Help neighbors struggling during pandemic

As we move into a New Year, many residents are still struggling from the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

It is hard to imagine the struggles for families who are unable to pay for their basic needs such as rent, food and childcare. Generous members of the community can make a difference by making a donation to the Giving Fund this holiday season.

The Greenwich Time and the Stamford Advocate are providing readers with the opportunity to help their neighbors in need through the Giving Fund, which is running in partnership with Family Centers and Person-toPerson, two area nonprofits.

Each case in the Giving Fund includes an estimated dollar amount that would help a local person or family tackle everyday expenses. Every dollar donated to the Giving Fund goes directly to the people in the stories, which are published every Thursday and Sunday throughout the holiday season.

The names have been changed to protect the participants’ privacy. Here are the stories of 10 neighbors in need:

Case #397: Britany, an expecting single mother with a young child, moved to Connecticut a few months ago after fleeing a domestic violence situation. She is now experiencing a high-risk pregnancy due to her asthma. Her work hours were reduced to fewer than 20 hours per week due to COVID-19. A gift of $800 would assist her in paying two months of back rent.

Case #398: Mariana, the mother of a baby and a young child, is unable to work due to health complications from her pregnancy. Mariana’s partner is the family’s only provider, but he recently was injured in a job accident. He is not able to perform his duties at the construction company and they reduced his salary. A gift of $600 would assist the family with rent and groceries.

Case #399: Jack, who has several health issues, recently moved to a more appropriate apartment that will make life easier for him and his wife. He was able to keep most of his belongings, but getting a few new necessary items would help with this transition. A gift of $500 would help them purchase needed items to make their new place a home.

Case #400: James was hospitalized for an extended period and fell behind on his bills. He has slowly been getting back on his feet but is not able to catch up financially. A gift of $800 would help James so that he can get back to where he was before his hospital stay.

Case #401: Nancy recently underwent through surgery and was in a rehab center for a short period of time. During her hospitalization, she fell behind on her bills and is now drowning in debt. Nancy is struggling to get back on track with her finances as she deals with the additional stress of uncovered medical expenses. A gift of $500 would help Nancy get back on her feet.

Case #402: Jenny had some problems in her apartment and had to discard all of her furniture. She is working toward replacing what had to be thrown away but is struggling just to cover her monthly expenses. A gift of $500 would help Jenny purchase more furniture to make her dwelling feel like a home.

Case #403: Jack is disabled and needs replacement hearing aids. His insurance does not cover these much-needed devices. Hearing aids are expensive, and he is having a hard time saving up the entire amount. A gift of $500 would help Jack purchase his new hearing aids.

Case #404: Jackie had been receiving items through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program for seniors, but the food boxes are no longer distributed. Jackie is doing the best she can to keep up with the cost of groceries and medications. A gift of $300 would help supplement Jackie’s income to cover their growing costs.

Case #405: During the pandemic, Janice lost her partner, who was the sole provider in the household. She has some income coming in, and she has received help from her family. As the pandemic continues, her family is finding it harder to offer her assistance. Janice would benefit from a gift of $300 to put food on the table.

Case #406: Mark and Maggie are struggling financially. Mark was employed until last year, when he was hospitalized and then spent several months in rehab. He lost his income, and Maggie also became unemployed. A gift of $500 would help them pay their rent.

All the Giving Fund cases are also listed online. To make a donation online, visit givingfund.isecuresites.com .