Help neighbors in need during holidays

Every Thursday and Sunday through the end of the year, the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time will publish short stories about local families and people in need of a helping hand. The names of those included have been changed to protect their privacy.

Each case will include an estimated dollar amount that would help them 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 Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time sponsors The Giving Fund in partnership with Family Centers and Person-to-Person.

Case #310

Sara is a single mother of one. She is searching for a job but is having difficulty finding one. Sara is partially blind; she lost sight in her left eye at birth, and her right eye is only partially functioning.

She receives very little assistance from SSI and cannot afford extracurricular activities for her daughter, who is 9 years old and loves ballet. The Ballet School of Stamford granted her daughter a partial scholarship, however, due to her limited income, Sara cannot afford to pay the remaining balance so that her daughter can begin lessons.

A grant of $300 would help Sara enroll her daughter in ballet class and expand her opportunities. Meanwhile, Sara will continue looking for a job. Case #311

Luc is a single dad raising a daughter. He lost his job March and has been looking for work to help support his teenage daughter, who is a senior in high school. He is behind on his utility bills and cannot afford the basic needs (food on the table) for himself and his daughter. He is desperately searching for a job, but it is hard due to his lack of English. A gift of $500 would be a big help over the holidays.

Case #312

Mary and John are married and raising five children. Their youngest daughter has cerebral palsy and requires 24-hour care, which prevents Mary from working.

The family is behind on all of their bills and struggles on a day-to-basis to make ends meet. John is absent from the home much of the time because he working two full-time jobs, which barely brings in sufficient income to provide the basic necessities. Based on the family’s overall circumstance, a gift of $800 would greatly be appreciated to accommodate the household needs.

Case #313

Sara is a single mother who struggles to support herself and 6-year old daughter on a limited income as an Uber driver. Sara was denied Social Security benefits on several occasions despite her mental incapacity and inability to maintain full-time employment. She has fallen behind in her bills and fears that she and her daughter will become homeless again because of her limited income. Based on her overall living situation, a gift of $500 would greatly be appreciated. Case #314

Ashley is a young single mother of a 3-year-old boy. In addition to not receiving any type of support from her son’s father, she has no extended family in the area able to help her. With a low-paying job, Ashley struggles every month to make ends meet. Even though finances are extremely tight, she refuses to let her circumstances stop her from pursuing her dream career. In addition to working full time, Ashley is a part-time student seeking to obtain her associate’s degree. A gift of $500 would help her pay school tuition.

Case #315

Katherine is a single mother of a 3-year-old boy with ongoing special needs who requires extra help and support. She is a victim of domestic abuse and has no extended family in the area able to provide help and support of any kind. Katherine is a hard worker with a low-paying job, and every month she finds herself struggling to cover the most basic of expenses. A gift of $500 would help Katherine pay for special education services for her son.

Case #316

Sophia is a young mother of a 6-month-old boy. Sophia has some serious health-related issues that prevent her from being able to work. She lives with her mother, who has physical disabilities and is also unable to work. Disability income barely covers their expenses, so money is very tight. Sometimes Sophia skips medical appointments because she does not have the money to afford co-pays. A gift of $500 would help Sophia cover medical expenses.

Case #317

Caroline is a working mother of a 2-year-old girl. Due to her limited income, Caroline and her daughter have been living with extended family, in a very small house, causing daily chaos and increasing tension among family members. Caroline has been saving money for over a year to rent a studio apartment. A gift of $500 would help toward a security deposit, allowing her to have the much-needed space, independence and privacy she needs with her daughter.

Case #318

Patricia is a mother of a 2-year-old boy. Both mom and baby have an inherited disease requiring frequent medical appointments and hospitalizations for her son. During this year, the family has moved twice due to the high cost of renting an apartment in Stamford. Patricia is able to work only part time due to the numerous needs of her son, causing her to often miss work. A gift of $500 would help with their medical bills, cost of rent, child care expenses and transportation.

Case #319

Sandra is a teenage mother who is very responsible and motivated. An 11th-grader, she works hard to stay in school, while also working after school and weekends to support herself and her child. A gift of $500 would be greatly appreciated to help pay for rent, food and child-care expenses.

To contribute, visit http://bit.ly/2jU5O1H and select from case numbers above.