It's very rare that an emergency shelter will accept a guest presenting with a pet. But our shelter in #NorthamptonMA is working to accommodate unhoused adult humans who happen to also have furry, four-legged companions. This is Mack, whose owner arrived at CSO's Northampton Friends of the Homeless location in need of emergency shelter. Rather than turning the guest away due to the companion pet, we're making it work! In 2019, it was estimated that 12% of unsheltered adults owned pets. According to a study conducted two years prior, 48% of unhoused pet-owning individuals reported being turned away from a shelter because of pet policies. -- 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣? Our shelter guest-pets accommodation effort relies on donations and volunteers. You can donate online at https://www.csoinc.org/give, and you can arrange a donation drive or apply to be a volunteer by emailing volunteer@csoinc.org (fb)

There's a lot happening for families in #GardnerMA. Our Gardner Family Resource Center has a full slate of activities lined up -- all of them FREE -- for any family with children (ages 0-18). Along with the April calendar (start planning!), here are a few fun photos from recent events: * A "Mindful Monday" tabletop calming exercising with shaving cream for some sensory input. * Our @Fitchburg State University intern Henry updating our daily events board. * Our Family Partner Tammy Goodgion attending the 25th New England Fathering Conference #GrotonCT. (fb)