But some members of our community aren’t feeling the joy this holiday season because they’re struggling to make ends meet or face unexpected financial problems.
You can make a difference in the lives of these neighbors by donating to The Giving Fund. One of her residents in need of help is Lucy, who is pregnant with her first child but cannot work due to multiple health issues. Hundreds of dollars in gifts help her and her husband with pre-baby expenses.
Now in its 39th year, The Giving Fund tells stories of locals who need help paying rent, utilities, childcare, transportation, medical bills, and even buying winter clothing and food. .
William Brucker, chief progress officer at Greenwich-based Family Centers, one of two nonprofits affiliated with The Giving Fund, said:
“Donors are giving back to their neighborhoods, which is great,” says Brucker. “Every dollar donated goes to someone in the community here.”
These resident stories are published twice a week (every Thursday and Sunday), in The Stanford Advocate and Greenwich Time during the holiday season, and weekly in The Darien Times.
Beneficiaries of the Giving Fund are clients of Greenwich-based Family Center and Darien-based Person to Person. These two non-profit organizations provide assistance to residents of lower Fairfield County. There are no overhead costs. All donations go directly to help our clients.
How to donate
To donate, please visit https://givingfund.isecuresites.com/product/GIVING-FUND/General-Giving-Fund?ID=2865.
Each case includes an estimated amount to help an individual or family. Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time and Darien Times partner with Family Centers and Person-to-Person to sponsor The Giving Fund.
Here’s today’s story.
Case 370: Sarah and Joe have two daughters and are expecting their third child in January. Sarah’s pregnancy is considered high risk and she is unable to work. Joe is the sole provider to her family, working long hours as a waiter and earning minimal pay and tips. They struggle to meet their needs. A donation of $500 will help the family a lot and give Joe the opportunity to spend time with his family.
Case 371: Kelly, a young mother of 3, does chores to support herself and her daughter. Kelly lives with her family because she cannot afford her own apartment. She is saving for her security deposit and her first month’s rent. Kellie has her CNA certification, but hers has expired and needs to be renewed. A donation of $300 will help Kelly renew her credentials and find a stable job in her field.That way she can save enough money to secure her own place to live.
Case 372: Connie, her partner and three children (6, 4 and 9 months) moved here a few months ago. Her partner is working and Connie is taking care of her children. However, their income is limited. A donation of $500 will help this her family of five settle down.
Case 373: Lucy and her husband are expecting their first child. She has suffered from depression in the past and has now nearly lost the sight in her left eye. She has asthma and high blood pressure and a few months ago she had kidney stone removal surgery. Lucy then quits her job and her husband’s life becomes more and more difficult. A donation of $500 will help Lucy and her husband’s finances before the baby is born.
Case 374: Grace is the mother of a 15-month-old daughter and her partner works to support the household. They were told to vacate the room they are currently living in, so they are looking for a new place to live. Grace worries that the place they saw is too high. A donation of $500 will help them settle into their new home.
Case 375: Elizabeth is a single mother of two children. Although she works to cover some of her basic living expenses, she does not have enough to meet all her needs. A $500 donation will help cover her utility bills and buy necessary supplies for her children.
case 376: When Isabel was pregnant with her first child, she had health problems and her son was hospitalized for a week. He is now 10 months old and a healthy boy. Isabel quit her job to take care of her son, but she now wants to go back to her job. Due to her high cost of living, Isabelle and her partner, who work for her, sometimes struggle to pay her bills and rent. A donation of $400 will allow Isabelle to cover part of her household budget, as well as buy her son’s essentials.
Case 377: Maria is a young mother of a two-month-old boy. She was abandoned by her son’s father and is the sole provider of the baby. Her Maria’s savings are almost gone. She plans to get back to her construction job soon, which is a tough job for her new mother. Also a few weeks ago Maria got sick and she went to the emergency room but she now needs another payment. If she donates $500, it will help cover her rent and give her a little peace of mind during this difficult time.
case 378: Linda is a single mother who works the night shift and takes care of her 27-month-old daughter during the day. Her low income makes it difficult to pay for her rent, food and day care. Her daughter has been diagnosed with speech delay and is undergoing treatment. Linda was told her condition could improve if her daughter stayed with other children at daycare. Linda’s dream is to switch her shifts and work during the day while her daughter attends daycare. A donation of $500 greatly supports her Linda.
Case 379: Susan and her partner have two boys, ages 27 and 12 months. My eldest son has been diagnosed with autism and is undergoing speech, behavioral and occupational therapy. Susan has to take care of her children and participate in the treatment of her older son, so she cannot work. Susan’s partner works, but his income is not enough to cover her family’s expenses. A donation of $500 will help ease the financial burden on this family and cover transportation to and from her children’s appointments.