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, June 17 – the Red Sox Foundation has chosen a local nonprofit as a grant finalist, Reliant Foundation will golf for charity on Monday, recent survey data shows Americans have interesting opinions on how COVID-19 has changed work, two Worcester businesses are awarded a grant for PPE and Saint Vincent Hospital issues warning to commemorate Men’s Health Month.
Local Mental Health Nonprofit Nominated for Award by Red Sox Foundation
Worcester based Let’s Empower, Advocate, and Do, Inc. [LEAD] is a finalist for the 6th annual “IMPACT” Awards by the Red Sox Foundation.
LEAD was named a finalist for their demonstration and impact on raising awareness and improving mental health outcomes of people in their community.
The “IMPACT” Awards donates $75,000 to organizations across 6 states. The organization in each state that receives the most votes from the public receives $10,000. Second place in each state receives $2,500.
Voting is now open in an online poll and closes on Monday, Jan 22.
A group of Leominster High School sophomores founded LEAD after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. By 2014 the organization had raised $10,000 for local charitable causes.
Since 2015 LEAD has focused on mental health. It provides training and curriculum to strengthen mental health literacy, promote lifelong well-being, and build community resilience.
Reliant Foundation Set to Tee-Off to Make a Difference
Reliant Foundation will tee off for its 22nd annual “Drive for a Difference” Golf Classic on Monday, June 22, at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
Reliant originally scheduled the event in May, but COVID-19 related restrictions forced it to reschedule.
The post-golf celebration and auction will not take place. Reliant will hold a day-long online auction in its place. Restaurant outings, sporting events and travel packages are among the items set to be available. The online event will also include a raffle.
Proceeds from this year’s event will support children’s mental and behavioral health services, as well as programs for individuals with substance use disorder, all of which have been challenged financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over 21 years the event has raised over $6 million to support critical public health issues such as the opioid epidemic and children’s mental health and behavioral health services across Central and Metro West Massachusetts.
Survey Shows Most Americans Think COVID-19 has Changed Work for the Better
A nationally representative survey conducted by WalletHub.com showed that almost 60% of Americans think COVID-19 has changed the way we work for the better.
Other takeaways in the survey data include:
- A third of Americans believe that businesses should fire employees who refuse to go back to work.
- Half of parents with young children at home don’t think they are more productive working from home.
- Almost a third of Americans think that physical offices are a thing of the past.
See the full survey data at Wallethub.com.
Two Worcester Small Businesses Awarded Grant for PPE
Two Worcester small businesses are among 20 awarded grants of $1,000 in Massachusetts to purchase personal protective equipment [PPE].
The Creative and You-nique, at 108 Beacon St., and makes t-shirts and prints. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the business shifted to production of fabric masks. They will use the grant to purchase mask-making material and sanitizing equipment.
Voltage Fashion Boutique is a retail store, at 834 Main St., that frequently gives back to the Main South community through food donations holding events for local youth. They will purchase PPE and sanitizing equipment with the grant.
The grant was awarded by Lawyers for Civil Rights and Tufts Health Plan program to support minority and women-owned small business in Massachusetts.
Saint Vincent Hospital Issues Warning During Men’s Health Month
Saint Vincent Hospital is celebrating Men’s Health month in June by seeking to raise awareness of preventable health problems men face.
The Hospital encourages men to seek medical care that can lead to early detection and treatment of disease more prevalent in men.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], men died at higher rates than women from 9 of the top 10 causes of death, including heart disease, cancer and accidents caused by traumas.
Saint Vincent staff stresses that it is critically important to not delay care or check-ups, which can lead to an early diagnosis of chronic and newly developed conditions.
