Donors can support community in time of need
As the holidays come to an end, many families in our community are still struggling to make ends meet. And it’s not too late to help.
The Giving Fund, now in its 38th year, offers readers the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people in the area.
Donations made to The Giving Fund directly benefit two local nonprofits, Greenwich-based Family Centers and Darien-based Person to Person, which both help struggling families in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and throughout lower Fairfield County.
On Sundays and Thursdays in the winter season, The Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time and The Darien Times are printing the stories of area residents in need.
In our stories today, a woman who was recently widowed needs to buy winter clothes for her children; a single man who paid for his sister’s apartment to keep a roof over her children’s heads now needs help with his own rent; and the mother of a young baby needs help paying for driving lessons because she feels unsafe taking the bus to her night job.
A small donation to cover these everyday needs would go a long way toward improving their lives.
“Members of the community can give right here in their backyards to help people in need and help them live the lives they deserve,” said William Brucker, chief advancement officer at Family Centers. “This is an important way to support the community.”
The stories
Each case in the Giving Fund includes an estimated dollar amount to help an individual or family tackle everyday challenges. The names in the stories have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.
Case 460: Ruth is a working grandmother with custody of one of her grandchildren. She is also providing financial, social and emotional support to her five other grandchildren. A gift of $400 would support her as she faces additional financial costs with utilities and groceries.
Case 461: Jennifer is a mother of two and a recent widow, leaving her the sole provider in her family. A gift of $400 would support Jennifer as she works to make sure her children have the necessities — including clothes and groceries.
Case 462: Nicole and Joseph are working parents with three young children who recently lost their home. As they look for a new place to live, a gift of $500 would provide Nicole and Joseph with the necessary funds for moving as well as cover some costs of utilities and groceries as they make this transition with their family.
Case 463: Jose was the only source of income in his family, but unfortunately he recently lost his job. Now he and his wife, Vivian, are just getting by as they try to provide for their three children. A gift of $400 would provide them with assistance in paying for their utilities and groceries.
Case 464: Shane is a husband and father of two young children. He is currently the only member of his family who can work. Recently, they have had transportation problems. A gift of $350 would assist Shane in paying for some of the car repairs and allow him to get to work and for his family to school safely.
Case 465: Miriam is a single mother with a young child who is looking for work to support her small family. A gift of $400 would provide the cost of warm clothing and groceries this winter season while she job hunts.
Case 466: Joan and Thomas have two young children under the age of 5 and also care and provide for Joan’s elderly mother. Thomas is the only person in the family working as Joan cares for the kids and her mother. A gift of $400 would help this family purchase groceries this winter.
Case 467: Lisa recently had her second baby, after a high-risk pregnancy that prevented her from working for the last two months. Her family is facing serious financial struggles. A contribution of $600 would help them greatly to pay for some of their needs.
Case 468: Mercy is a single mother of a 14month-old baby who was recently diagnosed with a developmental delay. She works the 3-to-10:30 p.m. shift and takes public transportation because she does not drive. Now Mercy will need to take her baby to therapy. Her dream is to learn to drive, but she needs financial support to apply for a driver’s license and take driving lessons. A contribution of $500 would help Mercy achieve her goal.
Case 469: Rita is a teenage single mother of a 6-month-old baby who attends school in the morning and takes care of her baby in the afternoon. Rita receives some support from the baby’s father, but she has other expenses to cover. Rita is due to appear in immigration court, and needs an attorney but does not have the money for it. A contribution of $400 would help this young mom with her expenses.
Case 470: Luceli, a single mom with five children, works part time as a nurse’s aide. She cannot work full time because the children’s father moved out and she has no help in getting her children to school in the morning or safely off the bus after school. Luceli has no extra money to buy her children presents or prepare a meal for the holidays. A gift of $500 would help Luceli pay for her Christmas this year.
Case 471: Yesica, who is expecting her first child, has struggled with pregnancy complications that sent her to the hospital. She also recently tested positive for COVID-19. Yesica’s husband was required to quarantine, which cut his work hours at a restaurant. They are feeling overwhelmed financially while preparing for the arrival of their first child. A gift of $500 would relieve the stress of covering bills and groceries.
Case 472: Maria recently gave birth to her second baby. Because of her maternity leave, she hasn’t been able to work or contribute to her family’s income. Her husband works day and night, but he is not able to afford basic needs such as winter clothes and formula for the new baby boy. A gift of $500 would allow Maria to provide clothing and food for her family for two months.
Case 473: Tricia is solely responsible for the financial and emotional support for her two children and her 65-year-old mother, who has become too ill to help with child care while Tricia works. As a result Tricia has cut her hours — and her paycheck is drastically smaller as well. A gift of $500 would benefit Tricia, who has so little to even cover her basic needs.
Case 474: Aiden’s mom is struggling this year after his father left and is not able to provide much support for Aiden and his mother. Aiden’s mother works hard as a nurse's aide, but she struggles especially at this time of year to give Aiden some gifts for Christmas. A gift of $500 would help Aiden have a wonderful Christmas and help his mother cover her costs.
Case #475: Caterine, a widow, is a single mother of a 9-year-old with health concerns. Though she works, her hours were significantly decreased after a patient she cared for died. Now she is not able to pay some of her bills. A gift of $400 would assist her with rent, utilities and transportation needs.
Case 476: Randel is a mother of three children, two of whom have specific needs. Her husband works and she stays home to care for the family and take her daughter to multiple appointments. Their daughter was admitted to an inpatient hospital for a few weeks, which took a toll on Randel and her family. A gift of $500 would help them get caught up on bills and provide a nice holiday for their children.
Case 477: A 13-year-old boy and his family were recently evicted from their home. The family was left in debt after shutting down their food truck due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have not been able to celebrate Christmas for two years. The boy and his family could use a gift of $300 to help with rent and utilities as they work to get their business back up and running.
Case 478: The only source of income for Rashard, 38, is his monthly disability check. He used his last two checks to help his sister, who — along with her three children, one of whom has pneumonia — is facing imminent eviction from her apartment. As a result, Rashard is worried about his own living situation. A gift of $500 would help Rashard to pay the back rent that he owes.
Case 479: Alice, the mother of a 2-year-old boy, is facing a difficult time in her marriage. She had been attending counseling with a therapist, but stopped going. Even though she paid a reduced fee, she said she did not have the money and that bills were piling up. Alice does not work nor does she have medical insurance. She depends financially on her son’s father. A contribution of $400 would help this mother pay her bills and continue with therapy.