Throughout this vacation season — these are the important thing phrases that describe the character of the donations made to the Giving Fund.
However the Giving Fund will not be about wrapping up one thing particular and placing it beneath a tree. The Giving Fund, now in its thirty eighth 12 months, is about serving to people and households who need assistance assembly each day primary wants.
Donations made to The Giving Fund instantly profit two native nonprofits, Greenwich-based Household Facilities and Darien-based Individual to Individual, which each assist struggling households in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien and all through decrease Fairfield County.
On Sundays and Thursdays all through the vacation season, The Stamford Advocate, Greenwich Time and The Darien Occasions are printing the tales of space residents in want. In our tales right this moment, an aged girl wants assist paying for dental work after a fall; a single man who likes to cook dinner is on the lookout for new pots and pans; and a brand new mom is attempting to repay medical payments from her tough being pregnant.
Different wants are extra easy: paying a utility invoice, shopping for meals or protecting a part of a lease fee, for instance.
“There are such a lot of charitable ventures through the holidays — many are targeted on making the vacations brighter for youths and placing items beneath the timber,” mentioned William Brucker, chief development officer at Household Facilities.
This can be a “totally different variety” of drive that targets those that want help with “primary dwelling requirements,” he mentioned. “This can assist somebody get heat garments for winter, assist repay a utility invoice for somebody who’s out of labor, or get new tires for a resident who must get to work,” Brucker mentioned.
It’s a sensible type of gift-giving that brings peace of thoughts to a recipient who’s scuffling with day-to-day bills, he mentioned.
The tales
Every case within the Giving Fund consists of an estimated greenback quantity to assist a person or household sort out on a regular basis challenges. The names within the tales have been modified to guard the privateness of the people.
Case #380: Yuliana is a first-time mom who stopped working due to issues in her being pregnant. Her husband has a job in a restaurant, however they’re barely getting by. Throughout her being pregnant, docs monitored her carefully and Yuliana has excessive medical payments to pay as a result of she will not be eligible for insurance coverage. With a present of $600, she will be able to repay a part of these payments.
Case #381: Lilian, a single mom of two, is working much less at her job in a salon as a result of there are fewer purchasers as a consequence of COVID-19. Her toddler son is awaiting surgical procedure after struggling 4 ear infections. Lilian missed work to remain dwelling along with her ailing son. Then final month, the boy had a seizure, and Lilian has spent many days and nights on the hospital and gone to a number of physician visits with him. A present of $600 would assist Lilian pay for meals and canopy a part of her lease.
Case #382: Mary just lately had a child after a tough being pregnant. Her employer didn’t at all times enable her to go to her physician visits. She suffered many issues in childbirth, and ended up in intensive take care of per week and didn’t see her child. Mary is on go away from work with no pay. She is frightened about payments, groceries and her child’s wants. A donation of $350 would assist Mary cowl a number of bills this vacation season.
Case #383: In January 2020, Jane began her personal enterprise, which included creating a brand new training program. She was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic, however she was capable of get by on her low revenue for a number of months. Ultimately, Jane turned sick and wanted to remain dwelling. It was not till January 2021 that she was able to work once more. Her financial savings couldn’t cowl her lease, and he or she couldn’t discover a cheaper place. Additionally, Jane nonetheless had little energy and was exhausted. Within the subsequent few months, she was capable of work. However by mid-year, it was tough to afford groceries. When she stopped by Individual to Individual, Jane was placed on the schedule to obtain groceries as soon as a month. She could be grateful to obtain a present of $1,000 to assist cowl her lease.
Case #384: Earlier than COVID-19, Kimberly was offering for her household. However she was let go from her job as a result of she was unable to work as a consequence of sickness. She mentioned she typically can barely get away from bed however nonetheless cares for her mom, who contracted COVID-19, and assisted her eldest youngster with distant studying. She says, “It’s a problem to supply for my household, and I’m on the verge of being evicted from the place my children name dwelling.” A present of $1,000 would assist Kimberly and her household keep in secure housing and keep away from eviction.
Case #384: Ms. Newton has been discovering it tough to handle an sickness whereas dwelling on a set revenue. Surprising medical bills, remedy, hospital visits, lack of transportation and elevated transportation prices have created an incredible monetary hardship for her. A grant of $1,000 would enable Ms. Newton to stay in her dwelling, whereas she will get the care that she wants.
Case #385: Sheila, 62, misplaced her job through the COVID-19 pandemic and has been struggling to maintain up with lease, meals and different bills. She is considered one of many who exhausted their unemployment advantages and is looking for monetary help to satisfy each day primary wants. As Sheila waits for her Social Safety advantages to be authorized, she depends solely on group assets with the hope of qualifying for any sort of help. A grant of $1,000 would enable her to have a heat place to remain for the vacations.
Case #386: Sally is a mom of three, together with a 4-month-old child. She will not be working due to issues throughout her being pregnant as a consequence of her diabetes. Her husband works lengthy laborious hours to assist the household. Ultimately, Sally want to return to work, however she doesn’t really feel that she is bodily prepared but. With a donation of $350, she might pay some payments and purchase groceries this vacation season.
Case #387: Daisy gave beginning to her second youngster in September and has not gone again to work as a result of she remains to be recovering. However now she is going through challenges in protecting the price of meals and payments. The child’s father will not be working as a lot through the winter. With a donation of $300, Daisy would have the ability to cowl her payments this vacation season.
Case #388: John is a senior who lives on his personal however on a restricted revenue. He likes to cook dinner, however has solely a few pans to make use of. John actually enjoys his time within the kitchen. A present of $250 would enable him to buy a pleasant set of pots and pans together with new utensils.
Case #389: Brenda is a first-time mom who gave beginning in August. She has been utilizing her financial savings to assist along with her household’s bills. Her husband’s job will not be as busy this time of 12 months, and he or she plans to return to work inside the subsequent few weeks. However Brenda is frightened that they’re falling behind on some payments and they’re going through some sudden bills. A donation of $375 would assist Brenda sustain along with her payments and groceries this vacation season.
Case #390: Rose, 76, just lately took a nasty fall that left her with out her entrance tooth. Now Rose must repay the work the dentist has accomplished however can not afford to do it on her personal. A present of $500 would assist Rose pay the dentist for the work they’re doing to assist her and hopefully get some dentures.
Case #391: Casey is a mom of two who works many hours at an area grocery store to cowl the household’s dwelling bills and payments. Her husband works for an outside portray firm that isn’t busy through the winter. They’re simply getting by on Casey’s wage. With a donation of $300 this vacation season, she would have the ability to cowl her heating invoice and electrical invoice.
Case #392: Luna, a single mother, just lately relocated to Connecticut along with her 17-year-old son with particular wants and her 8-year-old daughter. She has been actively on the lookout for work and for youngster take care of her daughter. Luna discovered momentary after-school take care of her daughter whereas she job hunts, however her financial savings ran out and she will be able to now not afford to pay. A present of $500 would assist Luna cowl two extra months of after-school companies, which can enable her to proceed her energetic job search.
Case #393: Jackie is a senior who lives in her personal house. She has been attempting to buy her personal full-size mattress however is having a tough time saving sufficient since she lives on a restricted revenue. Getting a brand new mattress would enable her to sleep in a snug area. A present of $500 would enable Jackie to buy a pleasant mattress and enhance her sleep.
Case #394: Paul lives on his personal and would love to have the ability to buy some much-needed home items. He has a number of medical situations that don’t enable him to get round a lot aside from a brief time frame. Paul want to get this stuff for his house, however his restricted revenue retains them out of attain. A present of $250 would enable Paul to buy a lot wanted objects for his house.
Case #395: Nazaly is a single mom of two youngsters, ages 3 and 5, who has been working full time in a single day. However she had a tough time dealing with the varsity schedule of her older daughter and babysitting her son whereas going to work. Her employer reduce her hours, and Nazaly is struggling financially. A present of $500 would assist her with the lease and a few primary wants for the household.
Case #396: Teodora, 70, lives along with her husband, they usually each work at minimal wage to make ends meet. Their house rental contract will finish in two months, they usually will be unable to resume the lease. She is on the lookout for one other house, however they don’t have the cash for a safety deposit. A present of $500 would enable Teodora to cowl the safety deposit.
Case #397: A single mom of 4 younger children, Brenda had been working full time cleansing however just lately misplaced her job. She utilized for unemployment advantages however she might want to undergo the listening to course of. In the meantime, Brenda has no revenue for November and December. A present of $500 would assist her put meals on the desk and pay some payments.
Case #398: The previous few years have been tough for Susan. Along with affected by power ache and extreme arthritis, Susan wants to organize for knee substitute surgical procedure in two months. Because of her disabilities, she is unable to work and struggles financially. A present of $500 would assist Susan pay her grocery payments this winter.
Case #399: In the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Melissa’s employer in the reduction of on her hours. Her housing fee additionally elevated earlier this 12 months, and Melissa additionally wants dental work. Medicare doesn’t cowl dental procedures, and he or she should pay $2,000 out of her personal pocket. A present of $500 would assist to cowl a part of the price of her dental work.
All of the Giving Fund circumstances can be listed on-line. To make a donation on-line, go to https://givingfund
.isecuresites.com/.
