Types of Items We Fund
Transportation
- Busses or trains
- Car repair
- Train tickets
- Ride assistance
Education
- Laptops
- Summer School
- School supplies
- Job training
Housing/Home
- Emergency rent
- Utility expenses
- Beds and other furniture
- Security deposits
Activities
- Camps
- Activities
- Sports
- Hobbies
Basic Necessities
- Emergency clothing
- Emergency food cards
- Baby needs
- Safety needs
Other Supports
- Visitation needs
- Therapeutic needs
- Motivational tools
- Identification cards
Who can Apply
All applications for OCH assistance must be made by professionals in the field.
(Attorneys, Social workers, CASA, child advocates or other verifiable providers)
How to Apply
Essential Information
- Be ready to answer these Important Questions to get the fastest assistance.
- Read OCH’s Eligibility Criteria.
- Review our Gift Card Policy.
- Our goal is to respond by the next business day.
- Do not submit more than 2 applications at a time.
- Once application is approved, we work together to figure out the most responsible way to pay.
Pre-Approval
- All applications must be submitted online.
- You will get an automated response immediately after applying.
- If your matter is extremely urgent, text 617-930-3468 after you apply online.
- We always respond by the next business day, so please watch for emails.
- If you do not hear back, check your spam. For assistance, email info@onecanhelp.org
- Assistance up to $1000 (not cash) is possible if it will really ignite positive change.
- Our gift card policy can be found here.
- Always use your application’s unique reference number whenever you reach out to us.
- All responses must go through the internal links (the portal) provided in our emails.
Post-Approval
- Once approved, all receipts needed for reimbursement must be uploaded into the portal.
- Receipts should be submitted within 21 days of approval whenever possible.
- Reimbursements are sent after we receive receipts verifying proof of expenditures.
- We can only provide payments or reimbursements to you or a vendor, never to clients.
- We can order and pay directly for most items upon request (tax-free).
- We cannot reimburse for any expenses incurred prior to the application’s approval.
- We cannot reimburse for any expenses greater than the approved amount.
Feedback and Follow-up
We really appreciate hearing from you!
Thank-you cards or emails explaining the impact of this assistance from you or your clients are extremely helpful for our fundraising appeals and foundation grant applications.
Thank you for working with OCH to help your underserved clients succeed.
Ready to Apply?
Once you’ve reviewed the information and criteria above, and have the basic information needed, hit the button below to start your application!
Additional Helpful Resources
Domestic Violence
- Domestic Violence Services Network: Domestic violence services
- REACH: Domestic violence shelter, services
- Second Step: Residential and community assistance for families domestic abuse
- Voices against Violence: Domestic violence survivors and their children
Food Resources
- A Better Tomorrow (Everett)
- Anchor Baptist Church Pantry (Woburn)
- The Arc of East Middlesex
- Bedford Community Table/Pantry, Inc.
- Bread of Life (Malden)
- Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen
- Cambridgeport Baptist Church Food Pantry
- Celebration International Church (serves Metrowest area, based in Wayland)
- Centre Street Food Pantry (Newton)
- Central Food Ministry, Inc. (based in Lowell)
- Chelmsford Community Exchange
- Community Cupboard Pantry (Medford)
- Community Supper (Acton)
- Council of Social Concern (Woburn)
- Dracut Food Pantry
- East End House (Cambridge)
- EFSP A Place to Turn
- Elizabeth Peabody House Food Pantry
- Emmanuel Baptist Church – Malden
- Food for Free Committee
- Framingham Civic League
- Friends of Francis Food Pantry
- Greater Boston Food Bank
- God’s Kitchen
- Hope Worldwide New England Inc. (Framingham)
- Hudson Community Food Pantry
- International Family Church Seeds of Love (North Reading)
- International Ministry Food Pantry (Somerville)
- Jewish Family and Children’s Services (Waltham)
- Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, Inc. (Ayer)
- Malden Haitian Church of the Nazarene
- Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, Inc. (Open to area, based in Cambridge)
- Maynard Food Pantry (Open to area)
- Merrimack Valley Food Bank (Open to area, based in Lowell)
- Natick Service Council (clothes, school supplies, coats)
- National Hunger Clearinghouse Resource: Emerging referral service
- New Bethel Baptist Church (Framingham)
- Newton Food Pantry
- North Shore Assembly of God Food Pantry (Freedom Hill Community Church)
- Open Pantry of Greater Lowell Inc.
- Open Table, Inc. (Concord & Maynard)
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish (Sudbury)
- Our Neighbor’s Table (Amesbury)
- PACH Outreach (Pepperell)
- People Helping People (Residents of Burlington only)
- Philadelphie SDA Church Pantry (Malden)
- Project Just Because, Inc. (Hopkinton)
- Sacred Heart Food Pantry (Waltham)
- SMOC
- Somerville Homeless Coalition
- St. Bridget’s Food Pantry
- St. James Episcopal Helping Hand Pantry
- St. Paul’s AME Church Pantry (Cambridge)
- St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen Eliot Church (Lowell)
- St. Vincent de Paul Immaculate Conception Food Pantry (Everett)
- St. Vincent de Paul/St. Raphael’s Food Pantry (Medford)
- Town of Ashland Food Pantry
- Town of Tewksbury
- Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry
- Watertown Food Pantry
- Westford Food Pantry
- United Way Tri-County
- Sudbury Community Food Pantry
- Townsend Ecumenical Outreach
- Unitarian Universalist Church Pantry (Medford)
- Women Infants & Children (WIC) Program
Fuel Assistance
- Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program: Low-cost energy to poor elderly households
- Mass Resources Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: Those eligible can access various types of energy assistance, as a yearly benefit or in a crisis.
Housing Issues and Shelters
- BCMHC: Transition to independent living for homeless young men
- The Bridge Fund of Massachusetts: Financial services and assistance to avoid evictions and homelessness.
- Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Services for homeless/runaway youth
- Bristol Lodge Shelters (Waltham): Emergency shelters, two facilities (one for men, one for women)
- CASPAR Inc.: Homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness
- Cambridge Multi Service Center: HomeStart, Community Legal Services & Counseling, primary prevention, rapid re-housing
- Caritas Communities: Low-income housing (Arlington, Bedford, Brookline, Cambridge, Everett, Medford, Melrose, Wakefield).
- Community Action Agency of Somerville: Homeless Prevention program, also works with HeadStart
- Community Services (CRJ): Housing throughout the state for individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities.
- Cradles to Crayons: Low income and homeless children under 12
- DUIL Program (Tewksbury): For repeat DUI offenders, no cost services
- Emergency Shelter Assistance: Help low income families and pregnant women searching for housing, temporary DHCD shelter, plan for rehousing, referral for other services as needed
- Family Homelessness: National Center on Family Homelessness, based in Waltham
- Family Promise Metrowest: Emergency shelter and meals to families in transitions
- HAP Housing: Various programs that offer: short-term financial assistance for homeless or those on-cusp-of-homelessness, emergency shelter, time limited assistance to provide housing solution, free foreclosure prevention guidance, transitional housing (domestic violence victims, pregnant women)
- Home for Little Wanderers: Shelter
- Homeless Child Care: For those not eligible for DTA child care and living in DHCD/DCF shelters (child care time slots to allow parents to look for work, housing or go back to school. May be free or small fee depending on financial situation)
- Housing Corporation of Arlington: Primary prevention, rapid re-housing/diversion
- Housing Families Transforming Lives: Emergency shelter, low-income housing, educational services, family counseling
- Key Program (Alternative Lock-Up Program): (in Lowell) Temporary shelter for juveniles ages 7-17 (to avoid being in a police holding cell for over six hours)
- Lazarus House: Emergency food, shelter, assistance
- Mary’s House: Emergency shelter for up to 8 homeless families.
- Meadows Program: Shelter for women with substance issues or recently incarcerated
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition: Emergency funding for transitional housing
- Scattered Sites: Transitional housing
- Shadows (SMOC): Shelter for single adults
- Shelters for Veterans: Shelters and services for veterans
- Shelters/Transitional Assistance: Shelters for families, domestic violence victims, teen parents, homeless youths
- Turning Point: shelter for single adults
- The Wish Project: Homeless families transitioning into homes
- Youth Village: Transitional Housing
Mental Illness and Cognitive Challenges
- Advocates: Human services for the elderly, mentally challenged,
- CASPAR Inc.: Homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness
- Community Services (CRJ): Housing throughout the state for individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities
- EMARC: Serves disabled individuals and their families throughout county
Parenting
- Parents Helping Parents: Parental Support Groups
- Parent Education Programs: Court-approved parent education programs
Services Directed to Children & Teens
- A Home Within: Matches current and former foster children with licensed therapists for pro bono sessions.
- Accept: Special education resources and services for students in elementary through high school; transitional programs for students up to age 22
- Birthday Wishes: bringing joy of a birthday party to homeless children.
- Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Services for homeless/runaway youth
- Brigid’s Crossing: Teen living program
- CASA Boston: Court appointed special advisors for children
- Cambridge Public Library Greater Boston ECRC: Free educational/entertainment resources for caregivers
- Camellia Network: Assists youths transitioning out of foster care by setting them up with registries and donors.
- CFJJ: Advocates for fair juvenile justice system
- Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic (Key Program): (in Waltham) Trauma specialty clinic offering individual/family/group treatment, forensic evaluations of parents and children, psychological, testing, expressive arts therapy, community training and consultation
- Children’s League of Massachusetts: Advocacy to promote children’s initiatives.
- Cradles to Crayons: Low income and homeless children under 12
- Diaper Depot of Waltham: Free diapers
- DTA Child Care for TAFDC: Free care chosen by the parents depending on need (must qualify for TAFDC first)
- DTA Child Care for non-TAFDC teen parents:
- Head Start/Early Head Start: Free early childhood programs for low-income pregnant women and children ages 0-5
- Home for Little Wanderers: Shelter
- Homeless Child Care: For those not eligible for DTA child care and living in DHCD/DCF shelters (child-care time slots allow parents to look for work, find housing or go back to school; free or small fee depending on financial situation)
- Infant Toddler Care Acton: Early school/preschool
- Key Program (Alternative Lock-Up Program): (in Lowell) Temporary shelter for juveniles ages 7-17 (to avoid being in a police holding cell for more than six hours)
- Key Program (Family Networks DCF): (in Lawrence) Single-point-of-entry services for children and families, coordinates family meetings, new in-home resources
- Lowell Diaper Bank Collaborative: Free diapers
- Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities Young Parents Program: Various programs
- North Cambridge Children’s Center: Early education and care center
- One Simple Wish: Creates a “wish” registry for children in foster care
- Pathways Family Shelter: Teen families referred by DTA
- Prescott Young Adult: Halfway home
- Shelters/Transitional Assistance: Shelters for families, domestic violence victims, teen parents, homeless youths
- Solutions at Work: Resources for children (books, clothes, toys), business attire for those enrolled in job training programs, moving services, refurbished computers for previously homeless, professional development, advocacy
- Teen Parents Child Care: Free day care, free transportations, service referrals, counseling, and parental education for eligible teen parents
- Tuition Assistance for Foster Teens: Tuition assistance for foster teens
- Watson Academy (CRJ SJSS): Educational enrichment and supplemental programs
- Wayside Family Services: Therapeutic counseling, crisis counseling, mentoring
- Wayside Youth and Family Support/ShortStop: Residential/educational services, counseling and substance abuse services, prevention/support services, transitional co-operative supportive housing in Somerville
- Youth Build Boston: Job training and integrated education
Substance Abuse
- Answer House (South Boston): Residential substance abuse treatment for men
- CASPAR Inc.: Homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness
- Sullivan House: Intensive substance abuse treatment for adult male
Additional Services
- A Better Tomorrow (Everett): Health services, senior services, ESOL classes, citizenship classes, computer literacy classes
- Advocates: Human services for the elderly, mentally challenged
- Assurance Wireless: Lifeline free government phone program for qualifying households
- CASPAR Inc.: Homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness
- Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee: Variety of services, financial planning, food pantries, preschool childcare, health programs, affordable housing stabilization
- Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston: Holiday programs (children and elderly, Christmas gifts, home delivered meals, free groceries), refugee services, adult education, shelter
- Catholic Charities Greater Boston in Somerville: Basic needs, food pantry, human resources
- Community Teamwork, Inc. (CTI): Food/nutrition, utilities/housing
- Community Resource for Justice: EBP training for Mass. parole
- HRS: Family human services for Wellesley, Weston, Wayland
- Key Program: Family related human services
- Key Program (Framingham HQ): Advocacy and field support, Framingham office
- Marlborough CDC : Helping to build family self-sufficiency
- Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities: Basic needs, counseling, family support services, food pantry, grandparents as parents, parental support services
- Mission of Deeds: Providing beds and other household essentials to the previously homeless, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, the elderly, victims of fire or other tragedies, and those with disabilities.
- Natick Service Council: Food pantry, after school programs, heating fuel assistance, holiday gifts, preventative dental core, school supplies
- National Hunger Clearinghouse Resource: Emerging referral service
- Salvation Army: Cambridge Corps (rent assistance, utilities, shelter, medication, low-income housing), Framingham, Lowell, Waltham, Malden
- Sargent House (CRJ SJSS): Works with up to six men (18-21) who suffer from trauma, sexual abuse, cognitive disabilities, or intellectual challenges
- South Middlesex Opportunity Council: Wide variety of services
- Welcome Home: A home-goods pantry