Lawrence (MA) Farmers' Market

When:
Every Wednesday, July 8th to October 28th, 8am to 2pm

Where:
Appleton Way, Between Essex and Common Streets

Why:
To pick up the freshest fruits and veggies around and support your local farmer!


Note: If you know of other Farmers' Markets in your area (Metro North and Greater Boston area), let us know and we'll post them. Also, remember that Local Harvest will lead you to these resources in your area (anywhere in the US).

Local Harvest

Where can you get organic food, local farmer's markets, and similar? Try Local Harvest. Go to the site, plug in your zipcode, and you'll find where to get locally-grown food and more.

From their site:
"The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. Want to support this great web site? Shop in our catalog for things you can't find locally!"

Also, if you are in the local (Malden, Medford, Everett, MA) area and need a food pantry or soup kitchen, check out the calendar page of our own website (Cyber Cafe @ Malden Square) and click on Hunger Network.

Hunger Network Online Listing

The Hunger Network, a collaboration among food pantry and soup kitchen providers in the Malden, Medford, & Everett communities, has published its updated list of food bank and soup kitchen days and hours of operation on the Calendar Page of the Cyber Cafe @ Malden Square website. Note that it is the 3rd calendar on the page, as the listings would overwhelm either of the other 2 calendars.

Layoff Support Network

The Layoff Support Network (LSN) was created to help people who have been laid off. This is a 100% free, 100% non-commercial site--we don't even carry advertisements. This is based on a pay-it-forward concept: hopefully people will find the site helpful and someday be able to help others in return.

We have a great job-searching tool, podcasts, career coaching and even
articles from a licensed psychotherapist.

This is not really a job-searching site--there are hundreds of those.
This site was designed to help people deal with the stress of not having
a job. We hope to use the wisdom of the crowd to offer resume reviews,
interview tips and other kernels of knowledge that might help someone
survive and find a job.

We also happen to be the only website that wants to go out of
existence--when all our members find jobs, we will consider it a job
well done and disappear.

If you can find any of the collected wisdom of use, or want to
contribute a blog or a forum post and share your expertise, our effort
will be considered a success. Come visit and tell us what you think.

Simply by becoming a member you help other members. Statistics from Google Analytics indicate that we have 100x the visitors as the number of registered members. By joining, other members can get an honest impression of the number of people using this site. It was our hope in designing the LSN that its users would take comfort in knowing that they are not alone. Well, now that I (Craig) have been laid off, at least you know you’ve got me to keep you company!

Catalytic Communities

Catalytic Communities - CatComm - is creating a world where community-generated solutions are just a mouse-click away, where anyone, anywhere, confronting a local problem, can find the inspiration and tools they need to implement the solution, learning from their peers.

Catalytic Communities uses technology to link grassroots community groups so they can learn from each other's successes, and support one another's work. When community organizations tackle local problems, their work would be easier if they knew about successful programs in similar neighborhoods around the world. CatComm realizes people solve crises in their communities every day, and the Internet is the perfect tool to replicate these successes. We collect and posts how-to examples in our Community Solutions Database. These real-life stories address a wide range of issues, from HIV prevention to spurring economic growth, providing effective care for children and the elderly, and much more. The database of 200 projects inspires people to make a difference around the world.

Bread of Life (Malden) has newly designed website

Bread of Life has been one of the top 5 purchasers and distributors of free food in Eastern Massachusetts since 2003, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank. They provided the equivalent of over 285,000 meals to hungry, homeless and isolated people in 2007.

They provide and/or support hot meals with clothing ministry, food pantry, Mobile Homeless Outreach, weekly spiritual support group, and the ShareWood Project (free health care). For more information, visit their website.

Bread of Life is always looking for volunteers whether it is donating time or money. To find out more, please use one of the ways listed below to find out how you can help:

Telephone: (781) 397-0404
FAX: (781) 288-0002

Postal Address:
Gabriella Snyder
c/o Bread of Life
511 Main Streeet
Malden, MA 02148

Using the Social Web to Find Work

Free eBook- Using the Social Web to Find Work

2009 will be an unprecedented time for workers in the US, with many people losing their jobs through no fault of their own. This will ripple economically to other countries as well. No one’s really safe. I wanted to offer some ideas ahead of the mess.

I’ve written Using the Social Web to Find Work as a free ebook for you to download and share with others. It includes ideas and information from chrisbrogan.com, and takes you from the specifics of using LinkedIn to your benefit, into some ideas on how to grow and nurture your social networks ahead of a need for them.

It’s not much, but I wanted to help in one way that I know how - by providing ideas and actionable information.

Editor's Note: Chris Brogan is one of the founders and organizers of the highly popular PodCamps around the country. His advice comes from his experience. If you are not familiar with social networks, read his free e-book anyway; you may decide it's time to connect electronically, and it's definitely a more informed way to job search.

Boston Resource Net

ResourceNet is a free, one-of-a-kind web tool providing a wide range of information about human services—the kind of information you can’t get from a phone book!

ABCD and BPHC (Action for Boston Community Development and Boston Public Health Commission) are jointly sponsoring BostonResourceNet. ResourceNet maintains the site to enhance the public’s access to information about human services in Boston.

Food Stamps Can Mean Healthy Meals for You and Your Family

Applying for Food Stamps Has Never Been Easier

Despite the help the Food Stamp Program can offer, there are still many eligible Massachusetts residents who could enroll. In today’s economy, too many families are struggling to make ends meet. Food stamps can help you ensure that you and your family are getting consistent, healthy meals at home. Food stamps come on a debit card that automatically deducts from your monthly benefits each time you use it at the grocery store—an easy, convenient way to provide nutritious food for your family!

Project Bread is partnering with community-based organizations across the state to increase enrollment and awareness of the Food Stamp Program by providing application assistance to clients. This program, in partnership with the Department of Transitional Assistance, gives eligible applicants a convenient, supportive, and secure way to access benefits online. The initiative provides greater convenience: applicants can apply in their neighborhood, and they can work with a counselor who speaks their language and coaches them through the process.

The food stamp application is also available to anyone online, thanks to the Department of Transitional Assistance. You can apply from a home, library, health center or any location with access to the Internet at www.mass.gov/dta. It is fast and convenient and you can apply anytime!

Interested applicants can find the latest information about times and places to apply—online, in person or by mail and fax—at www.gettingfoodstamps.org, www.mass.gov/dta or by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333. You can also make an appointment with Tri-CAP to apply, 781-322-4125, using the Commonwealth's Virtual Gateway.

Solicitar los cupones de alimentos nunca ha sido tan fácil

A pesar de los recursos que el Programa de Cupones de Alimentos le puede ofrecer, muchos residentes elegibles de Massachussets todavía no están participando. En la economía de hoy, muchas familias están luchando para ganar lo suficiente para vivir. Utilizar los cupones de alimentos puede asegurar que usted y su familia tengan comida saludable en casa. Se puede comprar comida con los cupones de alimentos usando una tarjeta de transferencia electrónica que automáticamente paga de su cuenta de beneficios mensuales–una manera fácil y conveniente de proveer alimentos nutritivos para su familia.

Project Bread se ha asociado con organizaciones comunitarias en Massachussets para trabajar juntos y aumentar el nivel de participación en el programa de cupones de alimentos. Si usted quiere ayuda con la solicitud, muchas agencias están ofreciendo asistencia. Este programa, en asociación con el Departamento de Asistencia Transitoria, le da una manera conveniente y segura de acceder a sus beneficios en Internet. Esta iniciativa facilita el proceso de solicitar los beneficios; usted puede llenar la solicitud en la comunidad donde vive, y puede recibir ayuda de un asesor que hable su idioma y le ayude con el proceso.

Si usted quiere llenar la solicitud sin la ayuda de un asesor, ahora cualquier persona puede acceder a la solicitud para cupones de alimentos a través del Internet, gracias al Departamento de Asistencia Transitoria. Se puede llenar la solicitud en Internet (ubicada en la página www.mass.gov/dta) desde su casa, una biblioteca pública, un centro de salud, o cualquier lugar que cuente con acceso al Internet. ¡Es rápido, conveniente, y usted puede solicitar cuando quiera!

Si está interesado, puede encontrar la información más reciente sobre agencias que pueden ayudar con la solicitud (no importa si es por Internet, en persona, o por correo o fax), en las páginas web www.gettingfoodstamps.org y www.mass.gov/dta, o puede llamar al FoodSource Hotline de Project Bread al 1-800-645-8333. You can also make an appointment with Tri-CAP to apply, 781-322-4125, using the Commonwealth's Virtual Gateway.

Free FileMaker Campus Productivity Kit

The makers of FileMake Pro offer a free version designed for students to help them manage their time and be more productive. This specialized runtime version of the FileMaker database runs on both MACs and PCs and can be used by more than students. We think job seekers may find it very useful as well.
Some ways to use it are to:

• Manage Contacts
  
• Organize Research Material & Lecture Notes (job seekers: think company research and interviews!)
  
• Tracking Group Projects and Assignments
  
• Coordinate Events & Registrations
  
• Track & Prioritize To Do Lists

They'll ask for your email address and mailing address to sign up; that's often the price of getting something for free. They want more business from you later. But if you need a way to organize your community projects, job search, or school life, then this may be the tool for you.

Where to Get Your Annual Free Credit Report

You don't have to pay anyone or subscribe to any fee-based services to get your free annual credit report from each of the nationl consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

The ads you see on TV are not really free because you have to subscribe (or accept a trial offer) for a product. So while the website name is easy to remember -- remember this -- it's not free and it's not the site you want!

Annual Credit Report is what you want: http://www.annualcreditreport.com will get you to the correct site.

Tip: Don't order from all 3 credit reporting agencies at the same time. Instead, order your free credit report from one agency every 4 months. Over the course of a year, you'll have an updated, free credit report and gain a better idea of how you are doing in the credit area.

Candidate Seeker: An Alternative Job Search

CandidateSeeker.com delivers job opportunity notices via email to you the candidate. We are the only major online recruiting and employment service that DOES NOT post resumes or application forms for viewing by the public OR subscribers. We never circulate resumes to employers.

Candidates are never charged to use our service. And, we do not allow placement agencies who charge applicant fees to use our service!

Job Central "replaces" America's Job Bank

For people and organizations who relied on America's Job Bank to list job openings or search for jobs, the Dept. of Labor's decision to close the website was unwelcome news. America's Job Bank had been a significant resource for many employers that did not have funds to pay for job postings on commercial websites such as Monster and CareerBuilder. The job bank also helped many organizations fulfill their Affirmative Action outreach because it covered every state and thus reached incredibly large numbers of job seekers.

However, a group of leading U.S. employers pooled their resources to create Job Central as a public service, achieving the same nationwide coverage. Take advantage of the free job search if you're job hunting and the free job listings if you're an employer.

Health & Human Services Internet Gateway

Launched in 2004, Virtual Gateway is an Internet portal that provides the general public and human service clients, providers, and front-line staff with online access to health and human services information and services. For additional information, please visit the page.

Information and services on the Virtual Gateway are organized according to what human service clients, providers, and staff need and how they seek information and conduct business today. The Gateway is the result of collaboration across multiple government agencies to meet three common goals:

• Provide a single point of access to services,
• Promote worker and provider productivity, and
• Support the relationship between the Commonwealth and its community partners.

Over 12,000 individuals, many of them employed by more than 500 state agencies and provider organizations, use the Virtual Gateway today to conduct business with agencies within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and within the Department of Housing and Community Development.

Health Insurance Requirements

Big changes are happening in Massachusetts health care. Most adults must now carry health insurance, effective July 1, 2007. The Commonwealth Health Connector is the official website to go to for information about the new law and to find the right health plan for you and/or your family.

Whether you are employed by an organization that does not offer health insurance, self-employed, or unemployed, there are choices there for everyone. And if you qualify for a plan at no or low cost, they’ll let you know. Health insurance is an important decision.

This site will help understand your otions and make the right choices.