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 – Wednesday, December 7 – register for the next MassHire Virtual Job Fair, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester’s “Jingle Bell Toy Drive” is today, Webster Five issues grant for financial literacy, Cornerstone Bank donates to the Venture Forum, and check out some tips to protect yourself against a possible “tripledemic” threat this holiday season.
Register for the Masshire Virtual Job Fair
MassHire is hosting a virtual job fair on Thursday, Dec. 15, from 10 AM to 1 PM. Several businesses and non-profit organiations are participating including the City of Worcester, UMass Chan Medical School and YMCA of Central Massachusetts.
For more information and to register, visit the MassHire website.
Friends of the Boys & Girls Club Presents Jingle Bell Toy Drive
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office and the Friends of the Boys & Girls Club are hosting their “Jingle Bell Toy Drive” today – Wednesday, Dec. 7 – to support the families of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester at El Basha restaurant at 256 Park Ave.
Attendees are encouraged to purchase a $20 ticket for admissions or donate a new unwrapped toy or gift card.
For more information or tickets, call Fran at (508) 414- 8444 or email Leah at [email protected].
$15,000 Grant to YWCA for Financial Literacy
Webster Five announced it will provide financial seminars for domestic violence survivors through a new partnership and $15,000 grant to YWCA Central Massachusetts.
Webster Five will provide the necessary funding to serve 125 people per year over three years. The seminars will be delivered in-person, remote, one-on-one, and in small groups as well as sessions conducted in Spanish. Participants will sign up for five-week sessions which will include a one-hour seminar each week.
The seminars will include topics such as saving, budgeting, protecting financial information, building and repairing credit, and first-time home buying programs.
Cornerstone Bank Donates to Venture Forum
Cornerstone Bank, with 10 locations throughout Central Massachusetts, has donated $5,000 to Venture Forum, a startup community committed to helping entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses in Central Massachusetts.
Venture Forum, formerly WPI Venture Forum, helps local entrepreneurs start and scale their businesses by connecting them to resources and mentors and providing educational opportunities in the form of events and webinars.
Find more information on the Venture Forum website.
Physician Offers Advice for ‘Tripledemic’ Protection During Holiday Gatherings
According to Dr. Vincent Meoli, regional medical director for Massachusetts at American Family Care (AFC), conditions seem ripe for what many have coined a “tripledemic”: a convergence of the flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Dr. Meoli offers the following advice to help minimize the spread of illness this holiday season:
- Get the annual flu shot; it’s not too late for those who haven’t
- Get the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters as recommended
- Wash and dry hands thoroughly and often
- Maintain social distancing and/or wear masks, especially in large, indoor gatherings
- Get tested immediately at the start of symptoms
- Stay home if you have symptoms of any illness—including fever, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, aches, chills, fatigue—which all of these viruses have in common
- Regularly disinfect surfaces and high-touch areas like doorknobs and faucets
For more information on AFC services on Stafford Street in Worcester, visit the AFC website.
