Upcoming Events

Human Rights Award

Join the Newton Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 9th to recognize the vital and outstanding work being done by the Arabic Baptist Church, Centre Street Food Pantry, Newton Food Pantry, and Newton Neighbors addressing food insecurity within our community. 

Holiday Gift Drive

Each holiday season, the City of Newton Health & Human Services Department teams up with Village Bank to bring holiday gifts to Newton families in need. Donations are accepted at all Village Bank locations through December 10. To learn more, click HERE, and to find Village Bank locations, click HERE. Happy Holidays!

If your family lives in Newton and could use some help this holiday season, please reach out to the Human Services Division at 617-796-1420.

CPR Training

Friends and Family CPR is a community non-certification level training with our Public Health Nurse and lots of hands-on practice! In this 2.5 hour training, you will learn how to confidently respond to a life-threatening medical emergency. This session will review adult, child, and infant rescue with hands on CPR, AED training, and Heimlich techniques. Please review the flyer below for details of our upcoming class and reserve your spot by emailing health@newtonma.gov.

Stay Healthy This Holiday!

As holiday events pick up and cold weather pushes more people indoors, it creates ideal conditions for respiratory viruses to spread. Good respiratory hygiene is especially important this year due to the emergence of a new variant of Influenza A. Health officials are cautioning that this strain may lead to more infections and potentially more severe illness. Countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom have already issued public warnings, urging people to take extra precautions.



To help keep our community healthy, we can all take simple steps to reduce the risk of illness:

• Stay up to date on vaccines for COVID-19 and the flu.
• Practice good hand hygiene: Frequent handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent many types of infections, since respiratory viruses don’t all spread the same way.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue when possible, or your elbow if one isn’t available—avoid using your hands.
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces: Viruses can spread through droplets and by touching contaminated surfaces, so regularly clean items like doorknobs and light switches.
• Limit exposure to sick individuals: Avoiding close contact with people who are ill is a key way to protect yourself and your family.

Holiday Fire Safety Tips

Keep your holidays merry and safe by following a few simple fire safety tips! Always turn off holiday lights before going to bed or leaving home, keep candles away from decorations and curtains, and water your live Christmas tree regularly to prevent it from drying out. For more tips on preventing holiday fires click HERE.

Toy Safety Awareness Month



The holiday season is here, bringing plenty of toy-sharing and gift-giving joy! Before wrapping up that perfect present for a child, take a moment to make sure it’s both safe and age-appropriate. December is recognized as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month, reminding everyone to keep safety in mind and ensure a fun, healthy, and worry-free holiday for all.

Winter is Coming! Are You Prepared?



Don’t wait for severe weather to catch you off guard—get ready for winter now.

• Learn what actions to take before, during, and after a winter storm.
• Make sure you have emergency supplies at home, at work, and in your vehicle.
• Avoid driving during and immediately after a storm whenever possible.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector, especially if you plan to use alternative heating sources.
• Use only safe, approved heating devices.

For more winter storm safety tips click HERE.

Need Help With Heating Bills?

The ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.) Home Energy Assistance Program—often called Fuel Assistance—helps income-eligible households pay their heating bills.

Applications for the 2025–2026 heating season are now open online.

Residents can get help with the application process through the Newton Human Services Division. For questions or to set up an appointment, call 617-796-1420.

New Year's Eve Safety

New Year’s Eve is a time for fun and celebration, but it’s important to avoid preventable health and safety issues. Whatever your plans may be, keep these reminders in mind to stay safe:



• Don’t drink and drive: If alcohol is part of your evening, arrange a designated driver or another safe ride home.
• Avoid driving tired and stay alert for drunk/impaired drivers: Drowsy driving is as dangerous as driving impaired. Stay alert for impaired drivers and keep your distance from anyone driving unpredictably.
• Use fireworks with caution: Fireworks can reach temperatures as high as 2,000 degrees, making them extremely dangerous if handled improperly.
• Practice firearm safety: Firing guns into the air is hazardous and can cause serious injury or death.
• Stay aware: Pay attention to your surroundings and stick with a group whenever possible.

Health and Human Services

1000 Commonwealth Ave

Newton, MA

health@newtonma.gov

(617) 796-1420