United Way Grant Helps Weston Families

United Way CEO Jeff Kimball, Social Services director Allison Lisbon

A Covid Relief Grant from United Way of Coastal Fairfield County will help Weston Social Services provide emergency assistance and help keep families in stable homes.

The $4,000 grant was presented to Social Services director Allison Lisbon by United Way CEO Jeff Kimball. It follows support provided to the Town of Weston last spring in the form of electronic gift cards to meet immediate family needs.

“Our neighbors need our help,” said Mr. Kimball, “and many of them are seeking help for the first time in their lives. We’re honored to work with the Town of Weston to bring help and hope to those who are suffering.”

Before the pandemic, many Weston families struggled to make ends meet. Now, families are challenged by increased household expenses and the loss of income due to reduced working hours or shuttered businesses. The United Way says that, in the past year, requests for help on the organization’s 2-1-1 Infoline from Weston residents increased fivefold.

Ms. Lisbon said, “It’s been a trying and difficult time. We have seen an increased need for help with food, utilities, rental assistance and emergency bills, such as appliance breakdowns. United Way is making it easier for me to provide for families who need help. I’m so grateful for this opportunity.”

About United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County has made investments in every one of the 12 towns in its service area, including:

• Approximately $150,000 in grants to towns and community partners to help provide for basic needs like food, rent, and utilities.
• Over $89,000 in electronic gift cards to families in need, distributed by towns and local social service agencies.
• Tens of thousands of protective masks, gloves, and face shields to help neighbors ranging from frontline health workers to teachers and families. Corporate donors like Bank of America and healthcare partners such as Yale New Haven Health have offered important support.
• Support for K–12 virtual learners in the form of 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.
• Over 3,000 freshly-made lunches delivered to hungry neighbors in three towns through a partnership with Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company.
• Through the 2-1-1 Infoline, United Way has fielded over 86,0000 service requests from Fairfield County residents in the past twelve months.

All of this was made possible by grants, partnerships, local fundraising, and state-wide relief efforts.

Mr. Kimball said, “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.”

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County serves the towns of Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, and Wilton. Find out more at: unitedwaycfc.org.

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