About
Our History
Over 50 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a War on Poverty. It was this declaration that led to the formation of Community Action Agencies throughout the country. Today, Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) is one of 23 Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts.
VOC started out small in 1965 and was originally named the Community and Regional Opportunity Program. At that time our agency focused on community outreach, with few programs of our own. VOC has grown significantly since then and now offers over 30 programs in a wide variety of areas, including food and nutrition, energy assistance, education and child care, youth and adult programs and community outreach.
Several years ago, VOC also started investing in the local community by purchasing and renovating properties in Chicopee and Holyoke. These properties include market-rate and low-income housing as well as multiple commercial and mixed-use buildings.
When VOC first opened, our organization was only able to offer services in Chicopee and Holyoke, and today many of our programs are available to participants throughout greater Hampden County. As we continue to grow, our focus has been, and will continue to be, helping people achieve a higher quality of life.
Our Mission
The Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is dedicated to eliminating poverty by providing the opportunity for our low- and moderate-income neighbors, families and friends in the Greater Hampden County area to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life.
Those We Serve
Our investment in the Holyoke and Chicopee communities.
Staff Members
Community Partners
People who want to better themselves.
Our annual budget of over $45 million is a significant investment in the Holyoke and Chicopee communities
These dollars translate into active and real revenues for the payment of services, training, and materials acquired in support of our many community-based programs. VOC also represents a significant economic investment in the community as a major employer of over 250 staff members and 155 community partners.
VOC leads the way for individuals and families to access education and training aimed at developing skills vital to their goals of attaining self-sufficiency.
VOC reaches 88,000 people of all age groups, backgrounds and circumstances who want to better themselves.
Board of Directors
The VOC board meets the third Thursday of each month. For more information, please contact 413-552-1554.
Target Representatives
Abigail Arriaga
Stefany Escobar-Garcia
Matthew Mainville
Jolene Monfette
Gladys Suero
Eric Taub
Public Representatives
Corey Briere
Tony Diaz
Cheryl Figeroa
John Hale
Ken Parsons
Kayla Rodriguez
Private Representatives
Sherleen Crespo
Ana Rodriguez
Greg Schwartz
Willie Spradley, Jr.
Zuzanna Zaluga
Mim Zayas
VOC offers over 30 community programs in a wide variety of areas throughout Hampden County in Western Massachusetts.
VOC and our correspondences are funded with a variety of sources that includes Federal Funds from various departments of the US Health and Human Services, including the Office of Community Services, which are not responsible for or endorse any of the content here.
