Funds met for 15 cases, local families still in need

Connecticut Post readers donated $23,799 to local people and families in need of help this winter over seven weeks through The Giving Fund.

For the 10th consecutive year, the Post partnered with United Way, a nonprofit organization focused on charitable fundraising and support, to provide stories of people in the community who need financial help to get through the holidays and the winter months.

Donations are made to The Giving Fund, a philanthropic partnership between United Way, LifeBridge of Bridgeport and the Connecticut Post. Coupons to mail-in donations were provided in print weekly. Online donations can be made at https://bit.ly/2UWVaFx.

As of 1 p.m. Wednesday, 127 Connecticut Post readers donated $23,799 to the cases shared from Thanksgiving 2018 through Jan. 3. The needs were fully met for the following cases: 001, 010, 017, 019, 021, 024, 027, 030, 034, 037, 043, 045, 051, 055 and 060.

All cases for this season can be found at www.ctpost.com/givingfund. Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those asking for help.

Over the seven weeks, a total of $29,220 was asked for in the Connecticut Post cases. With the amount donated, roughly 91 percent of the total ask was met.

David Kennedy, chief operating officer of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, said he knows fol- lowing the holiday season a lot of people tend to keep their spending to a minimum.

“We are all getting our post-holiday lives back on track and not thinking much about others,” Kennedy said. “But this is also a very tough time for those families who are facing struggles.”

But with so much generosity already for this season’s Giving Fund, Kennedy said, only about $5,500 worth of donations could meet 100 percent of the needs — a feat that was accomplished last year.

“Hopefully readers will continue to be generous and help more of their neighbors,” he said. “Start the new year on a positive note.”

Over the next several days, the Connecticut Post will publish the cases that are still in need of donations, divided up by when the case was published. The following cases are from week one and were initially published in the paper on Nov. 22, 2018.

Elena — Case 002

Elena needs a warm coat and boots. The 18-yearold is living with her grandmother in Bridgeport. The two recently lost the home they were living in due to foreclosure and are searching for an apartment. Elena is a new mother who needs a winter coat and boots to help keep her warm while she waits for the bus to her parttime job in Stratford. A gift of $200 would help her make this purchase.

Melissa — Case 003

Melissa needs help paying off her dental bills. The single mother of three, living in Bridgeport, was a victim of domestic violence for years. Her landlord has raised her rent and a recent trip to the dentist left her with a $800 bill. A gift of $500 would help her pay off some of her dental bills and afford some groceries through the winter.

Patrice — Case 004

Patrice needs to keep on her family’s heat and hot water. The single mother of two, living in Bridgeport, is struggling to provide from her family after getting out of an abusive relationship. Patrice is facing homelessness and her bills are piling up, leaving her family without heat or hot water. She has been forced her to take her kids to friends’ homes to bathe and eat. A gift of $500 would help Patrice and her family keep warm for the rest of the winter.

Isabel — Case 005

Isabel hopes to put on smile on her children’s faces. The single mother of two, living in Bridgeport, is trying to get her children some late Christmas gifts. Her son, who doesn’t ask for much for Christmas, asked for a PlayStation game, a coat and pajama bottoms. Her daughter, who was born with cancer but is now cancerfree, asked for a Christmas Barbie Doll and a phone. A gift of $400 would help Isabel get these gifts to surprise her kids.

Amanda — Case 006

Amanda needs help covering some bills. She recently adopted her 3-yearold nephew and is working to hard to adjust to the new responsibilities and costs that come with it. A gift of $500would help Amanda cover some of the costs of having another person to care for as she continues to handle the difficult transition.

Leah — Case 007

Leah needs help covering the cost of groceries. The 36-year-old has two children and has been battling depression, poverty, chronic body pain and domestic violence. Leah is stuck in a low-paying job as she waits to have her Master’s Degree transferred after moving to Bridgeport. A gift of $400 will help her pay for some groceries and bills as she pushes through the winter.

Andrea — Case 008

Andrea needs help affording her transportation. The single mother of two kids lives in Bridgeport and has been in and out of work because of various health problems and surgeries. She was recently diag- nosed with Parkinson’s disease but continues to work. Her car is currently out of service. A gift of $500would help her cover the cost of transportation through the winter season.

Edward — Case 009

Edward needs help affording basic home furnishings. He is a single father of two young children, living in Bridgeport. Though Edward has stable housing, he has limited resources and has been unable to really furnish his house with his kids. A gift of $300 would help him get some furniture to help Edward and his two children feel more at home.