Cost-Saving Programs

General Information

Town of Acton Community Resources Website

For Acton residents, find lots of information on financial, fuel and rental assistance, useful links to save money or to get help on the Town of Acton Community Resources Website.    Contact the Acton Community Services Coordinator Laura Ducharme for more information, to see which programs you might be eligible for,  or for help to fill in forms.

Town of Boxborough Community Resources Website

For Boxborough residents, find lots of information on financial, fuel and rental assistance, useful links to save money or to get help on the Town of Boxborough Community Resources Website.    Contact the Boxborough Community Services Coordinator Wendy Trinks for more information, to see which programs you might be eligible for, or for help to fill in forms.

Financial Education & Budgeting

Women's Money Matters

Women's Money Matters helps women regain control of their finances, reduce financial anxiety, increase economic self-sufficiency and transform their lives by teaching core money management skills. Free money-management workshops and 1:1 personalized mentoring. Learn more here. 

AARP Tax Help

The Acton Council on Aging works with AARP to offer free tax preparation at the Acton senior center by appointment only.     Priority is given to Acton and Boxborough seniors.  See the newsletter at actoncoa.com.  Find more info on tax saving tips  and the  "senior circuit breaker law" here. 

Both the Acton Memorial Library and Boxborough Sargent library have 1040 forms and instructions available, as well as state tax form booklets.  

 AARP Volunteers don't come to the Acton nor Boxborough library anymore to help with tax preparation for all, but you can still call the regional AARP helpline: 978-760-9146 for free tax help.  More information here. 

VITA Program at SMOC

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at SMOC offers free basic income tax return preparation and electronic filing.  SMOC's IRS-certified tax volunteers are trained to access the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tax credits to assist eligible households.  Find more information here.

ARPA-Funded Emergency Grant Programs

Launched in early 2023, grants of up to $1,000 to assist with housing, utilities, and other emergency needs. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Apply through your town's Community Service Coordinator. 

Acton: More information & application available here. 

Boxborough: More information & application available here. 

Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance

MA Department of Transitional Assistance, or apply from your phone from the DTA App.

Bridge Forward Fund

Bridge Forward Fund is an economic mobility fund designed to help individuals and families experiencing financial hardship with multi-year grants to support their journey towards stability and wealth building.   The fund is for individuals and families experiencing financial hardship of any kind, with particular (but not exclusive) focus on those with needs arising from emergencies, medical issues, education, and housing instability. 

Boxborough Rental Assistance Program

The Boxborough Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) provides rental assistance to income-eligible households who are renting qualifying units in the Town of Boxborough. Program participants receive $250 per month in rental assistance, paid directly to landlords, for a period of 1 year. Applications are typically open for a period during the summer. Participants may re-certify for up to 3 years total participation. Learn more here.

Housing and Consumer Education Center

South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) in Framingham administers many housing and homelessness programs through their Housing and Consumer Education Center. Walk-ins welcome or call 508-872-4853 to schedule an appointment.  More information here.

Mobile Emergency Psychiatric Services Programs 

Advocates Emergency Service:  800-640-5432

Critical Home Repair Program

Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts operates a home preservation program that provides needed interior and exterior repairs for low-income homeowners, so that they may maintain a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. If you need help affording critical home repairs, find out more here. 

Beacon Santa 

The local Community Services Coordinators (Laura Ducharme for Acton and Wendy Trinks for Boxborough) also coordinate the annual Beacon Santa Program to give help with holiday gifts for children.  Applications are typically due by end of October.

Fuel assistance programs

Fuel assistance programs are available through SMOC in Framingham  and the Good Neighbor Fuel Fund.  Contact your community services coordinator here for Acton, here for Boxborough.

Energize Acton  - find actions that you can take to lower your electricity cost  (also for renters) or carbon footprint here  

Acton Power Choice - www.ActonPowerChoice.com - town electricity purchase plan with the potential for savings (no guarantee) on electricity over Eversource rate

Massave-  https://www.masssave.com/  - financial support and technical services to help you save money and use less energy

Internet Essentials from Comcast. Offers low-cost internet ($9.95/month) to qualifying residents. Learn more and apply.

Affordable Internet  for people with lower income.  Learn more and apply here

The library might also have hotspots available.  They do have computers at the library that you can use there for free.   Acton Memorial Library , Boxborough Sargent Library

MetroWest Free Medical Program is a free clinic for Adult Medicine & Women's Health located in Marlborough (new location!) , MA.   Their providers are volunteers in the community, as well as a small team of clinical and administrative staff,  interpreters are available.    Please contact MetroWest Free Medical Program directly to schedule your appointment. 

MetroWest Free Medical Program is also a free clinic for vision located in Sudbury, MA (Lexington Eye Associates).   Their providers are volunteers in the community, as well as a small team of clinical and administrative staff,  interpreters are available.    Please contact MetroWest Free Medical Program directly to schedule your appointment. 

Get free legal aid if you’re eligible (if you're not sure, always apply, they might be able to give you other referrals if you're not eligible): 

Acton till age 60 : Metrowest Legal Services

Boxborough till age 60 : Northeast Legal Aid

Acton and Boxborough over 60 years of age : Greater Boston Legal Services

Note that these organizations do not cover all types of legal aid.

https://masslegalhelp.org has lots of useful information regarding legal aid.

Some local firms might work at a sliding scale rate (you pay less if you are lower income).

Cornerstone Thrift Shop

12 Concord Rd, Acton.   Open select hours during the school year.

The Cornerstone stocks lightly used clothing and shoes for all ages. It also has small housewares, toys, CDs, and books. All of the items have been donated, and all are at low prices.

The Wish Project 

166 Middlesex Street, North Chelmsford.  

If you need diapers/baby wipes, cleaning kids or personal care items, you can come in once a month without an appointment to get those items.

If you need clothing for your family, you will need an appointment for this and can come in four times a year to procure a seasons worth of clothing for your family.

If you need larger items such as furniture, car seats, strollers, household items, etc. you will need a referral from one of our partner agencies.

Bessie's Closet 

Open a few times a year.  It is a free pop-up clothing store open to all members of our community. Supported by donations from the Discovery Museum's community and beyond,  Bessie's Closet offers new or gently-used clothing and shoes for both children and adults. Anyone who may benefit is welcome to visit Bessie's Closet. Museum admission is not required, but not included. All items are available free of charge, take what you need! Items available in Bessie’s Closet are dependent on donations received.

Next pop-up : tbd (last one was early November)

AB Family Network Clothing Swap

AB Family Network organizes a clothing swap twice a year.   This is a FREE and PUBLIC event. Any one can donate and any one can come "shop" the event.   

Next clothing swap : tbd (fall one was early November)

Belle of the Ball

Cleans and distributes prom dresses to high school students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend their school’s prom.  Referral forms must be completed by a guidance counselor, teacher, church leader or social service representative.

Wee Care Burlington

Wee Care Burlington helps children and their families to thrive. They offer support wherever they can such as clothing, shoes, toys, books and more.

Women Interviewing and Professional Clothing 

Dress For Success , located in Boston and Worcester, empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life

Boxborough FreeBee Network and Market

The Boxborough FreeBee Market started in 2021 by sharing food to prevent waste on Saturdays (not in winter) on an approximately weekly schedule, and keep expanding into sharing plants, books, arts and craft supplies, and other seasonal things, all for free.  Check out the website for the next dates and items.

Buy second hands or get things for free

• Acton FreeCycle is a nonprofit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns

• Facebook Groups:   Buy Nothing Acton/Littleton/Boxborough, Acton Freed Up,  Acton Curb Alert

• Nextdoor Acton and Nextdoor Boxborough  sometimes have posts where people give away things for free

• Craigslist Boston Metro West  offers used items for sale or free

Please note that these resources/organizations and their websites are not vetted, maintained or monitored by the Acton-Boxborough United Way [ABUW], and ABUW cannot be responsible for their content. 

Diaper Pantry

Request free diapers at First Connections.  Contactless pickup on Fridays.

Help in Times of a Temporary Crisis

Neighbor Brigade is a non-profit organization that mobilizes networks of volunteers to help residents facing a sudden, temporary crisis manage day-to-day tasks, like prepared meals, food pantry deliveries, errands, pet care, and more.

Free Smoke and CO Alarm Replacement

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts offers free installation of up to 3 battery powered smoke alarms (not hardwired) and 1 CO detector in your home.  Check here or call 1-800-746-3511 for information or an appointment - translators available.

For seniors, the Acton and Boxborough fire departments offer the same service.  Contact the Council on Aging for more information.