Yes, There Are More Than A Few Needy In Town of Madison

MADISON, CT - Many perceive Madison as one of Connecticut’s more affluent towns. But not everyone who lives in Madison has the means.

That’s the message that Laurie Heflin, founder of the Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) program, a discretionary fund within the Madison Foundation that responds to the financial and material crises faced by Madison residents, is reminding people of as 2019 comes to a close.

Here is her message to those who live in Madison:

“Happy New Year!!

“Thank you for all your support in 2019!

“Can you believe that in 2019, there were several families, with children in the Madison public school system, who had never had one piece of new clothing!? It’s true!

“There are also several single parent families who, despite the patent working, (often at more than one job) had to choose between paying the rent, the electric, the fuel bill, or providing food. It’s true!

“Madison families are still struggling and 2020 doesn’t look much brighter for them.

“Here’s the good news. Thanks to you we were able to help.

“N2N helped a retired corrections officer with three kids whose wife has early onset Alzheimer’s to pay his car taxes and keep him on the road, to the doctor, grocery store and kids’ activities.

“And, N2N helped a single mom of three just over the threshold to receive state assistance to pay her electric bill and get her on her feet as she works with Social Services to set up a payment plan.

“We still provide personal essentials to the Food Pantry.

“Changes in the state budget are making our fuel fund more important than ever - 14 families received oil deliveries in 2019.

“Let me close with the words of our new Social Service Director Cristal Depietro: “I have been in Social Services my entire career and I have never seen another organization as kind, caring and giving as N2N.”

More information on Madison social service programs can be found here: https://www.madisonct.org/817/Social-Services