Future Goals
In the coming year, we are excited to expand our food security efforts with the launch of Gus the Bus, our new mobile food pantry. This innovative program delivers fresh, nutritious meals directly to families facing barriers to food access—meeting them where they are.
Research from the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham highlights significant meal gaps across Eastern Massachusetts. Our three United Way-owned-and-operated food pantries and community cafés last year provided 289,694 hot meals to 32,600 needy families, distributing over 5.7 million pounds of food. Adding Gus the Bus considerably helped lower food and meal gaps thanks to your support.
Looking ahead, we plan to break ground on the future home of our WHEAT Community Connections facility in Clinton. WHEAT Community Connections currently offers a food pantry, hot meals, and case management services connecting clients with essential health and human resources.
Importantly, the new building will include eight much-needed short-term transitional housing units on the fourth floor for individuals experiencing homelessness, further strengthening our commitment to dignity, stability, and hope.
Fundraising Opportunities
The United Way of Tri-County offers a variety of meaningful fundraising opportunities throughout the year, inviting businesses, individuals, and groups to make a lasting impact in their communities. From our three annual 5K events to our popular charity golf outing, supporters can engage in community-centered fun activities that support our direct service programs; hunger relief, mental health/suicide prevention and early literacy.
In addition to the aforementioned programs, we also provide vital seasonal programs that directly benefit local children and families in need. Our Tools for Schools/Backpack Program ensures underprivileged students are equipped with age-appropriate essential supplies to start the school year with confidence. In the spirit of giving, our Hope for the Holidays Program brings joy to children and families by providing holiday gifts they might not otherwise receive. Every donation, every step, and every gift helps strengthen our community and uplift those who need it most. Join us in making a difference—every season, all year long.
Giving Opportunities
The United Way of Tri-County invites individuals and businesses to support our vital programs through seasonal campaigns and awareness efforts. Our Spring Appeal – Hunger to Hope, Hunger Action Month in September, and Feed A Family in the fall all focus on addressing food insecurity across the region. These initiatives provide nutritious meals and bags full of holiday food —complete with a turkey and all the fixings—so low-income families can create meaningful memories at home.
In May, we honor Mental Health Awareness Month, and in September, Suicide Prevention Month, offering opportunities to support our critical mental health services. These include our 24/7 Call2Talk emotional support and suicide prevention line, TeleCheck wellness calls for at-risk seniors, in-person and virtual support groups, educational programs, a grief and healing lending library, and LOSSTeam MetroWest, which offers immediate support to those affected by suicide. Call2talk and its secondary programs are all part of our Mass2-1-1 state-wide telephone platform that can be accessed by simply dialing 2-1-1. Mass2-1-1/Call2talk also serves as the home of the 988 mental health call center for Massachusetts.
Thanks to the UWTC’s buying power, individual donations and corporate gifts go further, impacting more lives and supporting more than just meals or books. Together, we can bring hope, healing, and stability to our community..
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are the heart of the United Way of Tri-County, playing a vital role in helping us deliver essential services and create stronger communities. Through Corporate Days of Caring, teams of employees from local businesses lend their time and talents to support meaningful projects across our programs through this team-building activity.
Dedicated volunteers also serve year-round at our three food pantries and two hot meal programs in Framingham, Marlborough and Clinton, and on Gus the Bus, ensuring that individuals and families facing food insecurity receive the nourishment they need with dignity and respect.
At our Ready to Read book distributions, volunteers help place age-appropriate books into the hands of young children, fostering a lifelong love of reading and early literacy.
Those who support our Call2Talk mental health line receive specialized training to provide compassionate, non-judgmental support to callers in emotional distress.
From staffing community events like our annual golf tournament and 5K races to lending support behind the scenes, volunteers bring our mission to life every day. Their generosity of time and spirit strengthens our programs and deepens our impact, ensuring we reach more people, with greater care, every day.
Volunteers can learn more on our website here https://www.uwotc.org/volunteer, or speak to our Director of Volunteerism, Barbara LaGrenade, at 508.370.4902.
Leadership
Paul L. Mina, President & CEO
Robert Moran, Jr., National Grid
Board Chair
Board Members
Roger Challen, DDI, Inc.
Joseph Corazzini, Clark University
Robert Cozzone, Avidia Bank
Renee Franzosa, Robert Half Management Resources
Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd, Greater Framingham Community Church
Neha Misra, Stratus Technologies
Robert Moran, Jr., National Grid
Garrett Morand, Clear Sky Cannabis
President Dr. Nancy S. Niemi, Framingham State University
Kristen L. Pope, Pope Productions
Francisco Ramos, New Vue Communities
Scott Richardson, Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects
Michael Scardigno, TJX Companies, Inc.
Aastha Sharma, Bowditch & Dewey
Karsys Starsiak, UPS
John Strickland, Retired
Paul Mina, Clerk, United Way of Tri-County
Aldo Cipriano, Esquire
