General Help
Overview
At times, people may need assistance from community agencies. In addition to contacting the resources on this website, please feel free to reach out to
The AB Resource Center, 15 Charter Road Acton (school admin building) to get more information on who will be able to help you best for your need. Find opening hours and specific language request info here. We are open for any resident of Acton and Boxborough. You cand find our summary resource fliers in multiple languages here.
Your town's Community Resource Coordinator - see list below
Your child’s school counselor, psychologist, nurse, or adjustment counselor
For elementary school, ask your child's teacher if you don't know how to contact your child's school counselor
For Jr High and High School you can find your child's counselor in Powerschool
You can find 2 helplines below, Mass211 and Emerson Find Help that can answer a lot of your questions
Town Community Resources Coordinators Information
The Community Resources Coordinators for each town are available to help you navigate what resources are applicable to you and help you access these resources related to financial support (incl if available food, fuel, rent, childcare, summer camps, emergency ...), healthcare (incl help to sign-up for Mass Health or finding in network doctors), substance abuse, mental health, crisis intervention, housing (emergency shelter), career and legal services, domestic violence, transportation. You can email in your language, they will use tools for interpretation.
Acton
Under age 60 : Laura Ducharme lducharme@actonma.gov 978-929-6651. Make appointment here
Age 60 and over : Bev Hutchings bhutchings@acton-ma.gov 978-929-6652
Veterans : James MacRae VSO@acton-ma.gov 978-929-6614
Boxborough
All ages : Wendy Trinks wtrinks@boxborough-ma.gov 978-264-1735. Fill in this form to request an appointment
Veterans : James MacRae 978-929-6614
General Help Lines
Mass211
Mass 211 (Call 2-1-1 from your phone or Mass211.org) is an easy-to-remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community. It serves as a resource for finding government benefits and services, nonprofit organizations, support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation programs, and other local resources.
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Mass 211 is an easy way to find or give help in your community. Live translation is available in 140 languages.
The same information is also available on the Mass211.org website.
A-B United Way is proud to support Mass211.
Emerson Hospital also created a website to find local help. Visit emersonhealth.findhelp.com to find local resources for a wide variety of needs — including food, housing, mental health, childcare, senior care, transportation, and more.
This video explains how this works.