Lend a helping hand to Norwalkers in need

NORWALK — Christmas is only a week away, and there are still many families throughout the city who could use a helping hand.

For the fourth year in a row, the Norwalk Hour and Family & Children’s Agency are coming together to offer a chance for readers to sponsor one of these less fortunate families for the holiday season. The Giving Fund features local residents who need money to help buy gifts, visit relatives or just a little financial help to get through these winter months.

Each case includes an estimated dollar amount that would help the featured clients face everyday challenges like rent payments, child care costs and transportation. Every dollar donated to the Giving Fund goes directly to the clients in need. The families and individuals who benefit from the Giving Fund often don’t know they have been submitted, and aliases are used to protect their privacy.

This year, more than previous years, have been difficult on families in need, according to Rob Cashel, president and CEO of the Family & Children’s Agency.

“Given the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our community, generous support through the Giving Fund is now more important than ever in meeting the critical basic needs of our FCA clients including children, families, adults and seniors,” he said.

The Norwalk Hour will publish new cases in print every Friday, with a coupon for donations, and maintain a full list online. Donations also can be made online.

Here are this week’s people who need help:

Miguel lives in Norwalk with his parents and two older sisters. Miguel’s mom is pregnant, and both of his parents have disabilities that make it difficult for them to leave the house, and as such are unable to work. His family is struggling to pay for housing and are being forced to relocate. In addition, they are having difficulty coming up with the deposit for a new home. A gift of $500 would help Miguel’s family by contributing towards a security deposit for a new place to live and other necessities to help prepare the family for the new baby.

224: Jay lives with two siblings and their single mom in Norwalk. He has gone through so much in his short life. A few years ago, they escaped from a domestic violence environment, the effects of which the whole family still feels today. Currently, all family members are seeing a therapist in an attempt to work through this horrible experience. It has been hard for Jay’s mom to be strong for all her children and herself. At times she feels very lonely and is often exhausted from providing for her family. Jay’s family has suffered hardship due to the pandemic. Jay’s mom is currently unemployed and actively looking for fulltime employment. A gift of $500 could help alleviate the rent bill for at least a month.

225: Susan is a youth in foster care currently being raised by her grandmother. She has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and at times it can be difficult for her to communicate with others. She has been participating in virtual learning for several months due to COVID-19. A gift of $500 would support Susan in gaining additional academic support resources to assist her throughout her virtual learning process.

226: Marc is a young boy growing up in foster care in Bridgeport. He has two loving foster parents, who care for him deeply and want to help him succeed in life. Marc has been home for virtual learning due to COVID-19 and has been struggling to complete his academics. A gift of $350 will help Marc and his foster parents with the tutoring supports he needs to stay focused on his education.

227: Patricia has been diagnosed with SchizoAffective Disorder for over 50 years. She is now 80 years old and has incurred even more physical challenges. Patricia needs a walker to ambulate and has frequent back pain due to sleeping often on the couch in her living room. Her son lives with her and assists with Patricia’s IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) needs. Unfortunately, her house is weathered and cluttered. Family & Children’s Agency has been assisting Patricia with her ADL/IADL needs. A gift of $250 would help to offset her basic care needs.

228: Barbara is a single grandmother residing in Stratford. She recently took on her four grandsons through the Department of Children & Families foster care system. The youngest, a baby, was born with Neonatal Abstinency Syndrome due to his mother's drug use while she was pregnant with him. The children came into her care due to substance use and intimate partner violence. The children have been through a lot and Barbara is determined to ensure that they are happy and healthy. Barbara has many supports but continues to struggle financially with four additional children in the home. A gift of $500 would be very helpful to assist her with caring for the children and ensuring their needs are properly met.

229: Cindy is a single mother of three children living in Norwalk. Cindy is at home raising her newborn baby and currently renting a room with her children. She is working on finding an apartment with the help of program services, to provide a stable home for her family. Cindy has family that helps with her children but is currently struggling with providing for her family and will need assistance once she secures an apartment. A gift of $400 would help her to sustain her living situation and provide funding for warmer clothes, diapers, and necessities for the coming winter months.

230: Maria is a single mother of six children living in Stamford. She is currently unemployed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she is unable to work as she is home taking care of her two youngest children. Maria and her children are struggling financially to make ends meet and are at risk of getting displaced from their home this winter. A gift of $500 would help Maria sustain her living situation for herself and her children.

231: Rita just came out of homelessness with her two daughters. Her youngest has a severe learning disability that requires lots of attention and support. Rita’s older daughter just had a baby and needs help to support both herself and her baby. Rita is actively looking for a job, but she is still unemployed and faces several economic challenges. She often must walk to places to save money for groceries. A gift of $250 to purchase a warm winter coat, boots, a hat, a scarf, and mittens would greatly benefit Rita so she can run her errands more comfortably.

232: Georgia is an 84year-old woman who lives alone in a senior housing apartment. She suffers from depression and agerelated physical symptoms. Georgia does not have a lot of support from her family and has always put their needs before her own. Her apartment is cluttered, and she needs assistance with minor home improvements and organizing. Georgia is getting caregiver assistance through Family & Children’s Agency but would benefit greatly from additional support to help with the repairs. A gift of $500 would make a real difference for Georgia.

233: Tanya is a single mother who resides with her parents and her 3-yearold son in Norwalk. Tanya recently lost her father due to cancer. Now, she and her mother are struggling to pay most of their household bills. A donation of $400 would help Tanya to offset their household expenses and obtain basic necessities, including food, during these difficult times.