By Adele Levine
Last year, a Becket man with serious medical issues was in his home without food or water, and he had no way to get his wheelchair in and out of his house. He called the Community Emergency Outreach Program (CEOP) to ask for help. Immediately, volunteers responded with food and water and helped him regain access to his own home.
It is for moments like this that the Becket Yoked Parish created CEOP.
“Becket is a town where neighbors reach out to other neighbors in need,” said Pastor Bill Mulholland. “But sometimes emergencies are bigger than what one neighbor can handle. That’s when CEOP steps in.”
This year, however, CEOP faces an emergency of its own. Grants from the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC), which sustained the program in previous years, are no longer available. With winter approaching—the season when requests typically surge—the funding gap is urgent.
“As we approach winter, we are very concerned that we won’t be able to meet all the emergency needs in our community,” Mulholland said. “Though I know the people of Becket will respond if they understand the needs.”
Over the years CEOP has stepped in when residents faced sudden, critical hardships:
• Fuel deliveries during freezing weather
• Emergency car repairs so people could get to their jobs
• Meal deliveries for housebound residents
• Rides to urgent medical appointments
• Coverage for life-saving prescriptions
• Budget counseling for struggling families
According to Patti Boynton, who often coordinates responses to the requests that come from many different sources, emergencies are rarely straightforward. “The needs are often complex and interconnected,” she said. “One person may need food, heating fuel, and home modifications all at once.”
This year, members of the Yoked Parish have held fundraisers in support of CEOP, raising $5,000. Since this amount can’t replace the lost grants from BRPC, the program is seeking additional help from the community.
Beyond financial support, CEOP is working to build a roster of skilled volunteers—electricians, plumbers, carpenters, nurses, drivers, and accountants—who can be quickly called on when emergencies arise.
As the cold season approaches, CEOP is asking Becket residents to help ensure that no neighbor faces a crisis alone. How to help? To donate, send a check to Food Pantry, PO Box 306, Becket MA 01223. Write “CEOP Fund” in the memo line. To volunteer, call (413) 770-1897 to add your name and skills to the emergency response list.
