October 2024 Newsletter

10th Annual Valley Bag Toss Event Recap

Last Saturday was a blast at the 10th Annual Valley Bag Toss held at Alternatives' Whitin Mill in Whitinsville, MA! The Dennis H. Rice Community Plaza was packed with competitors and people cheering them on as the cornhole competition kicked off at noon.

There was plenty of fun to go around! Folks enjoyed live music from Smooth & Company, a delicious lunch from Rock N Roll N Food Truck. Plus, there were tons of raffle prizes and activities for everyone!

Congratulations to the 2024 champions:

1st Place: The Wixtead Wonders

2nd Place: Tela Tubbies

3rd Place: Dazed and Cornfused

And let's not forget our special award winners:

Best Team Spirit: Cornball

Best Team Name: Big Bag Theory

Best Team Costume: Baggin' and Braggin'

It was a perfect way to support Open Sky's health and wellness programs while coming together as a community. Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a fun day!

Health and Wellness Fair at the Alternatives' Whitin Mill

Our Health and Wellness Fair on September 18th was a hit!

200 individuals served, staff, and community members joined us at the Alternatives' Whitin Mill to explore vendor tables from over 20 local organizations. There were giveaways, raffles, and fun activities galore!

Congrats to Heidi Blackmar for winning the Salsa Cook-off — your cooking skills are on fire!

Thanks to everyone who made this event a success and embraced the spirit of health in our community!

Day of Remembrance Event

On September 26th, we held our first Day of Remembrance, inviting the Open Sky Community to pause and honor those we’ve lost. A virtual event allowed us to share names, hold a moment of silence, and discuss grief and self-care.

September marked both Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month, highlighting the stigma surrounding these losses. The feedback was heartwarming—many found comfort in coming together to share their grief and support one another.

ACCS Pride Support Group

On October 8th, the Pride Support Group welcomed Ryconic and Diva D for a Drag Queen Meet and Greet at the ACCS Leominster office.

The guests shared their personal journeys with mental health within the queer community. Their stories highlighted both the challenges and resilience of the community, showcasing how the drag scene serves as a powerful outlet for healing and self-expression.

The group looks forward to more opportunities to uplift and celebrate the community together!

Central MA Caring Force Rally

On October 11th, over 20 Open Sky employees rallied at Clark University for the first Central Massachusetts Caring Force Rally.

Emceed by Open Sky President & CEO, Ken Bates, the event spotlighted three key priorities:

1. Thanking legislators for the $390 million in Chapter 257—this funding is critical for sustaining essential services, and we urge continued investment to address ongoing workforce and service delivery challenges.
2. Closing the pay gap between state employees and our dedicated workforce by 2025.
3. Continuing support for student loan repayment programs to help attract and retain skilled staff.

Together, these priorities reflect our commitment to valuing our workforce and ensuring they can continue to provide the high-quality care that our communities rely on.

What's Going On at Open Sky?

Open Sky Community Services provides services to nearly 8,000 individuals in Central Mass each year facing complex challenges. That means that support is needed year-round so we can continue to provide services and remove the barriers to living a fulfilling life.

You have the power to ensure that individuals and families experiencing mental health diagnoses, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and homelessness get the help they need, every day of the year.

Have additional feedback or ideas for future newsletters? Let us know at info@openskycs.org