“Mackenzie, a Dighton/Rehoboth High School Senior, dropped off backpacks filled with toys, games, Legos, stuffed animals and other great items for children involved in traumatic situations we may encounter. We will carry these bags in our cruisers and hopefully bring a smile to a child’s face during a stressful event. Unfortunately, we deal with these type of calls frequently.

Mackenzie works with Project351, whose values are Kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude. Ambassadors reflect the core values as they serve and lead in their communities.

Way to go Mackenzie! Keep up the good work!

P.S. He is smiling. I promise. ?”

Seekonk Police Department photo.

The Pittsfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police are seeking a missing 13-year-old girl, Roos Bajanth.

We are investigating the possibility that Roos may be with a male she met online, and whose identity is not known to us at this time.

Roos left her home on Columbus Avenue, Pittsfield, last night around 8:30 PM and has not returned home. She is 5’5” tall and weighs 90 lbs. She has brown skin, black hair, and brown eyes.

She is believed to be wearing a brown winter jacket, a red shirt, and possibly pajamas.

Information suggests that Roos may have been in the Schenectady, N.Y., area earlier today, but whether she is still in that area remains part of the ongoing investigation.

Anyone who thinks they have seen Roos or has information on her whereabouts is urged to immediately call 911 or Pittsfield Police at 413-448-9700 ext. 0.

We ask that media in New York and Massachusetts please release this information as soon as possible.

The Massachusetts State Police are currently reviewing available information to determine if the criteria for an AMBER Alert are met. Regardless of whether an AMBER is ultimately activated, we have concern for Roos’ safety and well-being and ask that this information be publicized. Two photos of Roos are attached. The one in the white shirt is the more recent.

Gift of equipment from Playworks New England helps to ensure students engage in safe and healthy play during school recess.

Playworks New England has generously donated recess equipment for use by elementary school students of New Bedford Public Schools. The nineteen sets of interactive items and play gear are designed to ensure that safe and healthy play can happen during school recess, despite the impact of COVID-19, school officials said.

In thanking Playworks, Thomas Anderson, Superintendent of New Bedford Public Schools, stated, “Our students have really taken advantage of and thoroughly enjoyed the Playworks program in past years. Its many structured games and exercise activities designed for recess periods have not only sparked but have inspired teamwork and cultivated leadership skills. Despite the many challenges of COVID-19, the district hybrid plan demonstrates that ‘school is still school’ and recess remains a very important part of school days. Especially now, play is a vital aspect of our elementary students’ school day; it helps provide a sense of normalcy.”

Noting how “New Bedford Public Schools has been a long-time Playworks partner, strongly advocating for safe healthy play for their students,” Jonathan Gay, Executive Director of Playworks New England, remarked, “Now more than ever, due to the stress, anxiety, and isolation of COVID-19 and the impact on students, kids need to play. This donation of equipment will support New Bedford students in their goal to be active and experience fun in the midst of this highly challenging situation. By playing, kids can experience joy and some sense of regularity in the coming months.”

Emily Westgate is NBPS Manager of Curriculum, Data and Assessment for Health and Wellness. In accepting the donation, Ms. Westgate noted, “We are grateful for our continued partnership with Playworks New England and their recent donation to our elementary schools. We continue to utilize the many resources and best practices developed by Playworks to ensure students across the district have access to play.”

Leading organizations across the nation have urged schools to continue recess to help reduce the level of stress, anxiety, and isolation students may feel as they return to school. Play continues to be a natural opportunity for students to develop social-emotional skills and build positive relationships with both their peers and adults. New Bedford Public Schools has approached recess with COVID-19 considerations and has relied on best practices from leading organizations including the Center for Disease Control and Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

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About Playworks

Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health. Playworks currently serves more than 1,300 schools in 23 U.S. cities, and reaches more than 700,000 students directly and through professional training services.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Massachusetts State Police again this year will feature Department members who served or are serving in our nation’s armed forces, as well as members’ loved ones who are serving or have served.

We are proud of those members of the MSP family — sworn, civilian, and loved ones — who are serving the cause of freedom both in the US and across the world. We are grateful to all who have worn the uniform of this great nation’s armed forces and thank them for their service.

Please check this album frequently for new additions. We will continue to post photos through the month of November.

The Office of Media Relations thanks Trooper Ed Hartwell of the Employee Assistance Unit, the Department’s Veteran’s Liaison, for his assistance with this project.

On Saturday, November 14, 2020 from 10:00am-12:00pm Brother’s Keeper will be hosting a Pop Your Trunk Toy Drive to support its annual Christmas Assistance Program for local families.

To help encourage a strong turnout, The Corey C. Griffin Foundation has pledged $10 to My Brother’s Keeper for every item donated, up to $10,000. Created in memory of Corey C. Griffin (1986-2014), the Corey C. Griffin Foundation (www.coreycgriffinfoundation.org) partners with innovative non-profits focused on serving underprivileged youth as well as those with medical challenges.

Since 1990, My Brother’s Keeper has brought joy to children and reduced the stress for parents during the Christmas season. In December 2019, My Brother’s Keeper delivered personally-selected gifts to 3,200 families – supporting more than 13,000 children and adults.

Christmas season 2020 is expected to have a heightened need so the toy drive will make continued giving possible in a safe environment. We have already received over 1,400 requests for our Christmas Assistance Program from local families in need.

Another way to support the Christmas effort is by purchasing high-need items from My Brother’s Keeper’s Amazon Wish List. Visit www.mybrotherskeeper.org for details.

My Brother’s Keeper does not receive any local, state or federal funding, and relies on private donations to serve the community.

What:

• The Pop Your Trunk Toy Drive needs donations of all types of toys. Examples of high-demand items include: Legos, LOL Surprise dolls, superhero action figures, arts and craft kits, science kits, board games, video games, books, scooters, infant toys, Axe or Old Spice gift sets, and anything representing Boston sports teams.
• Items must be new. Gifts should not be wrapped.

Who: My Brother’s Keeper

Where: Hosted at both My Brother’s Keeper Facilities:

• My Brother’s Keeper Easton Building, 534 Washington Street, Easton, MA 02356
• My Brother’s Keeper Dartmouth Building, 1015 Reed Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747
• Participants will remain in their vehicles as staff/volunteers safely remove gift donations with a pop of their trunk.

When: Saturday, November 14, 2020, 10:00am-12:00pm

Contact: Josh Smith, My Brother’s Keeper, Director, Dartmouth; 774-305-4577; jsmith@mybrotherskeeper.org

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More About My Brother’s Keeper:

My Brother’s Keeper is a Christian ministry with locations in Dartmouth and Easton, Massachusetts, which delivers furniture, food and Christmas gifts free of charge to local families in need. The organization’s mission is “to bring the love and hope of Jesus Christ to those we serve.” Anyone living in My Brother’s Keeper’s service area is eligible to receive help, regardless of religion.

My Brother’s Keeper has provided food assistance to Brockton-area residents for 25 years from its Easton facility and recently launched a new food program at its Dartmouth facility to respond to the surge in demand for food assistance locally during the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 10, 2020 to the present day, My Brother’s Keeper has made 12,000 emergency food deliveries worth an estimated $2.2 million to 38,000 children and adults.

To donate or learn more about getting involved with My Brother’s Keeper, visit www.MyBrothersKeeper.org or call 774-305-4577.

Robert Kraft and New England Patriots foundation donate $275,000 in names of 2020 Myra Kraft MVP award. Twenty-six New Englanders were honored by the Kraft family during a virtual ceremony on Oct. 30.

Every year since 1998, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots have been celebrating those who give their time to help others. The program was originally known as the Community Quarterback Awards and were presented to those who exemplify leadership, dedication and a commitment to improving their communities through volunteerism.

In 2011, the awards were renamed in honor of the late Myra Kraft who committed her life to volunteering. As part of the New England Patriots Foundation’s ongoing Celebrate Volunteerism initiative, the Kraft family traditionally hosts a special ceremony at Gillette Stadium to celebrate the honorees.

On Friday, Oct. 30, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots hosted a virtual ceremony to celebrate 26 volunteers from all across New England. Twenty-five organizations received grants of $10,000 in honor of their outstanding volunteers and one grand prize winner received a surprise $25,000 donation.

Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, New England Patriots Foundation President Joshua Kraft and Patriots and Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett all participated in the virtual ceremony.

“This year has been incredibly challenging for so many families, but it has also been difficult for nonprofits,” said Robert Kraft. “They have been called upon to support more families than ever before, but have been unable to host their traditional fundraising events. Volunteers are the lifeblood of these charitable organizations and they have stepped up in a big way during this unprecedented time. We were honored to be able to meet 26 of these local heroes – albeit virtually – and to be able to shine a spotlight on their volunteer efforts.”

Dr. Michael Rocha of Dartmouth, Mass. was recognized as a 2020 Myra Kraft Community MVP Award winner. In honor of his dedication to volunteering, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation will make a $10,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford.

Seven years ago, Dr. Rocha created a wellness initiative for the city of New Bedford and partnered it with the local Boys and Girls Club. The initiative provides free weekly health classes, designed to help combat the opioid crisis. The program offers more holistic approaches to pain, including aerobics, nutrition and yoga.

“Growing up, the city not only gifted me with an excellent public school education, it also taught me what it means to be part of a community,” said Dr. Rocha. “I learned how to play basketball at the Boys and Girls Club, how to play trombone in the Portuguese-American band, and most importantly, how to support my neighbors in good times and bad, making lifelong friends along the way.”

As a cardiologist, he also recruited several physicians to participate in a weekly Walk with a Doc program, helping to engage in conversations with local residents. He also remains active on the nonprofit’s board of directors.
“It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of all the committed people I work alongside in New Bedford, my hometown,” said Dr. Rocha. “This community has always shown me love and I simply want to love it back. More than anything, my service to New Bedford is about gratitude.”

The 2020 Myra Kraft Community MVP winners range from 14 to 97 years old and represent every New England state. The selected nonprofits provide support for many causes, including education, foster care, homelessness, mental health, mentoring, military support and youth development.

The Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation received more than 250 applications this year from nonprofit organizations looking to recognize their outstanding volunteers. Nominations open each spring and the awards are open to all nonprofit organizations in the New England region. For more information on the Myra Kraft Community MVP Awards, please visit www.patriots.com/community.

$10,000 were rewarded to Michael Rocha of Dartmouth, Mass. for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford.

The award is part of the Princeton Review’s latest rankings based on institutional sustainability efforts.

UMass Dartmouth is once again of the nation’s most environmentally responsible colleges according to the recently published, The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges: 2021 Edition. The Princeton Review surveyed administrators at 695 colleges in 2019-20 about their institutions’ commitments to the environment and sustainability. Editors analyzed more than 25 survey data points in the process of choosing schools for the guide.

UMass Dartmouth has made the prestigious list for nine straight years.

“UMass Dartmouth continues our efforts to support a broad portfolio of sustainable activities across the campus. We are honored to be recognized for the 9th year running and invite any prospective student who wants to attend a campus that is leading by example on sustainability, to check us out,” said Jamie Jacquart, Assistant Director of Campus Sustainability and Residential Initiatives.

UMass Dartmouth has increased its focus on making campus a more sustainable place.

In 2020, the University was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) through its Leading by Example (LBE) program. The grant will fund the development of a Comprehensive Energy Master Plan to help understand the investment and implementation requirements to reach a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 80% by 2050 and pursue a more aggressive implementation strategy that targets carbon neutrality by 2030.

UMass Dartmouth also announced a partnership with the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative and has committed to purchase 2 electric vehicles by 2021. In doing so, the University joined nearly a dozen universities and colleges and 225 fleets around the country pledging to purchase almost 3,800 electric vehicles.

To aid in sustainability efforts, the UMass Dartmouth Biology Department conducted the Low Mowing Research Project. Undergraduate students studied plant biodiversity, soil moisture content, and compression on campus to determine that the no-mow (defined as mowed annually to prevent tree growth) areas were cooler in the summer, held a greater level of moisture (making them a lower risk for damaging effects from droughts), had a greater level of biodiversity (making them less at risk to blights or fungus that attacks a single species) and contained a greater level of insect life with a decrease in the number of mosquitos. The pilot project was designed to test the idea of “defining beauty differently” as the push for transitioning seldom-used space back to natural prairie grass. The University currently mows approximately 5,200 acres of grass a year. Allowing this grass to stay at its natural length would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We strongly recommend UMass Dartmouth to students who want to study and live at a green college,” said Rob Franek, The Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief. “Each and every one of the outstanding colleges in this edition of our guide offers both excellent academics and exemplary evidence of environmental commitment.”

In 2019, UMass Dartmouth signed the “Commitment Towards a goal of Zero Carbon Emissions” compact. This aspirational commitment sets a goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2030, or alternatively 2050 (the standard now being considered for Massachusetts), and preparing students to live and work sustainably, conducting research that encourages climate sustainability and resilience, and keeping the University community fully informed regarding progress related to environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

The university also launched the largest public battery storage system in Massachusetts at that time. The 520-kW system, in combination with other measures, will reduce the electrical load from the grid during peak usage times. The new battery was the latest in a series of campus sustainability infrastructure upgrades, including a 1.6MWh Co-generation plant and 369 kW of solar photovoltaic panels.

In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named UMass Dartmouth as the “College/University Partner of the Year” for the 2018 national WasteWise awards. The UMass Dartmouth Dining Services team was recognized for its proper management of purchasing and food production to minimize leftovers. Dining Services also donates unsold, prepared packaged foods weekly during the school year to local liturgical ministries serving the homeless. In 2017, Dining Services unveiled a new program called Meals with Dignity, in which student volunteers work to package meals made with wholesome, leftover food from the dining hall on a biweekly basis and to deliver meals to the on-campus food pantry.

Funds will promote independence and enhance quality of life for elderly, low-income women in the Greater New Bedford community through the financial support of qualified individuals and programs.

The November 13th Community Partner Grant application deadline for funding from the Association for the Relief of Aged Women (ARAW) is quickly approaching. ARAW will contribute up to $300,000 in support of community organizations and programs which best support ARAW’s mission and vision that elderly women will live well and with dignity. The ARAW welcomes new initiatives and meaningful ways already in existence to address the needs and challenges faced by aging women today.

The ARAW’s Community Partner Grant offers nonprofits and public entities in Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford and Westport funding to continue, maintain or expand their programs through support of activities which align with the ARAW’s prioritized funding areas and targeted population. Potential use of this grant funding includes support of staff salaries, program supplies and materials and other direct costs deemed reasonable for the success of the program/project. A total of up to $300,000 will be offered and grant awards will range from $1,000 – $50,000.

“For over 150 years the ARAW has quietly furnished financial assistance, provided friendship and promoted the welfare and relief of elderly women in the Greater New Bedford community. As we honor these past accomplishments, we feel now is the time to build upon that strong foundation. Although our mission has been steadfast, the world around us is forever changing and how we fulfill our mission must reflect that,” said ARAW’s Executive Director, Clare Healy Foley. “It is becoming more and more critical for organizations to combine efforts. The ARAW is excited to form new partnerships which will enable us to identify and, in turn, support those low income, elderly women who may feel they have nowhere else to turn. ARAW’s Community Partner Grant is a wonderful opportunity for the ARAW to expand our direct financial support of aging women in our community and to fund innovative programs which address the challenges they face today.”

The ARAW has identified four key target areas in which it will invest. First and foremost, it is looking to grow the number of trusted sources in the community who will identify and connect the ARAW to qualified women in need. Community collaboration will help to promote the direct financial support the ARAW provides. Ultimately, the ARAW looks to increase the amount of support and the number of women it assists.

The other three targeted funding areas promote Financial Stability/Life Strategies, Social Engagement and Safety/Stability for low-income, elderly women in the Greater New Bedford community. Through a focus on these key areas, the ARAW hopes to offer outreach and programs which will allow women to maintain their dignity and independence in the community.

Proposals must directly align with these priority areas as they relate to the population the ARAW looks to support. Successful proposals will demonstrate not only the necessary expertise but also the ability to track activities and a commitment to measurable outcomes through regular reports.

The deadline for submission of grant proposals is November 13, 2020 at 5:00 pm EST. The full Request for Proposal is available at www.arawofnb.org/about/grants.

The New Bedford Council on Aging in partnership with the National Council on Aging (NCOA), has joined a nationwide effort to fight senior hunger by dramatically increasing participation by eligible seniors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 9.8 million older adults experienced food insecurity, meaning they lack consistent access to adequate, nutritious food. Today, those numbers are quickly rising. SNAP is the nation’s most effective and widest-reaching anti-hunger program. Research by Center for Budget and Policy Priorities shows that participation in SNAP reduces food insecurity overall by 30%, yet the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that only 48% of eligible older adults aged 60+ participate in the program.

The New Bedford Council on Aging is one of 40 organizations around the country that is stepping up its efforts to assist older adults in applying for SNAP. The organizations will use NCOA’s free online BenefitsCheckUp® tool at www.BenefitsCheckUp.org to screen older adults with limited income for SNAP eligibility. The initiative aims to help at least 40,000 older adults enroll.

“We’re proud to be part of a Senior SNAP Enrollment Initiative that has the potential to help tens of thousands of low-income older adults improve their health and financial security,” said Debra Lee, the Director of the New Bedford Council on Aging. “Our organization has a strong history of helping older adults in need. We’re confident that increasing SNAP enrollment with BenefitsCheckUp and other proven outreach methods will have a profound effect on lives of older adults in the City of New Bedford.”

“We’ve heard from older adults and our local partners that accessing and paying for food is a critical need right now,” said Josh Hodges, NCOA Chief Customer Officer. “Food, on average, is the second-highest household expenditure for people aged 60+, and too often they have to stretch their food budget in order to make ends meet. That’s where SNAP can help.”

For more information, visit www.ncoa.org/SeniorHunger.

Police departments, community organizations and school systems across the region are taking advantage of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office’s newest public safety program.

But the Autism Safety Seat Belt Covers are making noise outside of Bristol County too; far away from Bristol County in fact.

BCSO Manager of Public Programs, Tina Marie LePage, has been returning emails, answering calls and mailing seat belt covers to anyone who’s requested one. She’s sent them across Massachusetts and even filled requests from people in Rhode Island, Vermont, and as far away as Alaska.

“We had a good feeling the Autism Safety Seat Belt Covers would be a hit in the community, but we never thought we’d be sending them to Alaska and other states,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson said. “We know the challenges that parents, guardians, friends and family members of autistic individuals face in every-day situations, so it’s our sincere hope that these seat belt covers make a positive difference within the autistic community.”

The plush covers velcro around any seat belt in any vehicle and alert first-responders if an individual may resist help, may not recognize danger, is a risk to wander off, or may just need a special approach. They are available for free to anyone in Bristol County and beyond who can benefit. Please contact Tina at 508-995-6400 ext. 3640 or via email at tinamarielepage@bcso-ma.org to make a request.

The seat belt covers are also available at police stations across Bristol County, including Westport, Seekonk, Fairhaven, Raynham, Norton, Swansea and New Bedford. Tina is in the process of connecting with every police department in the county and is also reaching out to school departments and community service-providers.

Recently, Sheriff Hodgson delivered 225 seat belt covers to Sandra Ford, Executive Director for Special Education and Student Services at the New Bedford School Department, which has requested a few hundred more. In total, over the last month, more than 500 seat belt covers have been distributed in Bristol County and beyond.

“Any individual, community group, school teacher, administrator, public safety officer, anyone who thinks these can benefit someone, we encourage you to reach out,” Sheriff Hodgson said. “Public safety is more than reacting to a situation; it’s doing our part to prevent potentially dangerous situations from ever happening in the first place. We feel like we’re making a difference with this new program, and that’s what public safety and law enforcement is all about.”