The Sacred Birthing Village is a maternal restoration program providing support and care specifically to BIPOC pregnant and birthing individuals in and around the South Coast.

The organization provides peer-to-peer mentorship and support operating on the belief that it “takes a village” to raise a child.

Founded in 2019, the Friends of Jack Foundation’s mission is to provide and expand programs that benefit the physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being for children and families throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The foundation accomplishes their mission at Southcoast Health providing programs such as the Hero Bears, bringing happiness to our pediatric patients in the emergency room, and therapy cars, which allow pediatric patients at St. Luke’s Hospital to drive themselves into the operating room.

With the support and funding of the Friends of Jack Foundation, the Child Life Department at Southcoast Health has also been able to expand services and hire additional Certified Child Life Specialists, who guide Southcoast Health’s youngest patients through medical experiences in the hospital, before surgery or even during an overnight stay.

The Marion Institute is an organization working to elevate health, food and environmental equity for all.  

For the last 30 years the Marion Institute has made great strides in greenhouse initiatives, becoming a financial home of dozens of successful social change organizations.

Currently it offers community programs such as the Frogfoot Farm and Grow Education. Growing, farming and harvesting foods, the Frogfoot Farm assists in providing food for neighbors in need across Southeastern Massachusetts in Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk counties.

People Acting in Community Endeavors (PACE) is an anti-poverty Community Action Agency (CAA) that was incorporated in 1982.

Its mission is to deliver innovative and effective services and programs to members of the Greater New Bedford community, to improve the economic and social quality of life for low-income residents in the area. The organization connects community members with resources that can help assist them with housing, finances, education, health, nutrition, and family services.

My Brother’s Keeper is an organization focused on aiding those within our community by providing free furniture and food to those in need.  

Founded in 1988 by husband and wife, Jim and Terry Orcutt, they began serving families in need from the basement of their own home. Today the organization has grown with locations in Easton and Dartmouth, Massachusetts, including 5,000 volunteers and 18 employees who work together to make 18,600 deliveries each year.

The YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts’ mission speaks to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women. In their work they are committed to creating opportunities for women’s growth, leadership and power.

Offering adult and youth services, the organization provides outreach and education about health and financial wellness, and opportunities for young citizens to get involved in various groups that promote the wellbeing of their community. 

Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts (JA) is a regional non-profit organization with a mission to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy.

The organization focuses on learning experiences for grades K-12. They help students explore key content areas such as financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship driving long-term outcomes in education development, economic development, and youth development.

United Neighbors of Fall River is an organization dedicated to supporting local children and families by coordinating resources already in the community to develop strong, sustainable family support systems.

By increasing neighborhood-based activities they strive to empower residents and strengthen community partnerships.

Citizens for Citizens, Inc. (CFC) is an organization focused on advocating on behalf of low-income residents, addressing the causes and effects of poverty through the delivery of direct and integrated services, promoting self-sufficiency, and the advancement of social change.

This organization is a part of the Community Action Agencies (CAAs) group, created to develop socioeconomic opportunities and help defeat the burdens of poverty for every American citizen. 

The Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Bristol County is a private, non-profit agency that assists children and families impacted by the trauma of abuse and violence. The agency is a coordinated multi-disciplinary team comprised of investigative agencies, family advocates, specialized health services and treatment services.

Community Counseling of Bristol County provides behavioral healthcare solutions to improve lives and strengthen the community.

They offer a range of services, including mental health care, addiction treatment, housing assistance and more. Their goal is to create a continuum of care that meets the needs of those in our community and helps them achieve their goals.

The Immigrants’ Assistance Center, located in New Bedford, is an organization started by the local Portuguese community in 1971.

Equipped with a welcoming and multilingual staff, this center provides service to assist local, eligible immigrants obtain their citizenship. Their goal is to act as a beacon to the immigrant community and connect to services and resources needed to settle in their new home.

Coastal Foodshed is collaborating with local farmers to create opportunities for consumers to purchase directly from them and access healthy, affordable and locally grown foods.

The program does so by placing their Mobile Farm Stands at local New Bedford parks and hosting the New Bedford Farmer’s Market, which takes place at New Bedford’s, Buttonwood Park.

They also provide the opportunity to shop online with convenient delivery and pickup options via the Virtual Market. 

YMCA Southcoast has relaunched its Diabetes Prevention Program (YDPP). The YDPP is an evidence-based lifestyle change program to help people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes prevent or prolong the development of the disease.

This program is a collaboration between the YMCA, Southcoast Health, the City of New Bedford Health Department and New Bedford Community Health (formerly the Greater New Bedford Community Health Center). Classes are now available in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Learn more here.