Donations aid families still struggling in pandemic

The residents of Greenwich and Stamford are showing off their generosity, with tens of thousands of dollars pouring in to help local families through the Giving Fund.

The Giving Fund was created to help residents struggling during the holidays from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic — unable to pay for their basic needs such as rent, food and childcare. But generous members of the community are making a difference by making donations to the Giving Fund campaign this New Year.

The Greenwich Time and the Stamford Advocate are providing readers with the opportunity to help their neighbors in need through the Giving Fund, which is run in partnership with two area nonprofits, Family Centers and Person-toPerson.

Each case in the Giving Fund includes an estimated dollar amount that would help a local person or family tackle everyday costs. Every dollar donated to the Giving Fund goes directly to the people in the stories, which are published every Thursday and Sunday into the New Year.

The names have been changed to protect the participants’ privacy. Here are the stories of 16 neighbors in need:

Case #427: Kelly is is the sole provider for her two children, her fiancé and her fiancé’s son. Due to the pandemic, she has been unable to work at full capacity at the healthcare agency due to COVID exposures and illnesses. Kelly struggles to pay her bills. A gift of $700 would help the family catch up on their electric bill.

Case #428: Sonia is a single mother of two children. Before the COVID19 outbreak, she lost her job and was facing foreclosure.

She got a job and was getting back on her feet when the shutdown occurred, and she was let go. With limited unemployment income, Sonia is struggling to pay her mortgage and for basic needs. A gift of $500 would allow Sonia to obtain groceries and pay some bills.

Case #429: Mary, a single mother of three children, works in the school system while managing her children’s schedule switching between remote and in-person learning. Due to COVID19, she lost her parttime position. A gift of $500 would allow Mary to purchase groceries.

Case #430: Jenna and Alex have two daughters. Due to her employer’s negligence, Jenna contracted COVID-19 while cleaning his house. Her family got infected, and she was hospitalized for a week. Jenna struggles with lingering symptoms, especially fatigue, headaches and muscle pain. Her longtime employer stopped paying her after she got infected. A gift of $500 would help the family catch up with bills.

Case #431: Lola is a teenager who arrived in this country two years ago with her mother and two siblings. She enrolled in school and is learning English. She was a victim of sexual abuse resulting in a pregnancy. Lola suffered from preeclampsia, however, gave birth to a healthy boy. A gift of $500 would be a great help in providing diapers, formula and other items for the new baby and his family.

Case #432: Tania is a single mom with a 5month-old baby. She is a victim of verbal abuse from her mother and her employer. The long hours Tania spends at work are not enough to provide for her basic needs. She is trying to legalize her paperwork, which can be a long and expensive process. A gift of $500 would help Tania to pay rent and cover basic needs for the baby.

Case #433: Lily, who struggles with anxiety and depression, is a single mom to a 2-year-old boy and a 3-month-old girl. She manages to find time for her therapy and for her son, who receives therapy for speech delays. Lily works at a part-time job with no benefits, and lives in a small room with both children. Despite efforts to apply for other jobs, she feels financially stuck. Lily doesn’t have enough money for a security deposit to get her own apartment. A gift of $500 would help her to save for the security deposit and provide for her growing family.

Case #434: Laura has two children under the age of 2, and has been staying home to nurse and raise the children while dealing with her diabetes. Due to the pandemic and her husband not working for a while, the bills are piling up. Laura recently started working a few hours a week for a cleaning service to alleviate some of the financial burden, putting her health sometimes at risk. A gift of $500 would assist Laura and her family in paying medical and household bills.

Case #435: Barbara, a single mom, has been a recent victim of domestic violence. She takes care of her 5-year-old and 1-yearold daughters, and her 10-year-old brother, who arrived in this country last year. She sometimes works night shifts and holidays to earn extra money to provide food and clothes to the three children. Barbara struggles to manage time, expenses and basic needs for the children. A gift of $500 or more would assist her in this difficult time.

Case #436: Nelly is a mother of two children who is struggling financially due to her sporadic work schedule. Her oldest child is attending school remotely, which makes it challenging to find work flexibility with her daughter’s schedule. With no family support, Nelly is worried about paying her rent and heating bills this winter. A donation of $500 would help Nelly cover some of her bills.

Case #437: Dara, a mother of a young baby, is a victim of spousal abuse. Dara would like to be financially independent and found a job, which will require a few weeks of training. She will not receive her first paycheck in time to pay the babysitter, which is causing her stress. A donation of $300 would help her tremendously.

Case #438: Jenny, a single mother of a 5-yearold boy, works two jobs — and has to walk to work because she cannot afford a car. She has been putting away small amounts of money from each paycheck to save for her first car. A donation of $500 would help her make a payment to buy a car.

Case #439: Ellen, who is single and has two children, works three jobs and still is short of the money necessary for basic needs and child care. Ellen has been working every holiday since she was 17. A donation of $300 would help her cover her bills, plus treat her children to a wonderful Christmas by spending it with them rather than working.

Case #440: Stephanie owns a small business in the food service industry. As a result of the pandemic, she has been forced to pivot to all takeout, which is not enough to cover her expenses. She has made difficult decisions, such as letting staff go and cutting contracts with vendors. A gift of $1,000 would help Stephanie bridge the gap until her business can reopen in earnest, as well as cover medical expenses related to the pandemic.

Case #441: Denise is the parent of three school-age girls. She works in a restaurant, which has been shuttered since March. Her children’s remote-learning has made finding supplemental work next to impossible. A gift of $1,000 would enable Denise to provide for her daughters until she’s able to return to work.

Case #442: Helen is a single mother who lost her job at a small meal prep warehouse. She came to this country a year-and-ahalf ago and lack support. Her child goes to kindergarten and will participate in an after-school program so that Helen can go to work as a housekeeper. But she is struggling to pay for rent, groceries and other basic needs. A gift of $270 would help Helen pay the after-school program fee.

All the Giving Fund cases are also listed online. To make a donation online, visit givingfund. isecuresites.com.