SMOC Highlights

Our 2022 Annual Report is here and ready for you to read! Click here to download a PDF copy.

Every three years, our Board of Directors reviews SMOC’s agency mission statement. In March 2022, we held a series of five group discussions with staff randomly selected from across the agency to get feedback on both our mission statement and tagline. At the conclusion of a series of meetings, we developed an amalgam of the group’s proposals. As we hoped, this process resulted in a mission statement and tagline that truly reflect the vision and values of the agency.

Need assistance with winter heating bills? Learn more here or contact (508) 620-1231

Green Jobs Academy Grand Opening

Our recent Green Jobs Academy grand opening, held on Monday, October 25, was a great success. The event was attended by Representative Maria Robinson, Representative Carmine Gentile, Senator Jamie Eldridge, and Marlborough Mayor Arthur Vigeant to kick-off the relocation of GJA in Marlborough, MA.

Previously based in Worcester, the new facility now occupies over 6,000 square-feet of classroom, office, and lab/training space. GJA’s new centralized location provides easier access and ample space for trainers, staff, and students – both local and out-of-state. The state-of-the-art learning space will allow participants to engage in hands-on learning and training simulations and will increase GJA's capacity for live trainings, online learning, and to facilitate online certification testing.

CLICK HERE for Emergency Housing Assistance During COVID-19

Begin the process by visiting the HCEC page. Due to the large increase in the number of applications to our rental and mortgage relief programs, our response time (not approval time) to applicants is taking longer than usual. We appreciate your patience while our staff reviews the applications in the order in which they were received.

Black Lives Matter

In the wake of the recent murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, Rayshard Brooks, and countless other Black men, women, and children we have been dedicating our time to listening and reflecting on the long historical impact of racial injustice. It is a national tragedy and we must be united in standing up against all forms of racism and oppression.

Black Lives Matter. Social and economic justice are at the core of our mission at SMOC and we plan on continuing to carry out that mission with actions that match our words. Going forward we remain committed to redoubling our efforts to identify and dismantle systemic racism both inside and outside our walls. We stand with the entire Black Community. We must protect, uplift, and amplify diversity and inclusion for our Black men, women, children, and LGBTQ+ community.

Listed below are some of the actions SMOC is and will be taking:

We will operationalize our Diversity, Access, Inclusion, and Equity Committee based on the framework developed by the pilot group in 2020. The committee will help guide our continued efforts as an agency to provide leadership and facilitate conversations on matters of social justices.
We are holding workshops for our staff to directly address the trauma brought on by racism, police brutality, and racially-motivated violence.
Our board has recommitted to emphasizing diversity and inclusion in board recruitment and nomination practices and by partnering with community educators and organizers to ensure the board reflects the diverse communities we serve.
The Framingham Community & Cultural Center, along with its community partners, will offer support, resources, and programs to young people who will become the next generation of social and racial justice leaders.

The Margaret Fund

SMOC has established a fund in honor of our beloved employee of 50 years, Margaret Davitt, who passed away in May of 2020.

Margaret did many things during her fifty years with SMOC, starting as a street outreach counselor, serving as the organization's Deputy Director of Programs for a period of time, overseeing Head Start and Child Care programs for decades, and retiring from the Common Ground Resource Center. She dearly loved the role of Detox Nurse, which she held for many years.

Most importantly, Margaret was the spiritual center of the SMOC universe. She was also a notoriously 'soft touch' throughout her entire career, often helping people with a few dollars for gas money, a few more for a car repair or other item that would help someone to get back on their feet.

In that spirit, The Margaret Fund will provide small grants to assist people in achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency. To those who are able, please consider donating whatever you can.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Margaret Fund, PLEASE CLICK HERE and specify that your gift is in memory of Margaret Davitt or to support The Margaret Fund in the drop down menu. Or, mail a check to SMOC, memo line "The Margaret Fund", 7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702.

Did you know that every event we hold is posted on our events page of the SMOC website? If you are interested in our upcoming events, click here!

Volunteering at SMOC

At SMOC we place a high value on our volunteers. Our volunteers are an important an integral part to our mission and the clients we serve. Each volunteer opportunity, although different, plays an important role in our agency as a whole. We have listed some of our volunteer options below. So, thank you for considering SMOC when determining where you would like to volunteer your time. We know you have many options to choose from.

To apply for a volunteer opportunity at SMOC you should apply through our Career Center by clicking on the “Volunteer” job posting in the region for which you have interest. SMOC requires a criminal background check be done for all volunteers approved for participation in the program.

Click here for Volunteer Application

Click here for a listing of Internship and Volunteer Opportunities

Voices Against Violence

Voices Against Violence provides comprehensive services to persons affected by domestic violence and sexual assault including victims/survivors and their loved ones. Services include a 24-hour crisis/information hotline, counseling/advocacy sessions, legal and medical support advocacy, a confidential emergency safe home and shelter residential program, and education and training services. Voices Against Violence provides several volunteer opportunities which are based on the volunteers age and area of interest. After attending and completing an intensive Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Advocate Training program, volunteers will have the opportunity to answer the 24-hour hotline, assist clients in the court system, and/or provide support to our residential program.

Homelessness And Community Services

Volunteers will assist staff in SMOC’s homeless shelters, supported housing and Housing Services Center. Volunteers will work on such projects as assisting homeless families and individuals with housing search, assisting children with homework and playgroups in shelters, and helping with other shelter, housing and education operations. Volunteers may also assist with various other tasks related to preventing homelessness and community services such as participating in the homeless count, writing grants and coordinating donations.

Career & Opportunity Center

Volunteers will help homeless individuals with job search skills and job placement. Volunteers will work with Center Staff to: provide outreach; conduct intakes and assessments of homeless individuals who would like assistance with job search; help clients with resume preparation, completing job applications and interviewing skills; identify local employment openings that would meet the needs of program participants; maintain client records; greet walk-in customers and answer telephones.

Behavioral Healthcare Services

Volunteers work with clinical or administrative teams taking on projects and helping to support clinical work. Our behavioral healthcare organization offers an opportunity for volunteers to work in an outpatient mental healthcare setting. Skilled volunteers will work with our staff to: assist with medical records; assist in organizing data collection; assist clinical staff with program development; and develop and organize a resource library.

Administration and Finance

Volunteering with SMOC Administration and Finance offers the volunteer an opportunity to assist in the administrative and accounting areas of our human service agency. Assistance is needed in the general office administration as well as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Human Resources and Development functions. Familiarity with Excel, Word, etc. is helpful.

Child Care and Head Start

The SMOC Child Care and Head Start program welcomes volunteers interested in learning more about Early Childhood Education and/or Human Services. This experience is an opportunity to see first-hand how a classroom operates and to help educate young children. SMOC Operates Child Care and Head Start centers in Framingham, Marlborough and Hudson and individual Head Start classrooms in Ashland, Natick, Holliston, Milford, Northbridge and Grafton. SMOC Child Care is a placement site for Early Education Volunteers from area colleges to complete their classroom practicum hours. While having classroom experience is very important, the program also provides the volunteer with an overview of the SMOC agency and the resources available in the community.

Fuel Assistance

SMOC Fuel Assistance offers the volunteer an opportunity to work in a busy office environment. Training will be offered in the use of business machines, filing, document preparation, document management, applicant intake procedures, and customer service response. Volunteers will also experience direct client contact through application intake and responding to telephone inquiries.

SMOC'S MISSION
South Middlesex Opportunity Council will improve equity, wellness and quality of life for diverse individuals and families by providing advocacy, education, and a wide range of services; building a community of support and inclusion; and creating awareness to combat poverty through partnerships and coalitions with other organizations.