If You Want to Help Others
- Connect with us at the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice at BSU to find out what we are doing to support our communities.
- Get involved!
- Many United Ways in MA have volunteer databases for their local communities.
- Connect with faith-based organizations in your area
- Donate blood!
- Contact the American Red Cross or local blood banks to schedule a donation RedCrossBlood.org
- Join (or start!) community building efforts in your community. Here are just a few examples:
Please reach out to volunteer@bridgew.edu with ideas, questions, or services you’d like us to know about.
Other Helpful Resources and Links
Bridgewater State University students experiencing economic stress can access the student resource page on BridgeNet, which includes links to help with food, housing, clothing, furniture, fuel and energy assistance, financial aid and other financial support for educational expenses, transportation, health and well-being, family resources, legal resources, and tax preparation.
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The Surviving COVID-19: #RealCollege Guide for Students from the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice addresses common needs and offers resources for college students about how to get money, how to reduce your bills, how re-locate and find a place to live, and how to protect your health.
If you are a victim of abuse, you are not alone. No one deserves to be abused. Help is available. Here’s a detailed list of resources for domestic violence programs for survivors.
- MA SafeLink 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 877-785-2020
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
- Text to National Hotline: Text LOVEIS to 22522
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or is in an emergency, call 9-1-1.
If you can safely get out of the house for a walk, or to visit the store, you may be able to more freely message a help center, or get word to someone you trust for help.
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division (FLD)
Guidance for Employers and Employees
Check out the Attorney General’s Guidance for Employers and Employees During the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency for answers to questions such as When to use sick time? What are the qualifications for unemployment? How to get a loan for small business?
Brockton Interfaith Community
As part of Brockton Interfaith Community's (BIC) mission to collaboratively promote racial and economic justice, BIC invites Brockton residents to join the Mutual Aid Brockton Facebook Page. People can submit posts about needs and offer resources that can help.
Greater Bridgewater Interfaith Council
The Greater Bridgewater Interfaith Council is a network of Greater Bridgewater communities of faith which offers opportunities for spiritual support, guidance, and exploration to the campus community of Bridgewater State University.
BSU Food Pantry
The BSU Food Pantry, located on the ground floor of the Rondileau Student Union (RSU) on BSU's campus and serves BSU Students. Non-perishable food items, personal hygiene products, and, when in season, fresh produce from the campus’ permaculture garden are available to students through a self-service system. Students can visit the pantry whenever the RSU is open, all services are offered anonymously.
Students can also receive food through the pantry pickup program by filling out an online form.
For more information or questions about the Food Pantry call 508-531-1276 or email lestudante@bridgew.edu.
The BSU Food Pantry is overseen by the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management with guidance from the BSU Food Pantry Advisory Board, which is made up of faculty, staff and students.
Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline 1-800-645-8333 / TTY 1-800-377-1292
Hotline Hours: Mon-Fri – 8AM-7PM | Sat – 10AM-2PM
Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline gives Massachusetts residents a “one-stop shop” for finding comprehensive aid in over 180 languages. With no need to leave the house and confidential support, hunger help is always just a phone call away.
Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline can help you with:
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Screening for SNAP eligibility. When it comes to hunger prevention, there is no federal program more effective then SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps). But many people are unaware of how or where to apply. Hotline Counselors screen every caller to determine if they are eligible for SNAP and help start them on the path to receiving assistance. College students can be eligible for SNAP.
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Providing SNAP application assistance. Completing a federal application can be tricky for just about everyone. SNAP’s application is no exception. Hotline counselors can give you over-the-phone assistance with submitting the application, answer questions, help you troubleshoot problems, and can follow up with you to make sure your benefits are approved.
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Connecting callers to local resources. Hotline Counselors can connect you to resources available right in your own community, including food pantries, meal programs, fuel assistance, and more.
Use the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Partner Agency Locator tool to find meal programs and food pantries, the days and hours they’re open, and other information you need to learn more or to access food for you and your family.
Health Care For All’s HelpLine can be reached at 1-(800) 272-4232. The HelpLine is free and is here to answer your questions about health insurance in Massachusetts. The HelpLine is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday. The HelpLine is staffed by specially-trained Health Care For All counselors with up-to-date information about health care coverage. It is not part of a government agency. They offer help in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Massachusetts Health Connector
The Massachusetts Health Connector is the state's Marketplace for health and dental insurance. For help applying for insurance coverage, check out MAhealthconnector.org/Help-Center.
FamilyWize Medication Discount Card
Local United Way organizations offer free prescription discount cards for anyone without insurance or if a medicine is not covered by your insurance. Accepted at over 60,000 pharmacies, you can download the FamilyWize app from the App Store on your smartphone or visit the FamilyWize website.
If you need help finding a place to live:
Housing Resources
The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) can help you find local housing resources, including local housing authorities, regional housing agencies, and emergency shelter providers.
Emergency Assistance for Families
If you are a family seeking shelter, please call 1-866-584-0653. More details about the Emergency Assistance program can be found here: MA Homeless Website
Emergency Shelter Assistance for Individuals
Use this website to get a list of individual homeless shelters in Massachusetts, maintained by the Department of Housing and Community Development. Choose your town from the menu at the top of the page and the site will display local resources.
If you need help staying in the house or apartment you are renting:
Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Hotline
City Life/Vida Urbana operates an emergency eviction and foreclosure hotline, in English and Spanish, at (617) 934-5006 and (617) 397-3773. Here’s template letter (in both English and Spanish) to send to your landlord or bank if you rent, if you have a mortgage, or if your ability to pay has been affected by the coronavirus.
Tenant Rights During a Crisis
Greater Boston Legal Aid provides a help sheet (in both English and Spanish) for tenants facing eviction.
If you need legal representation in an eviction dispute, Mass Legal Services has a useful tool to help find legal aid in your area.
Check out information on resources available to immigrants during the COVID-19 public health crisis in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
The Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition offers multi-lingual resources and coronavirus-specific immigration updates. MIRA provides coronavirus-related immigration policy and enforcement updates, resources for workers in Massachusetts, and links to special relief programs and other helpful resources.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers that are available 24/7 to provide support anyone in any kind of emotional crisis.
There are several other numbers to call depending on your needs:
- Spanish Language: 1-866-628-9454
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing: 1-800-799-4889
- Veterans: 1-800-273-8255
- Disaster Distress: 1-800-985-5990
Anyone can also use their online chat feature on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a great website with information, tips, and links that can help if you are navigating a mental health crisis or someone you love is doing so.
The federal CARES Act provides broad relief for federal student loan borrowers.
If you are a current BSU student and have questions about how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect your eligibility for financial aid (such as if you and/or your parent(s) have lost their jobs, you have concerns about how changes in your GPA may affect your aid, or other questions), check out BSU’s COVID-19 page first and if your questions are not answered there, contact the BSU Financial Aid Office at 508-531-1341.
In April, the U.S. Department of Education extended the moratorium on payment and interest of federal student loans through August 31, 2022.
- 800-656-HOPE 24-hr National Sexual Assault Hotline
- 888-293-7273 A New Day Sexual Assault Hotline
- 866-331-9474 National Dating Abuse Helpline
- 800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 877-785-2020 SafeLink (Massachusetts Domestic Violence Hotline)
- 866-488-7386 Trevor Project for LGBTQ Youth
- 877-565-8860 Trans Lifeline
This list of resources was compiled by the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice at Bridgewater State University.
If you would like to report errors, please email us at MRISJ@bridgew.edu.
Follow MRISJ on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest information.
Last Updated as of 2/21/2023