Following successful legislative advocacy by State Senator Jo Comerford and State Senator John Velis, an earmark in Governor Maura Healey’s FY26 state budget enabled LifePath to award $100,000 to 10 local Village organizations. Each organization received $10,000 to strengthen community-based, neighbor-to-neighbor supports for older adults across the region.

Villages are grassroots, volunteer-driven nonprofit organizations that help older adults remain active, connected, and independent in their homes and communities. With this funding, each Village will be able to build organizational capacity and support programs that expand essential, neighbor-to-neighbor supports such as transportation for medical appointments and other essential needs, social activities, technology assistance, and help at home.

The Village model originated in Massachusetts more than 20 years ago and has since grown into a national network of nearly 300 organizations, including over 25 statewide. Villages are led by and for their members—older adults who both give and receive support—creating flexible, locally responsive systems of care grounded in mutual aid and volunteerism.

The communities served by the 10 funded Villages are among the oldest in Massachusetts. While a great place to age, older adults in the northern Pioneer Valley often face challenges that Villages can help to overcome in partnership with senior centers, Councils on Aging, and Aging Services Access Points such as LifePath. As Fran Fortino, President of the Board of Directors of Valley Neighbors, explains, Villages perform “organized acts of kindness.” The funded organizations reflect a range of Village development stages, from newer initiatives building foundational capacity to more established Villages expanding programs and volunteer engagement.

This investment also advances regional Age & Dementia Friendly goals by strengthening social connection, reducing isolation, and expanding access to practical supports that help people of all ages live well in their communities.

According to LifePath Executive Director Gary Yuhas “Villages are integral components of a complex web of partnerships supporting older adults across our communities. We are thankful for our relationships with the Villages and for the experience and resources they bring to a shared, community- and choice- based support model. Needs continue to increase and evolve, and the increased capacity from this generous earmark will help individuals in our communities to age well.”

The following organizations each received $10,000 in funding:

• Amherst Neighbors
• Athol Kindness Connection
• Easthampton Neighbors
• The Greenfield Neighborhood
• Montague Villages
• Neighbors at Home: The Northfield Village
• Northampton Neighbors
• Petersham Partners
• Valley Neighbors (Whately, Deerfield and Sunderland)
• Village Neighbors (Shutesbury, Leverett, Wendell and New Salem)