Bulletin Board: August 15, 2026

August 15, 2026

For volunteer opportunities and other announcements not tied to a single specific time and date, you are in the right place here at the Bulletin Board. Please email your Bulletin Board announcements to bulletinboard@actonexchange.org. (Please email Calendar events to calendar@actonexchange.org.)

Recent government communiques

From the Town of Acton:

From the Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools:

From the Acton Water District

  • Outdoor Water Use Restriction Update – Level 4  Due to ongoing critical drought in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and diminishing yield of our water supply wells, the Acton Water District has changed the Level 3 Water Use Restriction to a Level 4 Water Use Restriction effective July 20, 2026. 
  • Summer 2026 Water Words, including Report on Water Quality.  Address questions to Corey Godfrey or 978-263-9107.

Boxborough news

Check out Boxborough News’ free weekly newsletter and website here.

GOINGS ON AROUND TOWN

Mass primary early voting

The Massachusetts state primary is coming right up on Tuesday, September 1.

Can’t make it to the polls on Tuesday, September 1? Come into the Clerk’s Office at Town Hall to vote early on one of the following dates:

  • Sat, August 22 — 9am – 3pm
  • Mon, August 24 — 8am – 4pm
  • Tues, August 25— 8am – 6pm
  • Wed, August 26— 8am – 4pm
  • Thurs, August 27— 8am – 4pm
  • Fri, August 28 — 8am – Noon

Or vote on Tuesday, September 1 at RJ Grey Junior High from 7am – 8pm.

You can see sample ballots at the Town Clerk’s Elections and voting website.

For non-statewide elections, Acton’s candidates are in the following districts:

  • Representative in Congress, Third District
  • Councillor (Governor’s Council), Third District
  • Senator in General Court, Middlesex & Worcester
  • Representative in General Court, 14th Middlesex (Pct 1, 2, 7, part of 6) or 37th Middlesex (Pct 3, 4, 5, and part of 6)
  • District Attorney, Northern District

Remember, your vote is your voice!

Cohousing neighborhood welcomes visitors

New View Cohousing Neighborhood in West Acton welcomes visitors at a series of social events such as cooked meals, potlucks, meditation, and book talks. Join us to learn about non-resident participation in community life as well as a home presently for sale and an apartment for rent. Write to outreach@newview.org for a list of upcoming activities.

Acton Rec Summer Camps

Acton kids have multiple choices for activities at Acton Recreation sponsored camps this summer. Choose a classic summer camp experience at NARA Park, or offerings from “zoo and goo” to astronomy and chemistry. Or sports camps like lacrosse, archery, and field hockey. Or explore Legos or learn about law enforcement with local police.

At NARA Park, swimming, sports, and arts and crafts programs are based on weekly themes from June 29 through August 28. Camp runs weekdays 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, with before and after programs starting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m.

Adults can also go to camp! Join us for pickleball, garden therapy, and mindful movement classes.

For information about all of the camp offerings through the Acton Recreation Department, see the Acton Rec Programs page.

Acton Community Ed summer programs

A-B Community Education is running a wide variety of half-day and full-day summer programs! Kids can explore their interests and try something new with classes in science, robotics, arts & crafts, tennis, pottery, movie making, theater, basketball, animation, and many more.

Our Summer Day Program is offered Monday-Friday from 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. with the option to enroll in morning and afternoon extended hours. We also offer a wide variety of half- and full-day programs.

The program is open to students who will enter grades 1-6 in August 2026 and who are registered to attend school in the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District.

You can Sign up for our email list to get regular updates about upcoming classes and summer offerings when they are posted, or reach out to us at ceregistrar@abschools.org with any questions.

School Supply Drive and Back-to-School Playdate

Danny’s Place and the Huntington Learning Center of Acton have teamed up to hold a school supply donation drive through the summer, culminating in a back-to-school playdate on August 27, 2026.  Supplies can be dropped off any time at:

  • Danny’s Place, 543 Massachusetts Ave, Acton
  • Huntington Learning Center, 1 Nagog Park, Acton

Or you can bring items to the Back-to-School Playdate on August 27, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Gardner Field Playground, Massachusetts Ave, Acton.  

Most needed items:

PencilsErasersCrayonsWashable markersColored pencils
Glue sticksDry erase markersNotebooksFoldersSticky notes
Index cardsFacial tissuesPaper towelsDisinfecting wipesHand sanitizer

 

Boxborough FreeBee Market

The Boxborough FreeBee Market will hold weekly “Food Rescue Saturdays” from July 11 through October 2, on the lawn at UCCB (United Church of Christ, Boxborough), 30 Middle Road in Boxborough.  The goal is to avoid letting food go to waste.  For these events, volunteers collect food from local donors – farms, retailers and others – that would otherwise be thrown out despite being perfectly good to eat.  This food is made available to anyone who wants it, with no vetting or residency requirements. 

On four Saturdays during the season, the FreeBee network holds expanded Community Markets.  These are designated as larger community events with additional activities and opportunities for people to learn about food rescue, gardening, sustainability, and community organizations. In 2026, Community Markets will be held on the following dates:

  • Aug 15- Back to School Market
  • Sept 12- Harvest Market
  • Oct 24- Halloween/costume finale

See how you can get involved with the FreeBee Markets in the ‘Volunteer Opportunities’ section below.

Enroll Your Child in ManaBadi Telugu Classes

Registration is now open for the upcoming school year with ManaBadi, a non-profit cultural and language program dedicated to teaching the Telugu language to children ages 4 and up. Students build reading, writing, and conversational skills in a fun, interactive environment. Classes are available in Littleton and other locations.

To learn more and secure a spot, please see the SiliconAndhra ManaBadi Official Website.  If you have questions, email Hema Bhuvanagiri ma.bhuvanagiri@manabadi.siliconandhra.org or call at 773-807-0478.

English At Large Conversation Classes

Looking to practice your English speaking skills? Join a free conversation group with English At Large to build your skills and confidence speaking English in a group setting with the support of trained facilitators. “English At Large” conversation groups are for intermediate to advanced adult English language learners to practice speaking and listening for 90 minutes once per week. Join a group of 10-12 learners and two facilitators to discuss topics including American culture and holidays, idioms, and daily life situations. For more information about English At Large conversation groups, visit our conversation group page, or email info@englishatlarge.org.

Acton Nursing Services offers free loans of home-health equipment

Acton Nursing Services (ANS) offers a range of home-health equipment on free loan on a first-come-first-served basis for Acton residents of any age. Whether it’s a slip-and-fall accident on snow or ice, a sports accident, a motor vehicle incident, or recovery time at home after a hospital procedure, ANS can often offer free equipment like crutches, canes, wheelchairs, walkers, shower chairs, and more.

Recovery can be hard enough; why make it more expensive than it has to be? Call: 978.929.6650 to check availability. These items are also available on loan to residents hosting visitors from out of town who may need them during their stay.

Full information about ANS’ year-round services for all Acton residents is available at https://www.actonnursingservice.com.

Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council Community Survey

The Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council (ABCC) supports performances, arts, humanities, and cultural programs in and around Acton and Boxborough. Each year, the Massachusetts Legislature appropriates funding to the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), which distributes those funds to the 329 all-volunteer local cultural councils throughout the commonwealth. These grants are guided by MCC funding priorities, along with local community needs.

We invite all community members to participate in our Community Cultural Survey, using the link below. Your feedback will help the ABCC better understand the cultural interests and needs of our residents and guide future funding priorities for local arts and cultural programming. Thank you for helping shape the future of cultural programming in our community!

Take the Survey

ABCC also invites any interested residents from Acton-Boxborough to join the council.  To learn more about the Acton-Boxborough Cultural Council, visit actonboxboroughculturalcouncil.org or email abccinformation@gmail.com.

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market seeks volunteers

The Acton-Boxborough Farmers Market is open for the season and is seeking volunteers to help with a variety of tasks. Community members can play a hands-on role in supporting local farmers, small businesses, and facilitating access to fresh, healthy food.

Volunteers help with a variety of activities, such as market setup and breakdown, greeting visitors, helping vendors, and other tasks.  Visit the Volunteer Information Website to learn more about the types of volunteer opportunities available and how you can sign up.

See related article in the June 6, 2026 edition of the Acton Exchange.

Domestic Violence Services Network Volunteer Advocate Training

The Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN) will be offering a free volunteer advocate training program for interested community members.  DVSN advocates provide direct service to domestic violence survivors, including emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning, in 13 partner communities. 

Training will take a total of 40 hours over a 3-week period from September 28 through October 16.  Volunteer advocates will have an additional 10-12 hours of supervised field training after completing the classroom training. There is no cost to participate. 

Click here for information, including the dates, times and location of training. You can call (978) 318-3421 or email training@dvsn.org for more information and/or to request an application. for additional information and/or to request an application.. 

Applications for the training program must be submitted by Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Acton Food Pantry seeks volunteers and donations of food

The Acton Food Pantry has been providing food for residents in need in Acton, Boxborough, and surrounding towns since 1984. It typically serves 350 families per week and relies heavily on volunteers.

Current needs include:

  • People who have flexibility to volunteer for daytime shifts, particularly on Wednesdays.
  • People who might be interested in helping with Saturday morning pickups at Stop & Shop or Trader Joe’s.
  • Fluent Portuguese speakers to help us better serve our Brazilian client population.

We always need a roster of substitutes and have a variety of opportunities. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete a preliminary application on the Pantry website here or email volunteercoordinator@actonfoodpantry.org.

The Acton Food Pantry desperately needs dry and canned dog and cat food. Smaller bags are better so more can be distributed to every family in need.

The following information and more can be found at www.actonfoodpantry.org/food.

Donations can be delivered directly to Acton Food Pantry at the following times:

  • Mondays from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • Thursdays from 12:00 n.-2:00 p.m.
  • Fridays from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Please note we cannot accommodate drop-offs on Wednesdays when we are open. Please see the calendar on the home page for open/close times.

If you are unable to bring your donations at those times, please call us at 978-635-9295 and we will arrange another time with you. Donations can also be dropped into the drop boxes at the locations listed at the website. Or easier yet, donate via our Amazon Wish List!

Boston Area Gleaners seeks volunteers

Boston Area Gleaners was established to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables for residents in our communities, while also supporting local farms and reducing food waste. 

This work is made possible by our network of extraordinary volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering with us, visit our website to learn more and sign up, and to see our list of current opportunities. We hope to see you soon!

Danny’s Place seeks volunteers

Calling all high school and junior high school students! Volunteer at Danny’s Place, 543 Mass Ave., after school or on your days off.

We’re looking for enthusiastic helpers/volunteers to join our team at Danny’s Place. Support our programs, gain valuable administrative skills, and make a difference in your community. Flexible hours & meaningful opportunities await!

Email us to apply: info@dannys-place.org.

Household Goods seeks volunteers

Can you help people in need make a home? We urgently need volunteers to help in a number of ways.

Thursday and Saturday afternoons help is greatly needed to load furniture onto our clients’ trucks. Haven’t volunteered yet? Sign up for a new volunteer orientation. Find out more or register here.

For more information, please go to: https://www.householdgoods.org/volunteering/

or email: volunteercoordinator@actonfoodpantry.org

The Swap Shop seeks volunteers

The Swap Shop, located at the Acton Transfer Station, helps keep good things out of the trash. We are open May through October, Tuesday through Saturday. See Town of Acton Swap Shop website for details.

We’d love to have more volunteers so we can be open for more hours. Volunteers choose their hours. To learn about volunteering, contact Debby Andell debbyandell@gmail.com

Community Supper needs weekly veggie transport

Community Supper provides free dinner and companionship every Wednesday night, year round, to approximately 130 people who live in and around Acton.

Community Supper is looking for a volunteer as soon as possible with a pickup truck or SUV to transport our weekly vegetable donation.

Each Wednesday (around noon) through late September, you’ll pick up 6–8 tubs of fresh vegetables from The Food Project (near Walden Woods) and deliver them to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church (472 Massachusetts Ave in Acton).

If you can help on a regular basis—or even serve as a backup driver—please send an email to mtcalvarycommunitysupper@gmail.com. Your help ensures we can continue serving fresh produce with our community meals. Thank you!

Boxborough Freebee Market

See item in ‘Goings On Around Town’ section above to learn about the Boxborough FreeBee Market.

You can get involved with the Boxborough FreeBee Market by going to our website volunteer page.  Here are some of the ways you can help:

  • Gardening for veterans and novices. Sign up here:
  • Volunteering. Indicate your interests here.
  • We also need a volunteer to keep our social media feeds on Facebook, Instagram, and perhaps TikTok.

ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Faith-based organizations

Faith-based organizations in and near Acton provide a myriad of opportunities for connecting and serving, as well as worshipping. Check out these websites for more details:

Unless otherwise noted, the organization is in Acton.

Featured Sponsors

Click logos below for more information.