Town of Holden - Welcome Aldrich Relief Fund

Holden town property valuation records show that Welcome Aldrich owned a farm in the Jeffersonville section from 1866 to 1876. An 1870 map showed the property was located east of the Boston, Barre, and Gardner Railroad. The farm included a house and barn, a house lot, pasture land, and a wood and timber lot. In addition, Aldrich owned from 1 to 4 horses, 2 to 15 cows, 1 swine, 1 or 2 heifers ad 2 oxen. The total valuation of the properrty and animals ranged from $2,270 to $3,550.

In her will dated November 1, 1934 Shrewsbury MA resident Cora Isabella Aldrich Dean, daughter of Welcome Aldrich, left bequests of $400 to the town of Holden called the Welcome Aldrich Relief Fund, $500 to the Congregational Church of Shrewsbury called the Jefferson A. Dean Fund, and $1,500 to the Congregational Church of Shrewsbury called the Aldrich Fund.

After her death on December 22, 1935, Cora I. Dean's wishes were carried out by article 13 in the February 1, 1937 town meeting. The article read "Voted unanimously, that the Town do accept, and the Town Treasurer acknowledge, the bequest of $400 to the Town of Holden under the will of Cora I. Dean, to be known as the Welcome Aldrich Relief Fund. Said fund is to be safely invested and the income only to be used for the relief of the worthy poor of Holden. It was also voted unanimously, that the income from the Welcome Aldrich Relief Fund be expended under the direction of the Board of Public Welfare".

Effective July 1, 1968, Chapter 658 of the Acts of 1967 reorganized the Department of Public Welfare and provided for the direct administration of the public welfare system by the Commonwealth. After that point the total costs of the public welfare program-after reimbursement of Federal funds was borne by the Commonwealth and not by cities or towns. It was sometimes after this decision that the Welcome Aldrich Relief Fund was administered by the Council on Aging.

The fund is to be used for the necessities of every day living, such as, heating by whatever means, fuel sources for cooking, water, food, medicine, basic telephone service, etc. It is not intended to be used for paying taxes, cell phone bills, computers or any other items considered non essential. Priorities regarding funding needs may be established for any particular year by a majority vote of the Holden Council on Aging at normal monthly meetings.

The fund is administered by the Holden Senior Center coordinator. A maximum of 15% of the fund balance above $400 as of June 30 of the previous fiscal year will be dispersed in any given year. A majority vote by the membership of the Holden Council on Aging is required to change this policy.

Applicants must be residents of Holden MA for a minimum of 5 years. Applicants must submit their request for assistance in writing to the fund administrator. The request should include specifics regarding their need and why they are unable to pay for the need. It should also indicate a minimum of two agencies which they have asked for help in obtaining funding for their need.

The applicant's household income from all sources should be below 125% of the available U.S. Census poverty guidelines of the previous January. Exceptions to this eligibility guideline may be considered.

If the applicant is seeking help in paying outstanding bill or bills, they should indicate if they have approached the person demanding payment regarding a method or methods to pay the bill. The name and address of the applicant is confidential and is only available to the Senior Center coordinator and/or the outreach workers that review the information and make their recommendations to the Council on Aging.

Applications will be reviewed by the Senior Center Coordinator and/or outreach workers assigned to the Center. Efforts should be made to have more than one person review the application. The application should be reviewed within 15 work days of receipt. An extension may be granted if more time is needed to verify information.

After the review is completed, the party or parties reviewing the application will vote to grant or reject the request. The majority vote of the reviewers will prevail. In case of a tie, the application will be rejected.

A sub committee of the Council on Aging that grants funds from the Welcome Aldrich Relief Funds will review the granted application using input from those reviewing the application. A majority vote of this sub committee is necessary to grant the funding. This committee will report the finding to the Senior Center Coordinator.

Applicants will be notified in writing regarding the outcome of their application. If accepted, they will be contacted regarding the payment of the required need. Applicants receiving rejections will have 30 days to appeal the decision to the COA. A two thirds vote of the COA committee is required to change any rejections.

Under no condition will payments be made directly to the applicant. The check for the service will only be made to the provider of the service. If this procedure is not followed, the applicant will personally be responsible for paying the bill.

Your church is often a good source of help when you are having financial problems. The Holden churches and one Worcester church that service a part of Holden are listed below.

Calvary Temple	508-852-6922
Chaffin Congregational Church (D.C.C.)	508-829-2146
Fellowship Church	508-829-6475
First Baptist Church of Holden	508-829-4329
First Congregational Church of Holden	508-829-5411
Holden Chapel	508-829-4441
Immanuel Lutheran Church	508-829-4416
St. Francis Episcopal Church	508-829-3344
St. George Roman Catholic Church (Worcester)	508-853-0183
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church	508-829-4508

The Corner Shop of the First Congregational Church	508-829-9270
St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store	508-752-4232
Salvation Army	508-799-0528
Catholic Charities	508-860-2249
Refugee Apostolate	508-831-7455

Dept. of Transitional Assistance	508-757-3289
Food Stamp Outreach	508-754-1176
Project Bread-Food Stamp Hotline	1-800-645-8333
Wachusett Food Pantry	508-829-2749
Food distribution is on the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1216 Main St. Holden. Senior distribution is on the Friday before from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Salvation Army	508-799-0528
Catholic Charities	508-860-2249
St. Vincent DePaul	508-853-1577
Salvation Army	508-756-7191

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Helps low-income families pay their heating bills.	1-800-632-8175
Ciitzens Energy	1-877-563-4645
Each eligibile household is allowed a one-time delivery per heating season of up to 200 gallons of oil at 40% off the retail price.
Good Neighbor Energy Fund	508-756-7191/1-800-334-3047
For people who are facing a short-term financial crisis and do not qualify for government fuel assistance programs.
Worcester Community Action Council Fuel Assistance	508-754-1176
No Heat Hotline	508-799-8581
Good Neighbor Saint	508-753-0674
Vincent DePaul	508-752-4232

Wachusett Home Health Agency	508-754-0052
Medicaid Long Term Care	1-800-332-5545
Medicare Social Security Administration	1-800-772-1213
The Shine Program	1-800-243-4636
Free Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance for Medicare Beneficiaries of All Ages and Limited Income Subsidy Program
Social Security	1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778
Medicare	1-800-633-4227
Medicare Advocacy Project	1-800-649-3718
Mass Health (Provides Help Paying for Health Insurance)	1-800-841-2900

Checkerberry Village	508-829-9182
(Subsidized housing for elderly. Preference to Holden residents)
Colony Retirement Homes of Holden	508-829-4300
(Housing for the elderly. Some subsidized, some fair market rentals)
Catholic Charities	508-798-0191
Homeless Outreach & Advocacy Program	508-860-1080
Housing Information Center	508-757-2150
United Way of Central Mass	508-757-5632
(Assists with building handicap ramps for home owner)

MassMedLine (Supplies help with prescription Medication. Can be used to contact pharmaceutical companies)	1-866-633-1617
Wal-Mart	Wal-Mart offers a month's supply of more than 300 different generic drugs for $4 per prescription
Pharmaceutical Companies	Many pharmaceutical companies may have special programs for indigent people in need. Each company has their own requirements with respect to eligibility to receive aid with prescription drugs. To apply for aid, find out from your pharmacist, which company manufactures your drug and call the company directly and ask if they provide a Drug Assistance Program and how you may apply.

Abbott Laboratories	1-800-222-6885
Astra Zeneca Bristol	1-800-424-3727
Myers Squibb Glaxo	1-800-736-0003
Smith Kline	1-888-825-5249
Hoffman - LaRoche	1-877-757-6243
Johnson & Johnson	1-800-633-4221
Merck	1-800-506-3725
Pfzer	1-866-776-3700
Sanofi - A ventis	1-800-207-8049

PhRMA Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Publishes a list of drug companies that participate in the Prescription Drug Assistance Program. If you qualify, more than 2,500 brand-name and generic are available. 1-888-477-2669

First Call for Help Free confidential information and referral help line	Dial 211
Mass Department of Public Welfare	508-792-7200
Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging Senior Connection Provides Free Information About Central Mass Services and Programs for Elderly and their Caregivers	508-852-5539 or 1-800-244-3032
Elder Services of Worcester Area, Inc. Supplies various information and help for the Elders	1-800-243-5111

Massachusetts laws (Utility Shutoff Protection 1-800-392-6066) prevents utility companies from shutting off service to senior households, low-income families with infants, and people with serious illnesses who cannot afford to pay their utility bills. For eligible low income customers who receive public assistance and meet income limits, discounts may be available. You need to call your service provider. Some of them are listed below.

Note: Utility bills that cannot be paid because of financial difficulties should not be ignored. Such behavior could cause the utility to be shut off. If you are in such a situation, call the utility and make arrangements to rectify the problem. You are not absolved from paying outstanding bill or bills under the Massachusetts Utility Protection Law.