From Lynne Rahim, Heidi Gibson and Stephen Majkut

A student art auction will be held next week on Friday May 12th from 4-8pm at the Timothy Fiske House (747 Washington Street), followed by Downtown Day on Saturday May 13th, from 12-4pm at the same location at the corner of Washington St. and Hollis St. Proceeds will benefit the Holliston Community Action Fund (HCAF) –-thanks to the Student Division of HCAF.

What is the Holliston Community Action Fund (HCAF)? This vital local charity was founded by the Holliston Business Association (HBA) but separated from the HBA a few years ago and became a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is currently under the direction of John Drohan and a small group of community volunteers and student organizers to help members of the Holliston community. 

What is its purpose? Emergency assistance, supporting community betterment, and students taking action. A long-range mission is to support community betterment – for example establishing a future community center in Holliston. One of the most urgent missions of the HCAF (check out the website below for information about its other missions) is to provide short term emergency financial assistance to Holliston community members requesting assistance through Holliston Youth and Family Services.  

What kind of assistance? The fund is making a difference in our community. Here are examples of how we have been able to help our neighbors in the past few years:

• 06.2019 – $358 Electric Bill
• 09.2019 – $400 Car Payment
• 12.2019 – $500 Children’s Christmas Gifts
• 01.2020 – $258 Oil Bill
• 01.2020 – $90 School Lunch Bill 

Additionally, in 2020 and 2021 the HCAF assisted the Town of Holliston in providing $75,000 in mortgage and rent assistance from Federal CARES Act funds. More recently, in 2022, 21 grants for emergency aid were provided to Holliston families totaling over $10,000 from the HCAF.

How do neighbors access this help? If you are a community member in need of emergency assistance, please contact Jaclyn Winer, LICSW, Holliston Youth and Family Services at (508) 429-0620 or at https://www.townofholliston.us/youth-and-family-services

How do I donate? In the past, HCAF has conducted direct donation campaigns that yielded over $5K. Thank you Holliston! We appreciate your generosity and look forward to making a difference again this year.

Donations are gratefully accepted in any amount at any time, online, at https://hollistoncommunityaction.org/ or by coming to our Student Art Auction and Downtown Days Event at the end of this week!