United Way of Western Connecticut raised $680 for its food security work through the 6th Annual Fairfield County's Giving Day on February 28.
United Way's Giving Day donors help us fill empty plates of Western Connecticut households that are ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and struggling to make ends meet, as well as those in poverty. United Way's work takes many forms to combat food insecurity:
- 600 families benefit from free, fresh food at the evening Mobile Food Pantries we fund in Stamford, Danbury, and New Milford-- More than 80% of the participating households are headed by people working either part-time or full time
- More than $1 million in food has been rescued and distributed to families in need in Danbury through our partnership with CT Food Bank and other local food pantries
- United Way convenes the Danbury and Stamford Food Collaboratives, so that food providers work together to address food insecurity in our communities
- And, coming soon, Healthy Savings Plan will help ALICE save on groceries and get more healthy food on the tables of struggling families.
United Way programs make a real difference in the lives of families that make difficult decisions between paying bills and having enough food on the table for growing children. “I finally made it to the food pantry and I can’t tell you what a relief it is to be able to feed my children salad tonight,” a struggling mother told us after visiting a Mobile Food Pantry. “Something so simple that is now a luxury for me.”
Fairfield County’s Giving Day is a dynamic 24-hour online fundraising event powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation that began in 2014. Over the past 6 years, Giving Day has raised nearly $6 million for more than 746 nonprofits. Each year, nonprofits participate to boost funding and create awareness about the impactful work they do throughout the county.
