At Ascentria Care Alliance, we meet people every day who are working hard to build stability for themselves and their families—often while juggling impossible choices. When food assistance is delayed or interrupted, that stability can unravel fast. Groceries become uncertain, stress spikes, and parents and older adults are left stretching what little they have.
That’s why we’re deeply grateful to the United Way of Central Massachusetts for stepping in with timely support for Ascentria clients experiencing food insecurity, especially those whose SNAP benefits were interrupted.
Through the United Response Fund, United Way of Central Massachusetts approved $15,000 to help Ascentria provide food gift cards to residents in Worcester and East Brookfield whose SNAP benefits were interrupted. 2025 12 16 UWCM check and award…
And thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor to the statewide United Response Fund, United Way of Central Massachusetts then approved an additional $5,000 to further support Central Massachusetts households facing these disruptions. UWCM_award letter and check_2025
Together, this $20,000 investment helps ensure individuals and families served by Ascentria can put food on the table—quickly and with dignity—right when they need it most.
“Meeting people where they are”
As United Way of Central Massachusetts CEO Tim Garvain shared:
“At United Way of Central Massachusetts, we are committed to meeting people where they are and responding quickly when basic needs are at risk. Through our United Response Fund, we are proud to support partners like Ascentria in providing timely SNAP-related food assistance that helps individuals and families in Worcester County meet essential needs. This work reflects our shared dedication to reducing systemic barriers and ensuring people have the support they need to move forward with dignity.”
His words capture what this funding makes possible: fast, practical assistance that respects people’s circumstances and supports their ability to move forward.
Flexible support that meets urgent needs
What makes the United Response Fund so powerful is its ability to respond quickly with flexible, practical help. It is designed to deliver rapid relief during emergencies and crises, ensuring resources reach community partners efficiently and with accountability.
For the people we serve, that flexibility matters. It means a family can buy the staples they need right away. It means a senior can stock their pantry without fear. It means a parent can breathe a little easier this week.
Food security is one of the most important drivers of health, and support like this strengthens stability for individuals and families across our region.
Looking ahead: why local support matters more than ever
As we anticipate further cuts to food assistance and increasing pressure on household budgets, community partners will continue to see more neighbors turning to local organizations for help.
That is why your support is essential.
Call to action: Support your local United Way
If you believe no one in our community should go hungry, please consider
- Donating to your local United Way, including United Way of Central Massachusetts, so flexible, rapid-response funds are available when families face sudden hardship
- Organizing a gift card campaign in your local community.
We are thankful for United Way of Central Massachusetts, for their leadership, and for the community of donors who make this kind of responsive support possible.
Together, we can help ensure that when food assistance is interrupted, our neighbors are not left to face it alone.