How to help less fortunate Norwalk families

NORWALK — As businesses shut down across the state during the coronavirus pandemic, many residents have lost their source of income and are struggling to pay their bills.

Want to help? Look no further than this year’s Giving Fund.

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:

234: Rosa Maria is a single mother of three young children living in Norwalk, who was recently deserted by her husband. Rosa Maria immediately began work part time after her husband left. She has been unable to arrange or afford child care for her youngest, which would allow her to work full time. Her husband has not yet contributed to the household expenses and she believes he may have left the state. Rosa Maria would benefit from a donation of $400 to help her with babysitting and general expenses.

235: Linene is the grandmother and caregiver of 14-year-old twins, who reside in New Canaan. She has been their caregiver for the last two years, as neither of their parents are able to care for them. Linene is the sole financial provider for her family, and she is struggling to pay bills and provide the twins with what they need. She has been working full time, but she has fallen behind this winter as her hours were cut drastically due to COVID-19. While she is looking for a second job, a donation of $400 would help Linene manage until she can increase her work hours.

236: Katrina lives with her mother, stepfather, three siblings, and grandmother in Norwalk. Katrina has a major learning disability, which due to the current hybrid education, requires her family to spend a lot of time guiding her learning. In addition, her family has suffered great losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mom’s hours were cut by more than half and they are struggling to provide food and pay bills. Transportation is a big issue, as they only have one unreliable family car. A gift of $500 will help them cover costs to repair their vehicle, pay bills, and buy food over the holiday.

237: Ashley is a teen growing up in foster care. She recently graduated high school and has dreams to pursue a career in nursing.

She is hopeful to attend community college as she embarks on this new path in life and move towards independence. A gift of $300 will help Ashley with school supplies as she prepares for her studies.

238: Steven is a single father of three young daughters living in Stamford. Steven was homeless and living in a shelter before he was able to work with Family & Children’s Agency program services who assisted him with securing an apartment. Steven has been able to secure part time work during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he is struggling to pay his rent each month. A gift of $500 would help him to maintain his living situation for himself and his children.

239: Molly is a single woman currently caring for her four young nieces and nephews after they were removed from their birth family’s home. Molly works full-time as a manager at a small, family owned restaurant, her annual income being enough to support a single person. At the moment, Molly is not receiving any financial support and is feeling the demands of supporting a five-person household due to increased grocery bills and limited clothing and shoes for the children. A gift of $500 would allow Molly to continue providing her nieces and nephews with food and warm clothing for the winter.

240: Jacob is a single father who recently gained custody of his young daughter. He just relocated from Bridgeport to Norwalk to ensure that his daughter remained in the same school to lessen changes for her. In doing so, Jacob left his apartment behind and is temporarily residing with his daughter at his mother’s home until he can obtain an apartment in Norwalk. Although Jacob is employed, his finances as a single parent are challenging. A gift of $500 would help Jacob and his daughter to set up their new apartment with furniture, bedding and household items.

241: Jasmin is a single mother to her 5-year-old daughter living in Norwalk. Jasmin had issues in her past that she has addressed and has been working vigorously to overcome. She has been working full time at a doctor’s office to better her future for herself and her daughter. Jasmin has recently secured an apartment that she is currently trying to furnish. Even with a fulltime job, Jasmin is struggling to support her family and furnish her new apartment. A gift of $400 would help her to sustain her new living situation for herself and her daughter.

242: John is 55 years old and has several physical and mental health problems. He was living with his brother in New York, but due to his mental health issues, had to leave his brother’s house and is now street homeless in Norwalk. Soon, John needs to undergo spinal surgery. He does have a car that he uses to go to his doctor’s appointments and to keep him sheltered, but he does not have the means to pay for the vehicle’s insurance and registration. A gift of $500 would help John to pay for these critical costs.

243: Karla is a wife and mother of four young children living in Norwalk. At the beginning of the pandemic, Karla and her husband stopped working for a few months. In early summer, they went back to work and were able to catch up on their past due rent. Karla, her children, and her husband tested positive for COVID-19 and they again were forced to stop working. After a month they tested negative and returned to work. In recent weeks, Karla reported she, her husband, and two of the children tested positive for COVID-19 once again. Karla and her husband are facing tremendous financial stress due to the impact of the pandemic on their family. A gift of $500 would help the family sustain their living situation and pay off several bills.

244: Kisha is a young, single mother of two and is six months pregnant. Kisha was homeless and living in a Norwalk shelter for a few months in the beginning of the pandemic. Recently, Kisha decided to temporarily move to Bridgeport to her mother’s house, where unfortunately due to space, just one of her children is allowed to stay. Kisha has a stable, low-paying job and her salary does not allow her to save money for a security deposit for an apartment where Kisha could raise her children together. A gift of $500 would contribute to Kisha’s plans to reunify her family and cover some of the expenses for the new baby.