitchburg, Mass. is the largest in the state and supplies over 25 retail establishments with sought-after products and flower. Revolutionary Clinics employs more than 170 colleagues across its manufacturing and retail operations and generated tens of thousands of dollars in tax revenue for Massachusetts’ communities in 2019. Through its corporate social responsibility program, Cannabis with a Conscience, Revolutionary Clinics joins with a range of partners in supporting healthy lives and vulnerable populations, advancing community revitalization efforts through philanthropy and public-private partnerships, and promoting diversity within the cannabis industry. Learn more at RevolutionaryClinics.org.
Princeton, MA, March 26, 2020 – To celebrate the release of its new coloring and activity book, Let’s Go with NEADS Service Dogs Arnie and Zara, NEADS will be donating 1 copy for every book purchased to Franciscan Children’s Hospital (up to 200 copies). Written and designed by Lori Barrett, NEADS Creative Media Specialist, this fun and educational “A to Z” activity/coloring book is centered around words and phrases related to Service Dogs and is ideal for children ages 4-10. Let’s Go can be purchased online through the NEADS Shop.
NEADS anticipates great community support for this initiative and will make an advance delivery of books next week.
“While our day-to-day focus is making sure NEADS dogs and staff continue to be safe and healthy, NEADS wanted to do something to bring joy in these uncertain times,” says Cathy Zemaitis, NEADS Director of Development. “We realize that having children at home unexpectedly can be challenging, and we hope Let’s Go will be a welcome diversion. And people who buy the books can feel good that they’re also helping children in need. NEADS Assistance Dog Marcus works at Franciscan Children’s, so the hospital was a logical partner.”
“Like other hospitals, we’ve had to put strict visitor policies in place due to COVID-19,” says Matthew Lynch, Communications Specialist, Franciscan Children’s. “This will certainly help bring a light to our patients’ lives when they may be receiving fewer visitors than normal, and for that we are so grateful.”
About NEADS Inc.
NEADS Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Princeton, Massachusetts. Established in 1976, NEADS offers the widest array of Service Dog programs in the industry, including Service Dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, Service Dogs for veterans, Service Dogs for Hearing, and Service Dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. NEADS dogs are also partnered with professionals in classroom, therapy, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. For more information, please visit neads.org.
About Franciscan Children’s
Since 1949, Franciscan Children’s has served children and adolescents with complex medical, mental health, and special educational needs. As the largest provider of pediatric mental healthcare in Massachusetts and the only solely pediatric post-acute hospital in New England, we are a critical link in the region’s healthcare system.
