Central MA Senior Connection

🍎 FREE FOOD & SUPPLIES FOR 400 FAMILIES! 🍎
Senior Connection is sharing this upcoming Feed the Children Food Rally hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester. Families can drive through to receive free food and essential supplies, while supplies last.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
65 Boys & Girls Club Way, Worcester, MA 01610
Families can receive:
Shelf-stable food
Hygiene and personal care items
Kitted backpacks
Bottled water
A $10 Price Rite gift card
Plus additional items

First come, first served. Please be prepared to receive up to 70 lbs. of food and supplies.

Please share this information with a family, friend, neighbor, or caregiver who may benefit from this valuable community resource. ❤️

Putting the “good” in Mini Golf for Good! ⛳

Senior Connection was proud to be part of Life Science Cares’ Mini Golf for Good on September 23 at Tech Square in Cambridge.

More than 500 life sciences professionals came together for an afternoon of mini golf, networking, and community engagement—all in support of local organizations working to address poverty and advance health equity.

We’re grateful to Life Science Cares for bringing the life sciences community together to make a difference—and proud to be part of a collective effort to create healthier, stronger communities for older adults and families across Central Massachusetts.

Explore, Discover & Learn at Boston’s Museum of Science!

Senior Connection has complimentary tickets to the Museum of Science & Planetarium in Boston for Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 9 AM–5 PM!

Bring your family and enjoy a day of discovery, exploration, and wonder—from fascinating science exhibits to an unforgettable experience at the Planetarium.

Complimentary tickets are limited, so reserve yours today!

To reserve tickets, please contact Senior Connection:

📧 [email protected]
📞 508-852-5539

Building a Stronger Future for Grandfamilies in Worcester

Watch the video highlights from a powerful roundtable discussion, hosted by Dr. Moses Dixon, President & CEO of Senior Connection on Tuesday, September 8, featuring local, state and federal leaders who came together to build awareness and support for the innovative Grandfamily Village of Worcester, now under development at 264 Stafford Street.

The conversation focuses on the critical needs facing grandfamilies—and the vision for a first-of-its-kind community designed to provide safe, affordable housing, supportive services, and opportunities for families to thrive together.

To learn more about the Grandfamily Village of Worcester, visit https://seniorconnection.org/grandparents-raising-grandkids/grandfamily-village/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOsBT2T0_EI

Grandfamilies Village Roundtable Talk with Massachusetts Elected Officials This highlight video recaps important points raised by political fi...

Senior Connection Hosts Roundtable to Raise Awareness of Grandfamily Village of Worcester❤️

On Tuesday, September 8, Senior Connection President & CEO Dr. Moses Dixon led a press conference and roundtable discussion at the Central Community Branch YMCA in Worcester focused on an urgent but often overlooked need: safe, affordable housing and comprehensive support for grandparents raising grandchildren.

The conversation brought together local, state and federal leaders, including: U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern, U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, State Senator Robyn Kennedy, State Sen. Mary Keefe, State Representative David LeBoeuf, Doreen Goodrich, District Director for State Senator Mike Moore, Worcester City Manager Eric Batista—grandparents raising grandchildren Brenda Jenkins and Cassandra Bensahi.

The numbers tell an important story:

√ 1 in 10 U.S. children is being raised by a grandparent.
√ More than half of grandparents responsible for their grandchildren are age 60 or older.
√ 55% of these grandparents are also in the workforce—balancing employment with caregiving.
√ 87% of the 636 grandfamilies surveyed by Senior Connection reported needing housing suitable for grandparents and grandchildren.

These families step up during times of crisis—often following a parent’s death or serious illness, substance use disorder, incarceration, or other family challenges. They deserve housing and services designed specifically around their unique needs.

That is the vision behind Grandfamily Village of Worcester, an innovative community being developed at 264 Stafford Street. The Village will provide safe, affordable housing along with a Grandparents Raising Grandkids Resource Center, community health workers, an on-site medical clinic, trauma-informed supports, workforce development, youth programming, and connections to health, wellness and social services. Construction is currently planned to begin in 2027.

The project has received $3 million in federal funding secured through a congressional earmark, with support from Senator Warren and Congressman McGovern—an important investment in keeping families together and helping both generations thrive.

Grandfamilies are stepping up for the next generation. Now, our community must step up for them. Learn more about the Grandfamily Village of Worcester and how you can support the campaign: https://seniorconnection.org/grandparents-raising-grandkids/grandfamily-village/

Thank you to our partners at Central MA Senior Connection for inviting PLAN of MA & RI to participate in their Back to School Backpack Event!

Looking forward to being a resource for families!

Senior Connection is proud to sponsor and participate in the Back-to-School Celebration on August 29!

Join us at 807 Main St. in Worcester, MA at 2:00 PM for a fun, family-friendly afternoon to kick off the new school year. Senior Connection’s Barber Connect and Benefits Enrollment Center programs will be on-site, offering free haircuts and benefits enrollment assistance.

We hope to see you there!

Thank you, First Literacy, Inc.! Senior Connection is grateful for your generous $4,500 grant supporting Connected Caregivers: Digital Literacy for Grandfamilies.

This funding will expand digital literacy training through Senior Connection's Computer Learning Lab and Grandparents Raising Grandkids Resource Center, helping grandparents and other kinship caregivers build the technology skills they need to access healthcare, education, employment resources, and stay connected with the children they are raising. “This initiative will empower caregivers to become proficient digital navigators, directly improving the long-term educational and social stability of the families they lead”, explains Moses Dixon, CEO of Senior Connection.

Senior Connection, Inc. is a proud 2026 grant recipient of the Catholic Health Foundation! The generous grant supports Senior Connection's Care Express program. Learn more about the Foundation here: chfboston.org.

This investment will help bring vital mobile behavioral health services and social support directly to kinship families across our community—ensuring grandparents and other relatives raising children have greater access to the care, resources, and compassionate support they need to thrive.