Bristol County Savings Bank Supports Community-Wide Effort

Officials from the  presented charter members of the Attleboro Area Self Sufficiency Collaborative with $10,300 Thursday morning to support the group's first step to make services available all under one roof. 

Several social services leaders in the community have joined together to form a collaborative group and open a self-sufficiency center in Attleboro. The center would be a place where people could visit to address all of their needs including food, clothing and self-help support.

This idea behind the effort was scribbled onto a napkin four years ago in an office at the United Way by Dot Embree former director of the Attleboro Area Council of Churches, Marilyn Godfrey former director of the United Way Help Line and Irene Frechette, now president of the Council. 

"The mission of this collaborative is to create a community center where individuals and families can seek support and education while being connected to the resources that they need on their road to self sufficiency," Frechette said. 

There is a huge need in Attleboro according to Frechette. The St. Vincent de Paul Society facilitates grants and donations each year that yields more than $150, 000 in assistance to families in Attleboro and surrounding communities.

"We are truly grateful to the Bristol County Savings Foundation for showing their faith in our vision by granting this request and to Mayor Kevin Dumas and the City of Attleboro for their ongoing support of our efforts," Frechette said. 

Read more about the vision