MARGARET FULLER-NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE INC

Programs: Youth programs: our school age and summer explorations programs provide specialized services to more than 70 young children throughout the year. All are from low-income families from the immediate neighborhood. Our programs offer a "family-environment" that encourages each child's individual growth and leadership development in a home-like supportive atmosphere. Our leaders in training (lit) program offers teens an opportunity to work in a positive environment, learn professional, leadership and life skills, and participate in community service. Recent accomplishments - building of a new playground for the area iv community; - initiation of leaders in training.

our emergency food pantry provides 18,000 lbs. Of food to more than 1200 individuals, families and children each month. The pantry is open four times each week and relies on more than 30 volunteers to ensure that high quality, healthy food reaches residents in need. Each year 3,500 individuals receive food from our pantry. Recent accomplishments - pantry gives food to over 3,500 low-income constituents annually; - double the number of constituents in 2006.

community outreach connections provides a range of resources and support for area iv residents. The mfnh serves as the home base for the area iv community liaison who interfaces with city officials, local businesses, corporations, and private organizations and helps organize the community around identified needs. The mfnh also employs a street worker, whose job it is to support area iv young adults (18 to 35 yrs) who are at serious risk-i. E. , recently incarcerated, addicted to drugs or alcohol, unemployed, homeless, or in need of access to education and other resources. Recent accomplishments: - street worker works with over 40 clients annually; - community liaison organizes pride day with over 800 neighbors participating.

technology center provides computer and internet access to more than 150 adults and youth each year. With support from volunteers, we offer free specialized classes that build computer and english literacy, both critically important to improve the employability of participants. Recent accomplishments: - new literacy class for immigrants. Neighborhood building project encompasses a variety of activities, celebrations and collaborative initiatives: it provides opportunities for residents to gather, share concerns, and address community issues. We regularly invite neighbors to community pot-lucks, breakfasts, classes, and community discussions that address the needs and interests of area iv residents. In the fall of 2012, with the help of more than 200 volunteers, we built a playground that has since become a community gathering spot. Also included are: - senior services with special workshops and activities for elders, such as: healthy options support groups and senior breakfasts. "living with diabetes" is a collaborative workshop series with the cambridge community center and involves 20-40 seniors. - our community health initiative encourages a vibrant and healthy area iv community through programs with a special focus on healthy living opportunities. Apart from our food pantry, which is well recognized for its emphasis on healthful eating, we offer focused cooking and exercise opportunities for kids, teen interventions against early drinking and drugs, support groups and workshops that encourage seniors and other participants to share healthy life-styles, and opportunities to learn coping mechanisms for living with chronic diseases. This is only a partial list of the community health-related programs at the margaret fuller neighborhood house. - collaborative programming is crucial to mfnh providing resources and support to even more people. Recent and current collaborations include the men's health league, a partnership with the city's public health department and ymca; playgroups with the cambridge center for families; hoops and health with men of color task force; and work with numerous youth organizations and the cambridge settlement houses. Recent accomplishments: - recipient of pathways to health national prize awarded by robert wood johnson foundation to cambridge and collaborative partners. - partnerships enable us to reach over 800 additional constituents.