announcements and events

On Sunday, October 5, walkers and cyclists set off on the 14th annual Ride for Food, raising funds to fight food insecurity across Massachusetts. The Acton Food Pantry (AFP) was one of the beneficiaries, supported by a dedicated Acton Food Pantry team. The team of twelve collectively rode 500 miles {yes, up-hill both ways!}, and raised to date $15,795 which is over 3x our goal. The entire ride, made up of 522 riders from 13x pantries for Three Squares NE, has raised to date $737,832 of the desired $600K. 

Ride for Food is organized by Three Squares New England. They partner with more than 30 food pantries, community farms, teaching kitchens, and food rescue organizations, with “a focus on providing access to nutritious, culturally relevant food in a manner that emphasizes choice, dignity, and health.” All donations to the Acton Food Pantry team will assist the Pantry as they move into a larger space on Maple Street. You can read about the plans for the move in the September 6, 2025 edition of the Acton Exchange.

AFP team chair and rider Andrew Gruskay says, “The personal reason why I’m leading this ride is somewhat political, in that as an American, I’m shocked to observe what is going on here in our country, and this is my way of personally affecting the situation in a positive and constructive way by helping families have three meals a day.”

Pantry Executive Director Lisa Gordon said, "The Acton Food Pantry has experienced a 27% year-over-year increase in our food distribution for each of the last two years, serving over 400 families a week. Demand for our services this year exceeded last year’s all-time high. Because of this, we are in the process of a $1.25 million dollar renovation of our new pantry space at 19-21 Maple Street, which will result in a market-style pantry with two times the storage capacity of our current location. This project is a huge undertaking, but it's necessary to meet our clients’ needs for today and the future. We'll open the new pantry in January 2026.".

This is a partial listing of events sponsored by the Council on Aging.  For a complete list, please see the Boxborough Buzz newsletter which can be found here.  Please RSVP to ascheen@boxborough-ma.gov or kdee@boxborough-ma.gov for any event you plan to attend.

Monthly Lunch - Wednesday October 8 - noon - Community Center

New Dance Exercise Class demonstration - Wednesday October 8 - 1:15 p.m. -  Community Center

Flu Shot Clinic - Wednesday October 8 - 3-6 p.m. -  Blanchard Memorial School Gym

Damon Abetz musical performance - Wednesday October 15 - 1:30 p.m. - Community Center

Shanklin Music Hall Field Trip - Sunday October 19 - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Out to Lunch - 99 Restaurant Hudson - Wednesday October 22 - 11:30 a.m.

Acton Boxborough Regional High School Tour and lunch - Tuesday October 28 - leaves at 9:30 a.m. from Town Hall

As we all know, prices for nearly everything are rising. Those less fortunate than us are struggling. There are bills to pay and groceries to buy. When the car breaks down or there’s an emergency trip to the dentist, it can disrupt even the most carefully planned budget. That’s when A Friend In Need can step in. Please help us provide one-time emergency financial assistance to those in need in the Acton, Boxborough, and Maynard areas.

Our mission is to provide immediate one-time assistance. A large portion of our funding comes from generous community residents. We ask that you consider donating to AFIN. Our volunteers cover the costs of postage and other expenses, allowing us to donate 100% of the funds we receive.

This summer, we assisted with car repairs, rent, medical bills, and more. Anyone in urgent need can seek financial help by visiting a member of the clergy or a social service worker and asking them to contact A Friend in Need on their behalf. We do not discriminate and will help anyone with a genuine need. We can be reached at afriendinneedacton@gmail.com  

All donations, no matter how small, can make a real difference to someone in need. You can donate online by going to:  abccompass.org/a-friend-in-need 

The United Church of Christ in Boxborough will be hosting a Cuba Benefit Concert featuring Boston-based Pan-Latin Band, Sol y Canto, on Saturday, October 25th, at 7:30 PM at the United Church of Christ in Boxborough, 723 Massachusetts Avenue, Boxborough, MA.

Tickets are $25 per person, ($30 at the door), $15 for students To make a donation or to purchase tickets, go to:

   https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-cuba-benefit-concert-with-sol-y-canto-tickets-1611092764829?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

The COVID Pandemic forced Cuba to close its doors to tourism for several years, which severely impacted the economy. In addition, the main power plant broke down last fall, resulting in widespread power outages across the island for several weeks. Since then, electricity has been rationed, and families can expect to have power for only a few hours each day. Food and water are also rationed. The people are struggling to survive.

In an effort to support to the Cuban people, the United Church of Christ in Boxborough, MA will host a benefit concert at UCCB on October 25th, featuring the Boston-based band Sol Y Canto, an award-winning, Pan-Latin ensemble known for their vibrant concerts and critically acclaimed music that blends diverse Latin American styles. The Boston Globe and WBUR describe their performances as “exhilarating and moving,” highlighting the duo's poetic lyrics, intricate guitar work, and engaging stage presence. Their music is often described as a "journey" through different rhythms and cultures, making it accessible to both Spanish- and non-Spanish-speaking audiences.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the congregation of the Second Baptist Church in Santiago de Cuba and neighboring communities.

The event organizer is Cuban-born Maricel Lucero. Her father, Oscar Lucero, played a significant role in the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Unfortunately, he was captured and killed by Batista’s officers, only months before the triumph of the Revolution. Today, he is known as “The Martyr of Silence” because he refused to reveal the names of other rebels when he was captured.

Maricel immigrated to the U.S. as a child, leaving behind a significant part of her extended family. She has journeyed back to Cuba many times to learn about her father's legacy and to reunite with loved ones. Over the years, she has guided groups from the U.S. to Cuba, bringing not only visitors but also vital humanitarian aid.

If you are interested in interviewing Maricel or writing a feature about the event, please contact Maricel Lucero at 802-376-4717 or email her at: maricellucero50@gmail.com.

Mariel Tan of Boxborough, Massachusetts, will study Korean for eight to ten months in South Korea on a National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI‑Y) scholarship. NSLI‑Y, a program of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), promotes the study of critical languages including Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, or Turkish. 

Mariel is one of over 440 students selected from thousands of high school applicants across the United States to receive a NSLI‑Y scholarship. While in South Korea, Mariel will live with a host family, immerse in the local culture and host community, and engage with local peers to enhance language learning and represent American culture as a citizen ambassador. 

Launched in 2006 as part of a multi-agency U.S. Government initiative, NSLI‑Y increases the number of young Americans with the critical language skills necessary to contribute to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness. Many NSLI‑Y alumni go on to pursue education and careers vital to U.S. national security and credit the program experience with helping them improve their cross-cultural communication and leadership skills. 

NSLI‑Y is administered by American Councils for International Education in cooperation with AFS‑USA, American Cultural Exchange Service, Amideast, iEARN‑USA, Stony Brook University, and the University of Delaware. 

Applications for NSLI‑Y programs are available at www.nsliforyouth.org each fall. 

The U.S. Department of State provides additional study abroad opportunities for both American and international high school students. Americans can welcome a new language and culture into their home by hosting an international exchange student, which is a life‑changing experience for students, host families, schools, and communities.  exchanges.state.gov hosting.state.gov 

1. Boxborough Public Safety (911)
   Police or Fire will NEVER ask for immigration status – only the emergency will be attended to.

2. AB Community Compass – help for all ages (formerly ABUW)
   Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm (until 7pm every Wednesday) Free Clothing, community resources
   https://sites.google.com/abuw.org/resources/immigration

3. Immigration Helpline https://miracoalition.org/news/immigration-helpline/ (508) 293-1871

a. Know your Rights https://miracoalition.org/news/know-your-rights/

4. Documents Recommended to Carry (not exhaustive)

   • Green Card (I-551), Valid Arrival/Departure Record (I-94), Approval Notice (I-797), Employment Authorization Document/Work Permit (EAD), Student Status (I-20s), Travel Documents (Proof of Visa)

   • Emergency contact info

5. Immigration Legal Resources
   a. https://masslrf.org/en/triage/start/immigration
   b. https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/

6. LUCE – Call Hotline to Report ICE activity in your area https://www.lucemass.org/ 617 -370-5023

7. From the Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General: Guide for Immigrants https://www.mass.gov/doc/ago-ice-guidance-05292025/download

8. Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) (617) 396-7143

9. Locate someone who has been detained https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search

10.Free confidential help
Boxborough Community Services Coordinator 978-264-1735, wtrinks@boxborough-ma.gov  https://www.boxborough-ma.gov/165/Community-Social-Services

11.In Need of Food:

• Acton Food Pantry https://www.actonfoodpantry.org/

• Open Table in Maynard https://www.opentable.org/