These Norwalkarea families need help this season

NORWALK — Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror and Christmas is right around the corner, so get into the holiday spirit by giving back to those less fortunate.

For the third year in a row, The Norwalk Hour and Family & Children’s Agency have partnered to offer a chance for local families or groups to sponsor those who’ve fallen on some hard times this holiday season.

The Giving Fund features local residents who need a little bit of cash to help buy gifts, visit relatives or just need a little help to make ends meet.

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 in the published stories to protect privacy and dignity.

The Norwalk Hour will publish new cases in print every Thursday, with a coupon for donations, and maintain a full list online. Donations also can be made at http://bit.ly/ FCAgivingfund.

Here are the people who need help this week:

220: Marcus, 11, has faced a lot of trauma in his young life. After witnessing domestic violence between his parents, he now lives with his mother and has no contact with his father. After spending time in a shelter, Marcus and his mother were able to move into subsidized housing, but because of rising rent costs, they have to move for the third time this year. On top of all these difficulties, their car needs a lot of repairs and without it, Marcus would not be able to get to his needed therapy appointments for depression and anxiety. A gift of $500 would help this family move and repair their car for a more stable future.

221: Hector lives with his mom, his teenage sister and his sister's baby. Because his mother works multiple jobs just to cover basic living costs for the family, Hector doesn't get a lot of extras. He would love to play soccer but has no way to get to practice or afford the equipment. He's decided he's willing to walk an hour to make that dream a reality, he still needs money for some gear and team registration. A gift of $400 would help him enroll in this sport and buy the basics needed to get started.

222: Luis has finally received a housing voucher and moved into his own apartment this summer after being homeless and sleeping outdoors since 2017. He suffers from severe depression and has had two strokes in past months. His traumatic experiences make it hard for him to sleep, and because he has no furniture in his new apartment he has been sleeping on the floor. A gift of $200 would help Luis purchase a mattress and get a good night of sleep.

223: Hannah is a single mother of a toddler and she has another baby on the way. At just 21 years old, Hannah was determined to get a job and support her growing family. Despite not having money to put gas in her car, Hannah was able to get a seasonal job. Now that the job is coming to an end, she will once again be struggling to pay for diapers and other basic necessities. She plans to get her GED so she will have more opportunities in the future. A gift of $500 would alleviate Hannah's financial burden and help her care for her son while she looks for a new job.

224: Silvia struggled for a long time to maintain sobriety. After years of drug addiction, she was able to get clean thanks to her dog, Mabel. Silvia has stayed drugfree so she can take care of this puppy she loves so dearly. Because of her history of domestic violence and addiction, Silvia doesn't have much. All her belongings are kept in two garbage bags and the little income she earns she spends on Mabel's needs. A gift of $200 would help Silvia get a mattress so she can have a better home environment.

225: Katherine is 60 years old and is facing multiple health issues, some of which stem from a fall in which she fractured her neck. This injury has made it difficult to stand and walk, so she is unable to work. She spends much of her time at doctor appointments and struggles with depression due to her situation. A gift of $300 would help her as she waits to receive her pending disability income.

226: Iris cares for her daughter and new grandchild. She works full time and helps connect her daughter to available services in the community, but they still only have just the very basics. Iris' grandchild has food sensitivities and the special formula is very expensive. A gift of $250 would help her get diapers and the appropriate nutrition for her grandchild.

227: Gina and Paul live with their two children in Norwalk. Paul is a mechanic and Gina is a parttime preschool teacher. Although they manage their monthly expenses, they have not built any savings. Recently their washing machine broke, but they only have enough for half the cost of a new one. A gift of $300 would allow this family to purchase a new washing machine for their apartment.

228: Jackson was recently placed in foster care and is struggling with his homework. He doesn't have a computer of his own and can only do his school work during library hours. A gift of $500 will help purchase a computer for Jackson so he can complete online tutoring to help him catch up academically and do his school work from home.

229: Ashleigh recently took her two children and left an abusive relationship. Now homeless, she is working hard to get an apartment of her own so her children have a place to call home. FCA has helped Ashleigh secure part of the security deposit for a new apartment. A gift of $400 would complete the security deposit so she can find a place and move in.