Exploring the Shared Support Between MWCC and Leominster’s Spanish American Center
By Gabriel Velez | Observer Contributor
The Spanish American Center, located in Leominster, Massachusetts, is run by Neddy Latimer and provides a variety of services to all sorts of people in the state, such as domestic abuse programs, ESL classes, elder services, summer programs, food pantries, and others. They have a focus on bilingual services and help those with language barriers, particularly Spanish, Brazilian, and Portuguese speaking individuals, although they do recommend an interpreter join the person needing it. They are a non-profit organization that started in 1966 by members of the Catholic clergy who wanted to respond to the needs of the Spanish community. The center started as an outreach, information, and referral network. The center as we know it today wasn’t officially established until 1972. According to their website, “The Center is the only agency in Leominster specifically oriented towards the Spanish-speaking community, estimated at over 15,000. Today the Center offers multiple programs, has revenues in excess of $500,000, and is SOMWBA (State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance) certified.”
The domestic abuse program gives case management to the victims and children of those who have suffered from domestic abuse. The program also provides shelter, housing services, translation, counseling, and legal support. They have youth services held after school that provide basic support and prevention classes for substance/alcohol abuse, bullying prevention, and tutoring. The elder services provide help for those over 60 years of age (and AARP members) and provide the same services as the information, referral, and advocacy programs.
Mickey Guzman, the Information, Referral and Advocacy Specialist at the center, stated, “It is extremely important that our services and programs are provided. They are why SAC was established in 1966 as a non-profit organization. These services and programs are instilled in our vision for every person to live in a safe, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous community; in our mission to respond to the social, health, educational, and cultural needs of the community, with a special focus on the “Hispanic/Latino community, which is limited by language, poverty, and cultural barriers; and in our action statement, which is in keeping with our Hispanic/Latino traditions and mindful of the historical principles of American democracy. SAC adheres to the values of inclusion and acceptance while embracing one another in collaboration, celebration, and hope.”
Guzman’s job is to inform people about the center and what they do, as well as about services that provide help in all sorts of areas, such as employment, housing, social security, and other complicated living needs.
As stated earlier, the SAC has a fully operational kitchen. Guzman elaborated further, “SAC’s kitchen is unique. We provide daily meals for the homeless in the Leominster shelter, provide meals to several community neighborhoods, provided (and hopefully will provide again) community meals to anyone who came to SAC regardless of income, three times a week prior to COVID-19, and still cater when asked. There is a kitchen supervisor, four cooks, and several volunteers who prepare and package all the meals. Hot and cold meals are prepared.” They also have a community meal program. In Guzman’s words, “SAC is providing community meals to the “homeless” at the shelter and in several neighborhoods. SAC has a food truck that is equipped with hot and cold compartments. Meals are cooked every day. SAC also receives and gives out breads, cakes, pastries, and other food items on a weekly basis.”
The center is also sponsored by The Mount itself! When Guzman was asked about the history between MWCC and the SAC, he said, “SAC has participated in several community endeavors with The Mount. We have served on some joint community action committees and boards, participated in joint educational collaborations, and served as translators during some Mount events. The Mount has also provided funds to SAC in support of the Summer Up and Gear Up programs and Hispanic/Latino Heritage events.”
With all the services provided there, it is clear why the Mount supports and sponsors this center. The magnificent work they do with their kitchen and all the diverse services provided by the volunteers and workers create a place that people need. Guzman is proud of the work they do there, concluding with, “On behalf of the director, Neddy Latimer, and our Board of Directors, I can tell you that we are very proud of our accomplishments throughout the years. We are a small agency compared to many others, but we do more and are more effective than many other bigger/larger agencies. I feel our clients keep coming to us and/or keep referring people to come to us for services/support/assistance because they trust us to help them as best we can.”
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