SPRINGFIELD — 413Cares.org, the community resource database for Western Massachusetts, has released data showing that thousands of residents have accessed the online database for information on services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 413Cares.org launched in November 2019, there have been 18,319 searches for services on the portal. The top search categories are housing (28 percent), food (23 percent) and health (14 percent), according to a 413Cares press release. Other program search categories include transit, goods, money, care, education, work and legal services.
While still in its early stages of development as a resource, the 413Cares.org portal has taken on additional importance to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the release states. As of December, 259 organizations have claimed their listings, and have added 859 programs to the portal.
The Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts manages the portal, which was established with initial funding from Baystate Health, the release states. Over the summer, 413Cares announced a collaboration with Mass 2-1-1, the statewide free information and referral hotline, which provides phone support for those searching for services on the 413Cares portal.
Other resource and referral networks in the region and across the state include Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Look4Help.org, Boston Medical Center’s Massachusetts Community Resource Directory MassThrive.org, and UMass Memorial Health Care and Reliant Medical Group’s CommunityHELP.net.
AGAWAM — The Western Massachusetts chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m.
According to a NAMI newsletter, the meeting is open to the public, but only members will be able to vote. Speakers are John Manzi, assistant program director with BHN Integration; consultant Roe Karparis; and Kateri Walsh, a writer, poet, yoga teacher and NAMI Western Massachusetts board member.
Registration is required, at namiwm.org. A Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
Applications are open for Fred W. Wells scholarships for the 2021 to 2022 school year.
The trust fund was established under the will of Fred W. Wells, a former Greenfield resident who directed that a portion of the fund be used for scholarships in agricultural, mechanical or professional fields. According to a Hawley town newsletter, residents of Ashfield, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont, Conway, Deerfield, Gill, Greenfield, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, Monroe, Montague, Northfield, Rowe or Shelburne, who have resided in any of these towns for not less than two years prior to the date of application, are eligible.
Awards of up to $1,000, determined by a Scholarship Committee, take into consideration, among other factors, academic record, need, character, leadership ability, extra-curricular activities and employment, the newsletter states. Awards vary each year depending on available funds and the number of applicants.
Applicants must complete a handwritten application and submitting it by the March 20 deadline, the newsletter states. Applicants must also include a stamped, official, school transcript from the most current academic year, and a recommendation.
The forms must be postmarked, on or before March 20, to: Prudence Blond, Greenfield Savings Bank, 400 Main St., P.O. Box 1537, Greenfield, MA 01302.
To request an application, call the Hawley Town Office at 413-339-5518.