As Founder and past President of Pennies for Poverty: 2 Cents 4 Change, Inc., I have found CAI most helpful and generous with their time and expertise. CAI joined Pennies in 2009 in organizing a 3 day poverty awareness fair as well as always being generous in providing poverty statistics whenever I asked. It is an organization with employees that truly care about their clients and go that extra mile. This organization is not only crucial to their clients welfare and well-being but to their climb out of poverty.
In addressing the causes and consequences of poverty through education, advocacy, and its myriad services to help those in need meet basic human needs that we too often take for granted, I can unequivocally state that Community Action, Inc. is indeed "of the people, by the people and for the people".
Serving clients in Haverhill, Amesbury, Newburyport, Salisbury and neighboring communities CAI provides resources as well as opportunities for individuals, families and even communities as well to overcome poverty.
Some of the programs offered are:
1; The Women, Infants and Children (aka WIC) nutritional program provides free food checks, breast feeding education, nutrition education and counseling for pregnant and post partum women, infants and children up to age five.
2; Head Start/Early Head Start is a comprehensive, child focused, program for infants, toddlers, pregnant women and pre-school children and their families throughout the CAI service area.
3; Community Services helps low-income people secure basic resources such as shelter, food, clothing, income and medical care.
4; Heating Assistance - The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (aka LIHEAP) helps income eligible residents pay a portion of their heating bills between November 1 and April 30.
5; Heating System Assistance - The Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance Program (aka HEARTWAP) provides heating system repair and replacement services to low-income households. While the program runs year round, during the winter months, the program serves as an emergency intervention service to provide assistance to low-income clients having problems with the operation of their primary heating system.
It is through these programs and others that we at CAI build hope and offer assistance with respect and understanding.