Community rallies to support local families in need
The Giving Fund continues into the New Year, offering residents of Greenwich and Stamford an opportunity to make donations to help local families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area residents have been generous in making donations, with tens of thousands of dollars pouring in since the holidays.
The Giving Fund was created decades ago to help residents struggling during the holidays — unable to pay for their basic needs such as rent, food and child care.
The Greenwich Time and the Stamford Advocate is running the Giving Fund in partnership with two area nonprofits, Family Centers and Person-to-Person.
Each case in the Giving Fund includes an estimated dollar amount that would help a local person or family tackle everyday costs. Every dollar donated to the Giving Fund goes directly to the people in the stories, which are published every Thursday and Sunday into the New Year.
The names have been changed to protect the participants’ privacy. Here are the stories of 10 neighbors in need:
Case #439: Ellen, who is single and has two children, works three jobs and still is short of the money necessary for basic needs and child care. Ellen has been working every holiday since she was 17. A donation of $300 would help her cover her bills, after she treated her children to a wonderful Christmas by spending it with them rather than working.
Case #440: Stephanie owns a small business in the food service industry. As a result of the pandemic, she has been forced to pivot to selling food only takeout, which is not enough to cover her expenses. She has made difficult decisions, such as letting staff go and cutting contracts with vendors. A gift of $1,000 would help Stephanie bridge the gap until her business can reopen in earnest, as well as cover medical expenses related to the pandemic.
Case #441: Denise is the parent of three school-age girls. She had worked in a restaurant, which has been shuttered since March. Her children’s remote-learning has made finding supplemental work next to impossible. A gift of $1,000 would enable Denise to provide for her daughters until she’s able to return to work.
Case #442: Helen is a single mother who lost her job at a small meal prep warehouse. She came to this country a-year-and-a- half ago and lacks a support network. Her child goes to kindergarten and will participate in an after-school program so that Helen can go to work as a housekeeper. But she is struggling to pay for rent, groceries and other basic needs. A gift of $270 would help Helen pay the after-school program fee.
Case #443: Lilian recently gave birth to her first child prematurely — and she had not known she was pregnant until moments before the unexpected delivery. Lilian is struggling to find employment, and her partner is only working part time. After this life-changing experience, she is coping as best as she can but she needs items for her baby. With a donation of $400, Lilian would be able to get diapers and formula.
Case #444: Julia is juggling caring for her children with working and taking online ESL classes. She recently had to quit her job after her husband went to Pennsylvania for a job opportunity, after not working for several months. It has been difficult for Julia to do everything alone. With a donation of $275, Julia would be able to cover food expenses for her and her baby and pay some bills.
Case #445: Cecilia is a mother of two, with her son born just this past fall. She recently started working again at a grocery store to help support her family. But shortly thereafter, Cecilia tested positive for COVID-19, and her husband and two kids became infected as well. They spent the holidays quarantined and sick. Cecilia and her husband were out of work to quarantine and recover. The family has fallen behind on their bills, but a donation of $275 would help Cecilia get caught up.
Case #446: Lorena has a son who was diagnosed with severe autism and a vision impairment. She has had a hard time keeping up with medical bills, medication and equipment. Due to her low income and lack of transportation, she is concerned about getting to his appointments and paying his medical fees. A gift of $500 would allow Lorena to travel with her son to his multiple appointments, cover the medical fees and update her child’s equipment.
Case #447: Adriana is a hard-working mother of four who has recently won a battle against cervical cancer. Although she was in treatment, she continued working. Due to the COVID19 outbreak, her shifts as a dishwasher at a restaurant have been reduced. With many expenses, Adriana is concerned about putting food on the table. A gift of $500 would allow Adriana to buy two months worth of groceries.
Case #448: Laura is a mother of two, who just gave birth to a baby boy two months ago. Due to her lack of employment and a reduction in her husband’s work hours due to COVID 19, their household income has significantly decreased. Laura is concerned about paying their rent this month. A gift of $500 would allow Laura to cover her rent payment.
All the Giving Fund cases are also listed online. To make a donation online, visit givingfund.isecuresites.com.