Over 68 years ago, in May of 1956, a young mother of 10 was encouraged to start a Chapter of the “Association for Retarded Children (Arc)” in the 10-town Southern Worcester County Area. Anita Anderson of Charlton, along with a small group of other parents, began the research to educate themselves and the public about people with disabilities. It was commonly accepted before this movement that all people born with severe disabilities would never improve, so the best course of action was to leave these children in institutions. These advocacy groups changed all that through their grass roots efforts, which locally led to the establishment of a school for children with disabilities named the Center of Hope on Walnut Street in Southbridge (a former garage of the Wells family donated by the former American Optical Company). Since those early $5,000.00 budget days, the agency has grown to serve over 700 families in 64 towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The administrative offices in Southbridge are now housed in a 100,000 sq. ft. building at 100 Foster St./1 North St. acquired in 2003.
The expanded agency now has 5 large Day Habilitation Programs, including a location on West Street which is also consists of 9 apartments for folks to succeed living on their own with some supports.
They have a thriving, comprehensive Vocational Program that helps people succeed in competitive employment within the community and/or work in 13 small businesses sponsored by the agency, such as the Noress Corp. (assembly and packaging company); Just the Details (auto cleaning); Vivid Print (printing and graphics solutions); Cans of Hope (can redemption); Yards of Hope (lawn care); Scoops of Hope (ice cream shop); Clean-Out/Removal Services; Hope’s Treasures (thrift store); Fair and Square Construction (renovations); The Festive Home ( wreath décor); Shred of Hope (shredding service); and Janitorial Services.
In addition to day programs, housing, and vocational enrichment, they also have Camp, Individual and Family Supports Programs, an ABI Waiver Program, Youth Internship and Employment Programs, Special Olympics, Recreational Dances, Outings and Trips, Emergency Relief, Volunteers of Hope, Self-Advocates Groups, Legislative Advocacy, and other community programs.
The Center of Hope has grown to be one of the top five employers in Southbridge and has also become a well-respected and vital part of the community involved in many things from renovating town parks, providing volunteers at the local hospital, and being members of committees, boards of directors and chambers of commerce and other business groups. Their goals continue to allow them to move forward, providing innovative and avant-garde services for an ever-widening circle of people with special needs.
To learn more about the current events in Day Habilitation Programs, Family Supports, Employment Supports, and the multiple entrepreneurial business developments, please visit the Center of Hope Foundations website at: https://www.thecenterofhope.org/. To explore current job openings, click HERE.