Chelsea Eats Card Chelsea Food Debit Card Program / Chelsea Eats Card Programa de Asistencia en la compra de alimentos utilizando una tarjeta de débito

Food insecurity, a deeply rooted issue, has gravely worsened as a result of COVID-19 and the economic downtown. The City of Chelsea, in consultation with community-based organizations, has established a new program to assist Chelsea residents with access to fresh and culturally appropriate food, in an effort to combat food insecurity. The purpose of the program, entitled Chelsea Eats, is to provide urgently needed resources to purchase food in a safe, dignified manner.

The City, through its Department of Housing and Community Development and Department of Public Works, is actively advancing a comprehensive food sustainability program. Conceived as a transitional bridge from the City food pantries, Chelsea Eats represents a key initiative, which will be undertaken with other vital steps, to serve residents in need. Income eligible residents may be eligible to receive a preloaded debit card to buy groceries and baby products at local Chelsea retailers.

The program is open to all income-eligible Chelsea residents who meet the program’s criteria, regardless of their immigration status:

  • Be a Chelsea resident.
  • Submit a fully completed application
  • Your application must certify compliance with requirements related to household income, assets, and public benefits
  • Your household income must be at or below 30% of the HUD Area Median Income (AMI). To know if you qualify, please check the table below.
Household Size Income limits
1 $26,850
2 $30,700
3 $34,550
4 $38,350
5 $41,450
6 $44,500
7 $47,600
8 $50,650

Families with children, disabled residents, veterans, seniors over 65, households that have been economically impacted by COVID-19, and households that are ineligible for other forms of federal assistance, such as SNAP and WIC will have preferences. The program will also connect eligible residents to SNAP, WIC, and other forms of food assistance. Local merchants interested in participating in the program as an Official Chelsea Eats Partner are encouraged to contact the Department of Housing and Community Development by calling 617-466-4192.

DEADLINE: The deadline for applications is August 17, 2020. 

HOW TO APPLY: 

Online Applications in English and Spanish are available here.

Applications are also available in Portuguese, Vietnamese, Haitian and Cape Verde Creole, and Arabic at ChelseaMA.gov/ChelseaEats

By email  Download the application here: Word document, fillable PDF.

When it completed, please send it to chelseafooddebitcard@gmail.com

In-person City Hall during business hours:

·         Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. Tuesdays from 9 am to 6 pm

·         Friday from 9 am to 11 am.

 

City’s food pantry locations, from 9 a.m. to noon:

·         Monday – Early Learning Center (Shurtleff St. entrance).

·         Tuesday – Bellingham Hill Park (100 Bellingham St.).

·         Wednesday – Washington Park (Pratville).

·         Thursday – Chelsea Square (Broadway near the Police Station).

·         Friday – Mary C. Burke Complex Parking lot (300 Crescent Ave).

By phone  Dial 311 while you are in Chelsea (or 617-644-4209) during office hours (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9 am to 3 pm, Tuesday 9 am to 6 pm, and Friday 9 am to 11 am).
Hard-copy Email chelseafooddebitcard@gmail.com or come to City Hall during the business hours to ask for a hard copy application.

Important: Chelsea Eats has no cost for applicants. Debit cards can be used only in grocery and convenience stores. This is a local program, and the public charge rule does not apply to it.

If you need food assistance, but you are not eligible for this program, please explore SNAP “Food Stamp” benefits by reaching the following resources: 

Parent Information Center (Early Learning Center, Shurtleff St. entrance) 

617-466-5500. 

murilloi@chelseaschools.com 

CONNECT Hotline 

617-712-3487

Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline

1-800-645-8333 Monday-Friday: 8 am-7 pm. Saturday: 10am-2pm.

QUESTIONS?: Call 311 (617-644-4209),  email chelseafooddebitcard@gmail.com or visit ChelseaMA.gov/ChelseaEats

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Chelsea Eats Card

Programa de Asistencia en la compra de alimentos utilizando una tarjeta de débito 

La inseguridad alimentaria, un problema profundamente arraigado en nuestra ciudad, ha empeorado gravemente como resultado del COVID-19 y la crisis económica que representa.

La Ciudad de Chelsea en un esfuerzo por combatir la inseguridad alimentaria, en consulta con organizaciones comunitarias locales, ha establecido un nuevo programa para ayudar a los residentes de Chelsea a acceder a alimentos frescos y culturalmente apropiados. El propósito del programa denominado ‘Chelsea Eats’ es proporcionar los recursos que se necesitan con urgencia para comprar alimentos de manera segura y digna.

La Ciudad, a través de su Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario y el Departamento de Obras Públicas, avanza activamente en un programa integral de sostenibilidad alimentaria. Concebido como una transición entre las despensas de alimentos a una tarjeta de débito, Chelsea Eats representa una iniciativa clave para servir a los residentes que lo necesitan.

Los residentes son elegibles por ingresos y – quienes califiquen- podrán recibir una tarjeta de débito precargada para comprar comestibles y productos para bebés en las tiendas locales de Chelsea.

El programa está abierto a todos los residentes de Chelsea que tengan un ingreso igual o menor al 30% del ingreso promedio del área, independientemente de su estado migratorio.

Los criterios de elegibilidad del programa son los siguientes:

  • Ser residente de Chelsea.
  • Enviar una solicitud completa.
  • Su solicitud debe certificar el cumplimiento de los requisitos relacionados con los ingresos, bienes y beneficios públicos del hogar.
  • Los ingresos de su hogar deben ser iguales o inferiores al 30% del ingreso medio del área según el HUD (AMI por sus siglas en inglés).

Para saber si califica, consulte la tabla a continuación.

Tamaño del hogar Límite de ingresos
1 $26,850
2 $30,700
3 $34,550
4 $38,350
5 $41,450
6 $44,500
7 $47,600
8 $50,650

Las familias con niños, residentes discapacitados, veteranos, personas mayores de 65 años, hogares que han sido afectados económicamente por COVID-19 y hogares que no son elegibles para otras formas de asistencia federal (como SNAP y WIC) tendrán preferencias.

El programa también conectará a los residentes elegibles con SNAP, WIC y otras formas de asistencia alimentaria. Se recomienda a los comerciantes locales interesados en participar en el programa como socios oficiales de Chelsea Eats que se comuniquen con el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario llamando al 617-466-4192.

PLAZO: La fecha límite para las solicitudes es el 17 de agosto de 2020.

CÓMO SOLICITAR:

En linea  Aplicaciones en Inglés y Español están disponibles aquí.
Por correo electrónico Descargue la aplicación aquí: Word document, fillable PDF.

Cuando la complete, envíela por correo electrónico a chelseafooddebitcard@gmail.com

En persona  City Hall en horarios de atención al público:

·         Lunes, miércoles y viernes de 9 am a 3 pm.

·         Martes de 9 am a 6 pm

·         Viernes de 9 am a 11 am.

 

Despensas de comida de la Ciudad, de 9 am al mediodía:

·         Lunes- Early Learning Center (Shurtleff St. entrance).

·         Martes- Bellingham Hill Park (100 Bellingham St.).

·         Miercoles – Washington Park (Pratville).

·         Jueves – Chelsea Square (Broadway cerca del cuartel de la Policía).

·         Viernes – Mary C. Burke Complex Parking lot (300 Crescent Ave).

Por teléfono  Llame al 311 mientras está en Chelsea (o 617-644-4209) en horas de atención al público (Lunes, miércoles y viernes de 9 am a 3 pm; Martes de 9 am a 6 pm; Viernes de 9 am a 11 am).
Aplicaciones en papel  Si desea una aplicación en papel, envíe un correo electrónico a chelseafooddebitcard@gmail.com o visite City Hall en horarios de atención al público (Lunes, miércoles y viernes de 9 am a 3 pm; Martes de 9 am a 6 pm; Viernes de 9 am a 11 am).

Importante: Chelsea Eats no tiene costo para los solicitantes. Las tarjetas de débito solo se pueden usar en supermercados y tiendas de conveniencia. Este es un programa local y la regla de carga pública no se aplica.

Si necesita asistencia alimentaria, pero no es elegible para este programa, explore los beneficios de “Cupones para Alimentos” de SNAP contactando a los siguientes recursos:

Centro de Información para Padres (Early Learning Center, entrada a la calle Shurtleff)
617-466-5500.
murilloi@chelseaschools.com

CONNECT Línea Directa
617-712-3487

Línea directa de FoodSource de Project Bread 1-800-645-8333 de lunes a viernes: de 8 a.m. a 7 p.m. Sábado: 10 am-2pm.

¿PREGUNTAS ?: Llame al 311 (617-644-4209), envíe un correo electrónico a chelseafooddebitcard@gmail.com o visite ChelseaMA.gov/ChelseaEats

BARI Conference: Closing Keynote What Cities and Towns need now

BARI Conference Week 14: What Cities and Towns Need Now

3:30 pm, Friday, July 31st

The BARI Conference concludes with a closing Keynote at 3:30 pm on Friday, July 31st. This conversation with Mayor’s and municipal leaders from throughout the commonwealth will address challenges that municipalities are facing today. The Panelists will explore how research and technology can be leveraged for equitable solutions as we move into a Post-COVID-19 future.

Each panel is presented live via Zoom. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions via chat, and each session will be recorded and released as an audio podcast the following week. If you have already registered for a previous week of the conference, you don’t need to register again.

Register for the conference today, and we’ll share the access information by email before each session. Panels will be from 3:30 – 4:345 pm. Following the panel we will have our Conference Reception to close out the BARI Conference.

Subscribe to the BARI Podcast!

Can’t make the Friday panels, or just want to revisit some of the content our panelists discussed? Subscribe to the BARI Podcast to get an audio version of each panel, released one week after each live event.

Week 14: What Cities and Towns Need Now
Friday, July 31st, 3:30 pm

Presentations and Panel

Town Manager Steve Bartha
Town of Danvers, MA

Mayor Dan Rivera
City of Lawrence, MA

Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer
City of Framingham, MA

Mayor Martin J. Walsh
City of Boston, MA

Regional Perspective: Marc Draisen
Executive Director, Metropolitan Area Planning Council

Moderator: Sid Espinosa, Director of Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at Microsoft and the former Mayor of Palo Alto, California.

The Next Generation of Activists Youth Summer Jobs and Activism Go Virtual

The Next Generation of Activists

YOUTH SUMMER JOBS AND ACTIVISM GO VIRTUAL
The Chelsea Collaborative’s Summer Youth Employment Initiative (SYEI) looks a little different this year, with job readiness training, career exploration, and internships happening exclusively in virtual spaces. During the height of the pandemic in Chelsea, we weren’t sure what the summer would hold, but we knew that one way or another we had to offer Chelsea youth the summer jobs that keep them connected, learning, and building community. Since early July, 170 youth have been working to build hard and soft skills, connecting daily in virtual classrooms, and implementing social justice projects in small groups. Youth are divided into cohorts based on their interests and new skills being developed. Cohorts are focused on Arts, Public Service, Creative Media, and STEM, and all integrate a focus on current events, civic engagement, and social justice.
Within the Public Service cohort, youth are working in small groups to develop their own social justice organizations. After each youth pitched their ideas, the larger group selected two to develop further in teams. Those organizations reflect issues that are close to the hearts and minds of our youth: Chelsea Trans Community Support serving Chelsea’s transgender community, and Worldwide Opportunities Foundation providing services to immigrants and refugees.
So far, youth have researched other social justice organizations, developed mission statements and brands, launched social media pages, designed flyers and infographics, and planned virtual events to raise awareness.
SYEI runs for six weeks every summer and for many of the youth interns this is their first work experience. Youth receive a stipend for their work and build skills and relationships that support long-term success in school, jobs, and their communities. We partner closely with the City of Chelsea, MassHire Metro North, and Commonwealth Corporation’s YouthWorksStrong program to make the program a success.
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“The reason I’m personally so passionate about Social Justice is because growing up, you begin to realize that the society you’ve grown up in is flawed in many ways, especially when it’s targeted toward you. I want to be able to assist in creating something good so other kids like me don’t have to deal with some of the hardships I dealt with growing up being both transgender and Latino. I also want to make life a better experience for those who aren’t like me. We all deserve to feel like we belong in a world as large as ours.”
– ADRIEN, 17, Public Service Intern
Group Leader, Chelsea Trans Community Support
“With so much going on this year, I believe that as a community (big or small) we can share our experience and ideas to speak our minds and make a change in this community! We need more young adults to speak up and fight for change. People who have been affected by these conflicts are vulnerable because they can’t speak their minds. Which is why this generation of young adults should advocate and fight for them so they could be heard. Despite the circumstances we are in, I believe that a small difference can create a huge impact into our community and our people!”
– LOURDEN, 17, Public Service Intern
Group Leader, Worldwide Opportunities Foundation
This project is funded by MassPort and the YouthWorks program through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The YouthWorks program is administered by the Commonwealth Corporation.
IN THE NEWS
The Art of Activism: Two Local Women of Color Take on COVID-19 and Racial Violence
Executive Director Gladys Vega joined activist Monica Cannon-Grant, founder of Violence in Boston, and Under the Radar Host Callie Crossley to talk about how they’ve harnessed the power of local activism and on-the-ground organizing to raise their communities up and demand the attention of legislators. LISTEN >>>
SPECIAL THANKS
Major Donors Step Up for Immigrant Families
The Chelsea Collaborative is proud to announce three new major gifts that will enable us to continue expanding our work and providing a lifeline to immigrant families:
Thanks go to the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, which has made a multi-year grant of $300,000 to the Collaborative through their new initiative to support organizations being led by people of color. To prevent displacement and help our families stay in their homes throughout the pandemic, the Family Independence Initiative is providing 100 Collaborative families with $1,000 in rental assistance. Special thanks also go to Yawkey Foundations, which recently made a $25,000 grant for COVID-19 emergency response work being led by the Collaborative.
And to the many, many others who have contributed in large and small ways over the past few months – thank you for trusting us with this work and for standing with immigrant families!

Chelsea Volunteer Opportunity

Hi All,

 

I am reaching out to let you know about a new volunteer opportunity in Chelsea.  With increased testing in the city over the next 4 weeks they are looking for volunteers to show up at the busier testing sites to help with translation at registration, help folks in line social distance, make sure everyone has a mask, etc.

 

While bilingual volunteers are needed they welcome assistance from anyone. Busy days have been Monday- Wednesday at Chelsea Square, starting at 10am.  Volunteers are welcome for any amount of time.

 

If you or anyone you know is able to help out at Chelsea’s testing sites please contact Cate Fox-Lent at cfox@chelseama.gov.

Best,

Leslie

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