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News, Status and Articles
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Here is the March 2017 Tasks for Transit Newsletter. We hope there will be many more as we grow and fulfill our mission. In this newsletter we share our latest news, publish some basic statistics and describe one of our most recent partner charities.” We will use the abbreviation TFT for Tasks for Transit throughout this newsletter.
Brian Manning, Co-editor
Steve McClure, Co-editor
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.As reported last month, Tasks for Transit is in a growth spurt. In 2017, we plan to more than double the number of bus day passes we distribute annually.
- We are now serving 12 partner charities, on track to increase the number of partner charities to 21 by year's end by adding one new partner charity every month.
- In February, we added Worcester's primary homeless shelter at South Middlesex Opportunity Center, through which TFT indirectly supports Worcester's Quality of Life project.
- In March we added Eliot Human Services, specifically the programs that deal with the more difficult homeless cases.
- Recently, Tasks for Transit participated in a photo op with Fallon Health, which recently donated $1,000 to our program; our largest donation so far.
- This month we also received a $500 donation from each of three organizations: Salem Covenant Church Women's Group, Unibank and the Marc & Ernest Pallatto Foundation (associated with Ernie's Car Wash).
- We expanded our Board of Directors by bringing on Katherine Calano who is managing the Worcester City Homeless project and is a core member of the city's team implementing the Quality of Life project.
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From March 2015 to March 2017
Number of charities supported = 12
WRTA day passes dispensed = 1140
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What is a Partner Charity?
It is TFT's Partner Charities that actually dispense the WRTA individual bus day passes. Since TFT is trying to target the economically disadvantage, TFT chooses partners that service this type of client on a daily basis. They have the deeper understanding to recognize a person and his or her situation that justifies dispensing a free individual day pass. These partners charities are typically 501(c)(3) organizations that are not able to provide transportation to their clients.. TFT enables them to do it.
The twelve organizations that are currently TFT partner charities are:
- South Worcester Neighborhood Center
- Standup for Kids (homeless youth)
- Safe Homes (LGBT youth)
- Parent/Professional Advocacy League (youth mental health)
- Straight Ahead Ministries (Felons coming out of prisons)
- Clemente Courses in the Humanities
- Interfaith Hospitality Network of Greater Worcester (families in crisis)
- Hope Coalition (trouble youth)
- Woodland Academy (homeless families)
- YWCA Domestic Violence Services (abused families in crisis)
- Worcester Homeless Shelter at SMOC (the primary shelter for homeless adults)
- Eliot Community Human Services
What we are doing is fundamental. We hope you feel the same way.
If your organization would like to become one of TFT's partner charities, please take the following on-line survey.
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Featured Article Profile of a Partner Charity
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Worcester Homeless Shelter at South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC). According to the Worcester Sun, the 2015 count of homeless persons in Worcester exceeded 1,000 and was growing. For a deeper look at homelessness in Worcester, read Tom Quinn's article last March in Worcester Magazine. The availability of low income affordable housing in greater Worcester, while better than in most cities and towns in Massachusetts, still falls far short of the need. Waiting times to get into public housing are now 8 to 10 years. If the federal government cuts the budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by a significant percentage, e.g., 13% as mentioned by the White House, there will be a lot more than 1,000 homeless persons in Worcester's future.
SMOC operates Worcester's primary shelter for homeless male adults. The shelter has 56 beds but sometimes finds itself dealing with many more persons, e.g., over 100, during the worst winter weather. These overflows are usually accommodated through collaborative efforts with other charities and local religious organizations. Any person that comes to the SMOC shelter goes through an "in take" process that gets basic information about the individual that will guide case workers determining the best combination of services that could stabilize and improve the life of the individual. Getting to those services requires public transportation.
SMOC'S mission, to improve the quality of life of low-income and disadvantaged individuals and families, makes it an excellent match with Tasks for Transit. Amaryllis Chaves, SMOC Worcester's Director Greater Worcester Housing Connection, said " Individuals coming into the Triage and Assessment Center are experiencing a housing crisis and the majority have little to no income. Transportation is a necessity for most of our clients as they rely on public transportation to get to the services they need (e.g., doctors, food pantries, outpatient treatment, and other services). We appreciate the collaboration with Tasks for Transit as this helps the individuals for whom we provide services." ------------------------------------------------------- An error was made in last month's newsletter: TFT regrets using the term YMCA when describing the YWCA Domestic Violence Services. We are aware of the difference.
More about Tasks for Transit may be found at our website,
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Recent Organizational Donors
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A recent addition to our list of organizational donors is the Marc & Ernest Pallatto Foundation, based in Worcester. This foundation is associated with Ernie's Car Wash, which has been named Worcester's Best several different times. Another addition is Unibank for Savings, a full service bank based in Whitinsville with many locations in Worcester. The result of a merger almost 20 years ago, part of its history goes back to 1873. In 2015 it reported over $1.5 billion in assets.
Please support our donor organizations. They are listed on our website.
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We Need Your Support
We see Tasks for Transit as a fundamental charity trying to meet one essential need of the economically disadvantaged, namely safe and dependable transportation for persons who would otherwise have to walk. While walking is an alternative, it is a poor alternative in foul weather and an unsafe alternative at night.
We are hoping you will support our efforts with a generous donation. One way to do that is to go to our Crowd Funding page on youcaring.com.
TFT Crowd Funding Site We continue to be an all volunteer organization with no employee costs and no office costs. You can rest assured the 100% of your donation will go directly to purchase day passes.
Sincerely, Brian Manning and Steve McClure Tasks for Transit 379 Greenwood Street, Suite 4 Millbury, MA 01527 Email: contact@tasksfortransit.org 617-851-0313 We also have a Post Office Box Tasks for Transit PO Box 70544 Worcester, MA 01607
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Contact | Tasks for Transit | 617-851-0313 | | contact @tasksfortransit org |www.tasksfortransit.org
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