City of Norwalk Receives Support from Local United Way

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County has awarded the City of Norwalk a grant to support residents impacted by economic fallout of the Covid-19 crisis, and a supply of protective masks for use by vulnerable families. Presentation was made to Chief of Community Services Lamond Daniels and Human Services Director Maria Escalera.

Representing the local United Way were two long-time Norwalk residents who serve on the non-profit’s Board of Directors: Tameika Miller and Dr. Susan Weinberger.

The Covid Relief Grant initiative was designed to provide emergency assistance with food, rent, utilities and critical bills to help keep families in stable homes. The donation of 3,500 KN-95 masks will support families with health concerns or employees who serve in public-facing jobs.

Human Services Director Escalera commented: “We thank United Way for supporting Norwalkers in this unprecedented time when Covid has impacted both financial health and mental health and wellness. We will use the grant to help those who—due to Covid—need rental assistance or help with counseling payments.

United Way Board Member Tameika Miller commented: “Our neighbors need our help, and many of them are seeking help for the first time in their lives. We’re honored to work with the City of Norwalk to bring help and hope to those who are suffering.”

Before the pandemic, more than one out of three residents were struggling to make ends meet. Since then, families have been challenged by rising household expenses and by the loss of income due to reduced work hours or shuttered businesses. In the past year, Norwalk resident requests for help to United Way’s 2-1-1 Infoline nearly doubled.

United Way Board Member Dr. Susan Weinberger observed, “We’re committed to helping our city meet the growing need. This is the second round of awards we’ve made to support families impacted by the pandemic.”

This grant of $4,000 follows previous Covid-relief supports provided to the city and to area service agencies Person to Person, Open Door Shelter, and Homes with Hope.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County (UWCFC) has provided support to every one of the 12 towns in its service area, offering:

• Grants for basic needs: Approximately $150,000 in grants to support towns and community partners providing for basics like food, rent, and utilities.
• Direct Help to Families: Over $50,000 in electronic gift cards to families in need, distributed by local social service agencies.
• Protective Equipment: Tens of thousands of protective masks, gloves, and face shields to help neighbors from frontline health workers to teachers and families, thanks to healthcare partners and corporate donors like Yale New Haven Health and Bank of America.
• Virtual Learning Supports: For remote learners in Kindergarten to 12th grade, UWCFC has provided a virtual tutoring program, a STEM enrichment workshop, and camps in robotics and engineering. These innovative offerings were made by the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem, an initiative of the United Way’s flagship collective impact movement, Bridgeport Prospers.
• Freshly made lunches: Over 3,000 lunches delivered to hungry neighbors in 3 towns, through a partnership with Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company.
• Connections to Resources: Through the 2-1-1 Infoline, United Way has fielded over 135,000 service requests from Fairfield County residents in the past twelve months.

These supports were made possible through grants, partnerships, local fundraising and state-wide relief efforts.

Noted Susan Weinberger, “Throughout the pandemic, our United Way has worked innovatively and tirelessly to ease the burden shouldered by our neighbors. Together with our partners, we will overcome this crisis and keep building more equitable and resilient communities — where all our neighbors have the opportunity to thrive.”

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United Way of Coastal Fairfield County’s mission is “Together, we mobilize our communities to improve people’s lives.” Our vision is that all children in coastal Fairfield County are successful in school and prepared for success in life. UWCFC serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Find out more at: http://www.unitedwaycfc.org .