In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.
These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.
In today’s edition – Tuesday, December 21 – there are four flu-free clinics for Worcester Public Schools students today, Worcester Community Action Council wins $65,000 from United Way of Central Massachusetts, there’s free walk-up COVID-19 testing and vaccinations today at Mercantile Center, the FTC is warning consumers of gift card scams and gas prices are down one cent in Massachusetts.
WPS Hosting Flu-Free Clinics Today
Worcester Public Schools are hosting four flu-free clinics today for students at four elementary schools.
Each clinic will run from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The clinics are walk-up and no appointment is necessary. Parents or guardians must be present if the student is under the age of 18.
The clinics will be held at the following schools:
- Roosevelt School — 1006 Grafton Street
- Woodland Academy — 93 Woodland Street
- Nelson Place School — 35 Nelson Street
- Clark Street Community School — 280 Clark Street
WCAC Wins $65,000 from United Way of Central Mass.
The Worcester Community Action Council, Inc. [WCAC] has been named among the United Way of Central Massachusetts Community Challenge award winners and has been awarded $65,000 to help local families traverse the cliff effect barrier.
The cliff effect occurs when an increase in work earnings results in ineligibility for benefits such as housing, food, and childcare. In many instances, families may choose to decline opportunities to increase wages because accepting an increase to their wages would impact their eligibility for necessary benefits, and the wage increase itself would not be enough to overcome reliance on certain benefits.
WCAC will use the award money to hire a Cliff Effect Coach to provide support and direct payments for unexpected bills and childcare expenses. The Cliff Effect Coach will be hired by early winter 2022.
Free Walk-Up COVID-19 Testing, Vaccinations at Mercantile Center Today
UMass Memorial Health and the City of Worcester are holding a free, walk-up COVID-19 testing and vaccine clinic today at Mercantile Center.
The clinic will be held from 11 AM to 4 PM. Vaccines are available for anyone ages 5 and older. A free mask will be provided with each COVID-19 test.
The Mercantile Center is located at 201 Commercial Street at the intersection of Commercial Street and Mechanic Street.
FTC Warns Consumer of Gift Card Scams
Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early’s Office has shared a warning from the Federal Trade Commission for consumers to be on the lookout for gift card scams.
According to the FTC, since 2018, gift cards have been the most frequently reported payment method for fraud.
The gift card brand scammers ask most likely to ask people to buy, and lose the most money on are: Google Play, Apple, eBay, and Walmart.
According to the FTC, this year, Target gift cards are scammers’ top choice.
Gas Prices are Down One Cent this Week in Massachusetts
Massachusetts’s average gas price is down 1 cent from last week, averaging $3.39 per gallon.
This week’s price is 3 cents lower than a month ago ($3.42), and $1.23 higher than December 20, 2020 ($2.16).
Massachusetts’s average gas price is 9 cents higher than the national average.
According to AAA Northeast’s December 20 survey of fuel prices, the current national average is 3 cents lower than last week ($3.33), averaging $3.30 a gallon. The national average price is 11 cents lower than a month ago ($3.41), and $1.09 higher than this day last year ($2.21).
