Gardner Family Resource Center

10/01/2026

Welcome to CSO's Gardner Family Resource Center (FRC)!
The FRC is here to support caregivers and families with children (0-18) throughout Greater Gardner.
All our offerings are FREE:
✅ Family activities & playgroups
✅ Parent support & workshops
✅ Youth programs & community connections
📍 Located in Gardner, MA
🌟 Open to all families and caregivers
Each month, we share our calendar of events—check back often and join us!

09/11/2026

🐝🎨 Creativity is buzzing at the Gardner Family Resource Center!

One of our young artists had a great time painting and decorating a bee house during our recent art hour activity! 🖌️🐝 We love seeing families get creative, try something new, and learn about the importance of providing a safe home for our hardworking pollinators. 🌼

At the Gardner FRC, our activities are all about family connection, creativity, and fun! We’re always looking for new ways to bring families together and make memories.

08/18/2026

✨ What a great Back-to-School Party at the Gardner FRC! ✨

We had an amazing time last week celebrating the upcoming school year with local families! 41 kids received backpacks filled with school supplies, an FRC color-changing water bottle, and hygiene products to help them get ready to start the new school year. 📚🎒

Families also enjoyed mini golf, co****le, pizza, fruit salad, and popsicles! ⛳🌽🍕🍉🍧

A special thank-you to MOC Head Start and WIC for joining us and sharing information about the valuable services and resources they offer to local families.

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make our Back-to-School Party such a fun and successful event! We’re wishing all of our families a happy and successful school year! 🍎✏️📓

08/03/2026

⛳ 𝗧𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨𝗽 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

Thanks to the incredible generosity of 148 golfers, our sponsors, volunteers, raffle donors, and supporters, this year's Friends of the Homeless Golf Tournament raised approximately $50,000 to support shelter, housing, meals, and critical supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness.

A special thank you to our Gold Sponsors, Anderson Cleaning and Genoa Healthcare as well as our additional sponsors HUB International, Webber and Grinnell Insurance, an Alera Group Company, PeoplesBank, Wellfleet, TD, Springfield Thunderbirds, Locklin Construction, Quality Fleet Service, Inc., and many others.

We hope you enjoy a few highlights from a fantastic day on the course. Thank you for swinging into action to help end homelessness!

08/03/2026

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 #𝟭. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

This past Friday, we celebrated the opening of CSO's new 775 Worthington Street permanent supportive housing community in .

Permanent supportive housing is more than an apartment. It combines the stability of a permanent home with ongoing care, recovery support, nursing, and housing services—giving people experiencing chronic homelessness the foundation and support they need to build healthier, more stable lives.

Special thanks to Congressman Richard Neal, City of Springfield, MA - Office of Communications, Mayor Desarno , Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance as well as Stratford Capital Group, TD, Valley Community Development, and our many community partners.

Full Coverage from MassLive:
https://www.masslive.com/business/2026/07/community-support-options-opens-36-new-supportive-housing-units.html

08/03/2026

A ribbon was cut in Greenfield, and a new chapter begins in supportive housing.

Last Wednesday, we celebrated the opening of CSO's new Friends of the Homeless campus at 60 Wells Street in — bringing together emergency shelter, 36 permanent supportive housing apartments, and integrated support services under one roof.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this vision a reality, especially our funding partners, community supporters, and the many people whose dedication brought this project to life. We look forward to welcoming our first residents and shelter guests in the weeks ahead.

Special thanks to Congressman Jim McGovern, City of Greenfield Mayor Ginny Desorgher, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance as well as Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, Stratford Capital Group, Greenfield Savings Bank, Valley Community Development, and our many community partners.

Full Coverage from the The Greenfield Recorder:
https://recorder.com/2026/07/29/greenfield-shelter-ribbon-cutting/

07/09/2026

What a wonderful way to kick off summer! ☀️🍕🍦

On Friday June 26th, families joined us at the Gardner Family Resource Center for our End of School Celebration! Everyone enjoyed delicious pizza, fresh fruit salad, and sweet treats from Maddy's Ice Cream Truck, where sundaes were a big hit.

Children had a blast playing hopscotch, co****le, and mini golf, and each child received a jump rope to take home for even more summer fun! Families were also entered into raffles for a Gardner Cinemas gift card and one of four family board games.

Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate with us and helped make the afternoon so special. We hope you have a fun, safe, and relaxing summer, and we look forward to seeing you at future Gardner Family Resource Center events!

Check out our upcoming events: https://www.facebook.com/gardnerFRC/events

07/02/2026

CSO President & CEO Karin Jeffers has been re-elected to a second term as Region 1 Director on the National Council for Mental Wellbeing Board of Directors.

A longtime advocate for community behavioral health, Karin has consistently championed increased government funding to strengthen the behavioral health workforce and expand access to mental health and substance use treatment.

We're proud to see her continue representing and New England alongside fellow behavioral health leaders from across the country. Congratulations, Karin!

Meet the New Board Leadership at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, committed to advancing community mental health efforts.

07/01/2026

Staff Highlight: Meet Meredith Guerrero!

The Gardner Family Resource Center is proud to introduce Meredith Guerrero, one of our dedicated Family Support Workers!

Meredith is here to help individuals and families connect with the resources they need. Whether it's assistance finding basic living resources, completing applications, or navigating community services, Meredith is ready to help get you moving in the right direction.

At the Gardner Family Resource Center, all services are FREE for residents of Gardner and the surrounding towns and cities.

To schedule an appointment with Meredith:
📞 Call: 978-730-1275
📧 Email: [email protected]

No matter what challenges you're facing, you don't have to navigate them alone. We're here to support you every step of the way.

06/30/2026

☀️ An Extreme Heat Warning is in Effect ☀️

CSO wants you and your family to stay safe and comfortable during this week's forecasted temperatures.

Extreme heat doesn't just affect physical health—it can also impact behavioral health by contributing to stress, irritability, poor sleep, and worsening symptoms for those living with mental health challenges. Staying cool and hydrated can make a meaningful difference for both your body and your mind.

If you or someone you know needs relief from the heat, cooling centers are available throughout the region.

📍 Find a cooling center near you:
https://www.413cares.org/warming-cooling-centers

During periods of extreme heat:
💧 Drink plenty of water.
🧊 Spend time in air-conditioned spaces when possible.
☀️ Limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day.
🤝 Check in on older adults, neighbors, friends, and anyone who may be more vulnerable to the heat.

06/29/2026

A special thank you to our incredible partners at Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts for their generous donation of new clothing items and hygiene supplies for CSO clients and families.

These essential items provide more than everyday necessities—they offer comfort, dignity, and confidence during challenging times.

--
𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣? To coordinate a donation effort or confirm current needs, please email [email protected]. See less

06/22/2026

🎬 Gardner FRC Family Support Worker Meredith Guerrero recently attended the North Central Massachusetts premiere of Shattered Ice at Mount Wachusett Community College, where she shared resources and connected with community members during the event's resource fair.

💚 Thank you to TaraVista Behavioral Health Center, Mount Wachusett Community College, and the Reliant Foundation for bringing this important event to our community. We're proud to support efforts that raise awareness around youth mental health and connect families with local resources.

06/17/2026

A new Massachusetts study found that anxiety-related pediatric primary care visits increased by 300% over the last decade, highlighting a growing need for mental health support for children and families.

Read the full Boston University School of Public Health story:
https://www.bu.edu/sph/news/articles/2026/anxiety-related-pediatric-primary-care-visits-rose-300-over-decade-in-massachusetts/

At CSO, we see that need every day.

Through our Family Support Services teams, we provide trauma-informed, family-centered supports designed to help children and families succeed at home, in school, and in their communities.

Early support can make a lasting difference.

Learn more: https://www.csoinc.org/family-support-services

A new study found that children’s visits to the doctor for all mental health conditions increased from 2014 to 2023 in the commonwealth. Visits related to anxiety represented the largest increase, and ADHD was the most common condition addressed during these visits.

06/08/2026

June is Pride Month—a time to celebrate authenticity, community, and belonging.

This month, we're sharing a few facts about LGBTQIA+ and the importance of affirming relationships, supportive environments, and equitable access to evidence-based .

𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗢𝗞 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽.

If you or someone you know could benefit from mental health supports, substance use recovery services, or crisis stabilization, visit https://www.CSOinc.org/locations to find your nearest CSO location.

06/05/2026

Come find the Gardner Family Resource Center at Kids Safety Day TOMORROW June 6th, hosted by the Gardner Elks!

This free, family-friendly event is all about helping our kids stay safe while enjoying fun activities, community resources, giveaways, safety demonstrations, and more. Bring the family and be sure to stop by our table to say hello, learn about local family resources, and connect with our team.

We hope to see you there!

📅 Friday, June 6th
⏰ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Gardner Elks Lodge — 31 Park St., Gardner, MA

05/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for CSO’s 24th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Fair at Energy Park last week.

Organized by the members of our Green River House and Quabbin House Clubhouse programs, this year’s fair brought together more than 40 organizations, service providers, artists, musicians, and community members in support of mental health, wellness, and connection.

Along with a few Paul Franz photos from tThe Greenfield Recorder’s coverage of the event, here are some additional moments captured throughout the day.

Feel free to tag yourself, your organization, or others who joined us!

Read the Recorder story here:
https://recorder.com/2026/05/27/cso-annual-mental-health-fair-2/

05/23/2026

Being there for someone through a difficult moment can include helping them connect to support.

This , consider taking time to learn about local resources near you.