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Westborough Food Pantry encourages public to donate food at “Fill a Truck” event

Give a little. Help a lot.

The Westborough Food Pantry welcomes the public to donate food at the “Fill a Truck” event on Saturday, June 20, 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Roche Bros. at Bay State Commons in Westborough, located at 1100 Union St, Westborough, MA 01581.

Mark’s Moving and Storage, also based in Westborough, organizer and sponsor of the event, are also donating and providing a tractor trailer truck for the event.

The public is encouraged to bring donations or purchase extra items at Roche Bros. The food drive wish list includes –

Brownie mix

Cake mix and frosting

Mayonnaise

Ketchup

Mustard

Pancake mix

Pancake syrup

Jams and jelly

Salad dressing (your favorite kind)

Dry beans (all kinds)

Tomato paste

Ramen

Rice A Roni

Dinty Moore beef stew

Hamburg Helper

Cookies 

Polly Thayer of the Westborough Food Pantry noted, “This event can have great impact for those in need who live directly in our community. This event helps us collect and distribute a large volume of food during the summer, a time of year that is critical, yet often forgotten by the public. Any and all donations are deeply appreciated.”

Mark Silverman of Mark’s Moving added, “We are delighted to donate and provide the transportation for this food drive event that have a major impact on regional families.”

John McCarthy of Roche Bros noted, “Our passion for quality service and products is in our roots, and despite our growth over the years, we work to provide the same neighborhood grocery store experience and community dedication as we did in our first butcher shop in Roslindale, MA.”

About The Westborough Food Pantry

The Westborough Food Pantry opened in 1986 providing approximately 30 people with food. As of 2025, the Food Pantry provides food for over 150 Westborough families for a total of over 450 people each week.The organization distributes an average of 5000 pounds of food each week to Westborough families in need. That’s over 130 TONS of food per year! 

The Food Pantry has a completely volunteer staff of over 85 men and women. It takes more than 150 hours each week to purchase food, pick up and sort donated food and check expiration dates, stock the Pantry shelves, maintain our facility, handle administrative duties, and staff our food pantry store. Volunteers are encouraged to contact the Pantry at https://westboroughfoodpantry.org/.

About Roche Bros. Supermarkets

Family-owned-and-operated, Roche Bros. Supermarkets have nurtured a tradition of community since 1952. With an insatiable desire to offer premium perishables, unbeatable service, delectable catering, prepared foods, and more, Roche Bros. help good memories start here. For more details about Roche Bros., visit https://www.rochebros.com/.

About Mark’s Moving and Storage

Mark’s Moving and Storage, 111 Milk St., Westborough, offers a wide range of moving and storage services, including commercial on demand warehouse storage local and long-distance residential and corporate moving, air freight, container shipping, record storage management, disposal, packing and unpacking services, portable storage containers, warehousing and fire and flood remediation.

Mark’s Moving and Storage’s  non-profit division Mark’s Northeastern Furniture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and was established to re-purpose discarded furniture and provide for charities and individuals in need. Since 2011, the foundation and its partners have distributed  thousands of pieces of re-purposed furniture. More than 1,000,000 pounds of furniture have been given to individuals and local charities, such as the United Way of Tri-County and Household Goods. For more information, visit the firm’s website, www.marksmoving.com.

Honoring Volunteers – OCES Presents Awards to Local Volunteers at Appreciation Luncheon

(Left to right): Kristin Pratt and Mark Grossman of AbbottCare (the annual sponsor of OCES); Nicole Long, CEO of OCES; Kathy Katts and Frances Silva of AbbottCare; Cidalia America, OCES’ Volunteer Coordinator and Armindo Rocha, OCES’ Volunteer Programs Manager. 

BROCKTON AND PLYMOUTH, MA…  Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) welcomed more than 140 guests to its volunteer appreciation event held at Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston, MA on May 5, 2026.

OCES is the largest provider of in-home and community-based services for older adults and people living with disabilities in Southeastern Massachusetts.

“We are incredibly grateful for our dedicated volunteers who support our programs that provide essential assistance to those in need,” said Armindo Rocha, OCES’ Volunteer Programs Manager. 

Armindo Rocha and Cidalia America, OCES’ Volunteer Coordinator, hosted the appreciation luncheon and awards ceremony. 

Volunteers were recognized with awards in Longevity, Annual, and Make A Difference categories.

OCES’ hosts presented Longevity Awards for milestone years of dedicated volunteer service to Sue and Gordie MacEwan Duxbury Council on Aging Meals on Wheels (MOW) drivers; and John Morrissey, Donna O’Leary, and Margaret “Peggy” Cook Wareham COA MOW drivers. 

Butch Menchin, a MOW driver from Rockland COA, received the Annual Making a Difference Everyday Award. This award recognizes outstanding service within a single calendar year. Volunteers must have completed 350 or more hours of service during 2025. 

OCES presented Make a Difference Awards to the following volunteers in recognition of their dedication to helping others and making a meaningful impact in the community:  Mike and Maggie Fortuin, Rockland COA MOW drivers; Carol Simmons, Halifax Money Management Program (MMP); Ed and Tish Menz, and David Condon Pembroke COA MOW drivers; and Marie Madonna, Brockton Kitchen Aids from Caffrey Towers.

Rocha continued, “We recognize and thank all our generous volunteers for their unwavering commitment to helping others which further strengthens our communities.”

Volunteering for OCES

With the help of more than 600 Nutrition Program volunteers, OCES serves 2,600 meals every weekday as part of its MOW services. MMP volunteers, assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with bill paying, reconciling bank statements, balancing checkbooks, and in special cases negotiating debt with creditors. Volunteers also serve on the OCES Board of Directors, participate in the MMP Advisory Board, and contribute to many other important efforts. 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit https://ocesma.org/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities

About OCES
OCES is recognized as one of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Best Places to Work by Cape & Plymouth Business Marketing. OCES has been certified as a woman non-profit organization (W/NPO) by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). For more than 51 years, OCES has been a private, nonprofit organization with locations in Brockton and Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and proudly serves Plymouth County and surrounding communities. 

Through the talent of an experienced and diverse workforce, OCES supports the independence and dignity of older adults and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy, safe living which positively impacts our community. The agency offers several programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit ocesma.org

Woof! Pet Adoption Day — Quincy Animal Shelter, Polkadog and TLC Supply Host Pet Adoption Event

Quincy Animal Shelter and TLC Supply invite the public to Pet Adoption Day on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The event will take place at the TLC Supply showroom and superstore, 48 Arnold Street, Braintree, MA. The family-friendly event will  feature adoptable animals from Quincy Animal Shelter, special treats from Polkadog Bakery, and friendly staff on hand to help families find their new companion.

Event details

Come and meet adoptable dogs and cats from Quincy Animal Shelter. Adoption counseling and on-site support will be available.

About Quincy Animal Shelter

Quincy Animal Shelter cares for and rehomes dogs and cats from the Quincy area and surrounding communities. The Shelter is located at  99 Quarry Street, Quincy, MA 02169 or can be found online at www.quincyanimalshelter.org for adoption requirements, hours, and available animals.

About Polkadog

Polkadog was founded in 2002 to make treats for a beloved, one-eyed rescue dog, Pearl. She was a part of the family and the family wanted her to have the best treats possible. That meant finding the finest ingredients around and adding a little bit of love into every bite. You feel the same way about your pets, so we still make every treat like we did back then: for family. Polkadog packages all of their treats at our Boston Fish Pier kitchen. The company works with local artists to develop our packaging. Local stores include Cranston, Canton, Chestnut Hill, Dedham, Hingham, Lynnfield, Jamacia Plain, Newbury Street, North End, Seaport, and the  South End.

ABOUT TLC Supply

TLC Supply is a family-owned hardscape and masonry supplier serving Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Southern New Hampshire. TLC offers industry-leading brands and products including pavers, retaining walls, natural stone, masonry materials, bagged cements, repair mortars, chimney products, sealers, aggregates, and sand. With custom fabrication services and a full fleet of delivery trucks, TLC Supply provides fast, reliable service from their Braintree location.

For more information about the event, contact TLC Supply, 48 Arnold Street, Braintree, MA, visit www.tlcsupply.com or call 617-773-0055.

Sensory-Friendly Open House and Summer Carnival on May 28th at BCI’s new Sturbridge Learning Center

STURBRIDGE, MA… Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a provider of LEARN Behavioral, will hold a sensory-friendly Open House and Summer Carnival at their new Sturbridge Learning Center, 179 Main Street, Suite 2, Sturbridge, MA 01566. 

BCI is celebrating the arrival of summer with an Open House and Summer Carnival event for the whole family on May 28, 2026, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to participate in sensory-friendly carnival-themed activities, face painting with Creative Chica, and more!

This event is free and open to the public.

BCI provides contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism and Down syndrome. Serving children ages 1-12 years, the Sturbridge Learning Center provides center-based ABA therapy, parent education, diagnostics, Early Intervention, and Social Skills Programs. Outside of the center, the Sturbridge team offers in-home ABA therapy.

The Sturbridge Learning Center offers after-school treatment hours to accommodate busy family schedules. There is no waitlist. The center is conveniently located near Old Sturbridge Village, I-84, and US-20, and easily accessible for families in the region.

For more information or to enroll a child at the Sturbridge Learning Center, call 508-363-0200 or visit https://bciaba.com/locations/sturbridge

About BCI

BCI, part of the LEARN Behavioral network, is one of the nation’s leading providers of compassionate autism care. For more than 20 years, BCI has been delivering evidence-based services, helping children with autism find success and reach their unique potential.

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of evidence-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com.

Priorities ABA Celebrates 25th Anniversary

CARY, FAYETTEVILLE, AND JACKSONVILLE, NC… Priorities ABA, North Carolina’s premiere contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider of center-based, in-home, and school-based autism services for children, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our 25th anniversary of helping children and families grow, learn, and thrive,” said Emily Cogdell, LPA, LBA, BCBA, Regional Clinical Director.

Priorities ABA, a provider of LEARN Behavioral, is proud to announce its 25-year milestone. The organization is celebrating in a unique way by holding themed activities for children and families at their Cary, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville Learning Centers each month throughout the year. For example, in April, Priorities ABA celebrated Earth Day with a fun Scavenger Hunt at each of their Learning Centers. 

“Families are excited about all the different themed activities, and the children particularly enjoy the themed activities where they may wear costumes or dress up for the day,” noted Cogdell.

In addition to themed activities for children and families, Priorities ABA staff is celebrating the 25th anniversary by giving back through monthly employee outreach initiatives that support various local community nonprofit organizations. Each month, staff hold a different drive to support the community – from a clothing drive, to a book drive to promote reading awareness, to a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank in Fayetteville.

Growing & Expanding Services

Priorities ABA was founded in 2001 and primarily served the Greenville area. As one of the earliest team members, Cogdell began working with Priorities ABA in 2004, delivering one-on-one ABA therapy to children on the autism spectrum. 

“In the beginning, Priorities ABA had a team of four Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and services provided to children were limited to home-based,” Cogdell explained. “This meant that the BCBAs were only able to provide ABA therapy to children a couple of times per week.”

“Fast forward 25 years, Priorities ABA has branched out and is able to help many more families as we’re able to provide services where the children are – whether that’s at one of our Learning Centers, or at home or school,” explained Cogdell, whose team currently works in home, community, and school settings, tailoring ABA programs around the strengths and weaknesses of children with autism. 

Priorities ABA is committed to focusing on each child’s unique needs, providing personalized, child-centered care to help them succeed, while also supporting the family.

Priorities ABA provides in-home, center-based, and school-based ABA services at three state-of-the-art Learning Centers located in Cary, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville, NC. In addition to a team of 13 BCBAs, Priorities ABA now employs more than 100 Behavior Technicians (BTs) who provide ABA services to children and families each day.

Cogdell continued, “Many of our BCBAs have been with us for 7 to 15 years. This longevity speaks to the culture we have created. What we do and how we do it is important – we believe in both.”

About Priorities ABA

Priorities ABA, part of the LEARN Behavioral network, is one of the nation’s leading providers of compassionate autism care. Now celebrating 25 years, Priorities ABA has been delivering evidence-based services, helping children and adolescents with autism find success and reach their unique potential.

Priorities ABA has locations in Cary, Fayetteville, and Jacksonville, NC. For more information or to enroll a child, call (252) 341-4192 or visit prioritiesaba.com

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder. With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of research-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com

SPARKS ABA Learning Center Now Open in Woodbridge, VA

No Waitlist and Expanded Year-Round Services for Prince William County Area Families

WOODBRIDGE, VA… SPARKS ABA, a provider of LEARN Behavioral, has recently opened the doors of its new Learning Center at 14059 Crown Court, Woodbridge, VA 22193. 

SPARKS ABA is Virginia’s premiere contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) provider of center-based autism services for children and adolescents ages 2-15 years. The Woodbridge Learning Center provides center-based ABA therapy, diagnostic services, speech, and occupational therapy. Saturday Social Skills groups are also offered. Outside of the Learning Center, the Woodbridge team offers in-home and community-based ABA therapy.

“We are thrilled to open our doors and bring compassionate, contemporary ABA therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to families in Woodbridge and the surrounding areas,” said Merlyn Nair, Center Director. “Through highly personalized support, we aim to empower each child and adolescent to gain independence to succeed in school and life and reach their highest potential.” 

Key Features of the Woodbridge Learning Center:

– ABA therapy, which includes a learning-rich environment, unique play-based learning spaces, and one-on-one support.

– Experienced clinical team and a family partnership approach.

– Diagnostic services and speech and occupational therapy provided on-site.

– No waitlist and flexible treatment hours – including part-day schedules and evening hours – to accommodate busy family schedules.

– Serving children 2-15 years old with personalized therapy plans.

– Conveniently located near I-95. Just 35 minutes away from Washington D.C. and easily accessible via public transportation for families in the region.

About SPARKS ABA

SPARKS ABA, part of LEARN Behavioral, a national leader in compassionate autism treatment, has been a leading provider of evidence-based autism services for 15 years. SPARKS ABA is dedicated to personalized, high-quality ABA therapy. In addition to the Woodbridge location, SPARKS ABA has Learning Centers in Fairfax, Manassas, and Springfield, VA, and Landover and Waldorf, MD.

The Woodbridge Learning Center is now enrolling new clients in Dale City, Dumfries, Fredericksburg, Lake Ridge, Montclair, Occoquan, Triangle, Woodbridge, and surrounding areas with no waitlist and flexible treatment hours.

For more information or to enroll a child, call (571) 229-5300 or visit https://www.sparksaba.com

About LEARN Behavioral

LEARN Behavioral is a national leader in autism treatment, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With a nationwide network of ABA providers and more than 100 Learning Centers across the country, LEARN delivers the highest standard of evidence-based care—customized to meet the unique needs and interests of each child and family. For more information, visit learnbehavioral.com.