Fuel assistance and food bank referrals at Action for Boston Community Development’s (ABCD) offices, including Jamaica Plain APAC, are at an “all-time high,” and the anti-poverty nonprofit has launched a “Winter Emergency Campaign” in response.
ABCD is seeking donations of all kinds, such as new winter clothing, blankets and non-perishable food, for an expected 10,000 additional families at risk this winter.
“Many people who never had to ask for help before are turning to ABCD for assistance this holiday season,” said ABCD President/CEO John Drew in a press statement.
As one example, for all of last winter, ABCD received 22,146 applications for fuel assistance for people who could not afford their home heating bills. By Nov. 16, ABCD had already received 14,000 applications for this winter.
Federal funding cuts to ABCD-administered programs already had big impacts last year. A second Jamaica Plain APAC office in central JP closed and the cap on fuel assistance funding was slashed by 35 percent.
Item donations can be dropped off at the Jamaica Plain APAC office at 295 Centre St. in Jackson Square. For more about ABCD’s programs and donations, see bostonabcd.org.