ACOA Al-Anon: For adults raised by alcoholic caretakers/parents. Meets Saturdays, 10 a.m., Athol Hospital’s conference room.
Free Playgroup: Come Play & Learn, for parents/caregivers with children, infants to age 5, Thursday’s 9:30 to 11 a.m., Bernardston Elementary School gymnasium, 37 School St. The playgroup follows the public school calendar and is sponsored by PVRSD CFCE. For more information, contact Deb Wood at 498-2660 or email: woodd@pvrsdk12.org.
Family United Network: The Family United Network (F.U.N.) Center is at The Salasin Center, 474 Main St., on Thursdays, 4 to 6 p.m., a fun time for the whole family. All ages are welcome. For more information, contact Stacy at 774-4307, ext. 4, or slangknecht@wmtcinfo.org.
‘Vet to Vet’: The RECOVER Project and the Recovery Learning Community offer “Vet to Vet” every Thursday, 3 to 4:30 p.m., at 74 Federal St. This collaboration is for all veterans, regardless of discharge status to offer support when the civilian world is a challenge. For more information, contact Tim at 475-0226.
Circle of Moms: Meets Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St. Free parking, childcare, snacks. For more information, call 774-1000.
Community Action’s Family Center: The Family Center, 90 Federal St., offers Plays & Learn Groups, Parent Support Group and special early literacy events. The staff can help answer questions you have on topics like parenting, discipline, child development and school readiness. Free books, clothing and diapers on site. Staff can help you find other resources in the community. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 475-1553. Find us on Facebook.
Free ongoing classes: The Literacy Project/Greenfield offers ongoing free basic education classes, free GED preparation classes, free job readiness workshops, free college transition workshops and free academic counseling services. For more information, call 774-3935 or visit www.literacyproject.org.
History in Stone will be presented Sunday at 2 p.m. at Leverett Library by Dawn Marvin Ward. Presented by the Leverett Historical Society & Leverett Cemetery Association,
History in Stone is a slide show. Family and local history is preserved in special places that many don’t think to visit for historical purposes. Cemeteries are filled with local information and artwork. Preservation of gravestones and recording the information they have engraved on them is valuable as another way to preserve our local history.
Do you know how many cemeteries are in your town, where they are, what condition they are in and what you can learn from them of your local past? Join along as we have a slide show “visit” of the eleven cemeteries of Leverett and see what history can be gleaned from them.
Benefits Counseling Program: Are you age 60 or older and worried about your home heating bill? Income-eligible seniors can find help through Franklin County Home Care’s Benefits Counseling Program. FCHCC will help file an application for fuel assistance and find other ways to save you money. Contact Gretchen Smith at 773-5555, email info@fchcc.org, or visit www.fchcc.org for more information.
Healthy Aging program: The program, at Franklin County Home Care Corp., promotes wellness and independence among older adults. Workshops on Chronic Disease Self Management, Healthy Eating, Falls Prevention and Walking Groups make up this evidence-based program. To volunteer as a peer leader/trainer or to find a workshop in your community, contact Lesley Kayan at 773-5555, ext. 2297, or call 978-544-2259, ext. 2297. Read more at www.fchcc.org.
Knitting at the library: All knitters are invited to drop by to knit, chat, exchange helpful hints and share ideas on Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m., Dickinson Memorial Library. The group will be led by Kathy O’Shea, a graduate of WEBS knitting program. Drop in anytime.
Free Ongoing Classes: The Literacy Project North Quabbin offers ongoing free basic education classes, free GED preparation classes and free academic counseling services. For more information, contact The Literacy Project North Quabbin, 34 North Main St. or call 978-544-8917 or visit: www.literacyproject.org.
Community supper: West County Community Supper, Fridays, Trinity Church, Severance Street, Shelburne Falls. Coffee and tea at 5 p.m., supper at 5:30. Supper sponsored by caring groups and organizations.
Free Medical Clinic: Trailside Health is at 111 Bridge St., downtown Shelburne Falls. It is on the FRTA bus route. The free clinic takes place every Tuesday at 9 a.m. Call 625-6240.
Free weekly playgroup: Playgroups resume this week on Friday. Enjoy time with your children and other families and caregivers from your community on Fridays, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Shutesbury Elementary School gym. This playgroup is facilitated by Gillian Budine and Joie Ciepiela and is intended for infants to age 5. It is sponsored by Shutesbury Elementary School and Union 28 Community Network for Children. The program is not held during school closures. For more information, contact Budine at 978-544-5157 or email budine@erving.com.
Polish food for sale: Beginning immediately and through March 21, Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 15 Thayer St., has for sale frozen cheese, potato and cheese, and sauerkraut pierogi. To arrange a time for purchase and pickup, call 665-2129 or 774-3800.
Mama Me Time: On Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., there is free childcare for children, birth to age 8, at the Family Center while mothers enjoy a little time to themselves at the MCSM’s Women’s Center, 41 Third St. The Women’s Center provides computers with Internet access, community resources such as help with housing applications, peer support, arts and crafts and women’s gently used clothing — all free. Call Christine for information at 863-4804, ext. 1003, email christine.mcsmcommunity.org, or visit www.mcsmcommunity.org.
Great Falls Discovery Center: Kidleidoscope takes place four Fridays in January. This Friday, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., the subject will be porcupines. Each program includes a story, interactive games and a craft to introduce you and your child to wildlife along the river. Meet in the Great Hall. Recommended for ages 3 to 6 with a parent or guardian.
Rehabilitation services at BFMC: Rehabilitation Services at Baystate Franklin Medical Center, 48 Sanderson St. For more information or to schedule a free screening, call 773-2227.
Overeaters Anonymous: Free meetings every week. In Greenfield: Saturday, 9:30 a.m., Baystate Franklin Medical Center, conference room 9; Sunday, 10 to 11:15 a.m., also at BFMC. For more information to locate meetings throughout western Massachusetts, Brattleboro and northern Vermont, call 773-7394 or 783-4198.
Childcare, Preschool, Home-Visiting: The Parent-Child Development Center, serving families with children birth to kindergarten age and expectant women for over 40 years, offers free Head Start preschool, free Head Start and early Head Star home visiting programs and Child-Care in Franklin/Hampshire counties. Spanish speaking services available. In Franklin County, call 475-1405.
ICRC at Franklin County Home Care: The Information and Caregiver Resource Center at Franklin County Home Care has answers to all your questions about elder services/caregiver support. FCHCC resource consultants are experts in finding the information you need to solve any problem. If we don’t have the answer, we will find someone who can help you. Contact ICRC at Franklin County Home Care at 773-5555 or 978-544-2259.
RSVP Volunteer Opportunities: Do you want to share your experience and skills but don’t have much time to volunteer? RSVP’s Experience on Call program offers episodic volunteer opportunities for one time or short term events and projects that will help local nonprofit organizations. More than 600 adults, 55 and older, lend their skills and time, experience and interests to improve their communities through RSVP of Franklin and Hampshire counties. For more information, contact Pat Sicard at Psicard@hampshirecog.org or call 413-584-1300, ext. 183.