Community Partners
Through Community based Learning courses, Holy Cross students have the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations in Worcester County on either service or research projects. Some of our community partners include:
Abby’s House
Abby's House is a shelter for homeless, battered, and low income women and their children in the Worcester community. We open the shelter in the evenings, interact with the guests, and return to campus the following morning. Abby's House provides a safe, supportive environment for women in the community and Holy Cross volunteers to learn from one another. Evenings spent at the shelter are a great time to offer an ear to the stories and struggles of these women's lives.
Almost Home
A rehabilitation program for former inmates looking to get back into our society. Located outside Worcester's correctional facility, these men participate in a number of programs, including, but not limited to, substance abuse groups, GED tutoring, and job preparation. We visit these men twice a week, Mondays and Tuesdays, to cook for and share dinners with them, and of course, interact with.
Boys and Girls Club of Worcester
Most volunteers who work at the Club volunteer at the Learning Center or in the gym. They place you based on interest, experience and/or need. Every perspective volunteer goes through a volunteer orientation with Joe or another staff member where they are introduced to the building, the different programs, and rules and regulations of the club. This orientation generally lasts 45 minutes.
Centró Las Americas
Centró Las Americas offers a variety of services that provide help to all members of the Worcester Community. From weekly food distribution to our annual Latin American Festival to tutoring ESL members of the community Centro Las Americas strives to meet the needs of its clients. Strives to provide educational opportunities, economic development, promote social responsibility and foster a strong cultural identity, through service, empowerment and advocacy, working to enable Latinos to be significant contributors to the community as a whole.
Frances Perkins Home
The Frances Perkins House is a transitional shelter for women and their children. Volunteers in this program sign up to go to the shelter for one evening each week to spend time with the children. The children range in age from infant to 12 years, and volunteers spend their time establishing relationships with the kids by helping them with their homework, playing games, and doing arts and crafts activities. The goal is to give individualized attention to each child and to help the mothers by giving them a break in their busy schedules.
Henry Lee Willis Community Center, Inc
A multicultural, minority-based social service organization. The Community Resources Program provides volunteer & intern services and coordination to a diverse group who annually provide over 100,000 hours of service throughout the organization. Internship and volunteer positions reward program participants with invaluable experience, and benefit the Willis Center through greater capacity to provide services. Positions are available in several areas, including social work, research, civic action, cultural events, event planning or administrative work.
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Broad Meadow Brook is the largest urban sanctuary in New England. Broad Meadow Brook offers a variety of exciting volunteer opportunities and internships for people of all interests and experience levels.
Nativity School
The Nativity School of Worcester is an all-boys Jesuit middle school that is located in the Main South neighborhood of Worcester. Volunteers duties can include secretarial duties, tutoring or just spending time with the boys.
Regional Environmental Council of Central Massachusetts
REC programs give people the tools they need to start building healthier communities. Joins forces with neighborhood groups, watershed associations, youth organizations, city agencies, and other environmental non-profits in order to accomplish shared goals. Various volunteer opportunities are available included a special opportunity for EarthDay.