Take Five to Give 5 Blog

Senator Andrew McDonald

Take Five to Give 5:
Be the Change You Want to See

There’s a lot of talk about “change” these days. President Obama successfully campaigned on the promise of replacing the status-quo in American politics with “change you can believe in.” And while he and his administration are well on their way to delivering that change, our economy has changed lately, too, and has eroded years of financial prosperity and replaced it with an economic downturn the likes of which we have never seen.

These economic changes have landed squarely in the laps of Western Connecticut families as businesses close or downsize, leaving many on the precipice of hunger, sickness, bankruptcy and foreclosure. More than ever in the last few decades, those who live on the margins are being pushed further into despair.

Fortunately, there’s another “change” coming to the rescue. You.

Over half a century ago, Mohandas Gandhi said “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Now more than ever, that hope-filled statement rings true. State government can only finance a limited number of social and human service programs in Connecticut, especially in this economic climate. The same is true of United Way of Western Connecticut, despite its history of the generous investments of millions of dollars in children and families in need. Those needs continue to this day, and they have grown. The United Way is being asked to do much more with the same, or even less, resources.

Now is the time to “be the change” you want to see on your street, in your neighborhood, in your town and across the region. As we peel away the layers of government and private support, we come to the core that is individual support, people like you, that make the difference in our community. Maybe your neighbor needed help paying a utility bill. Perhaps a co-worker has just brought home a bag of groceries from a local food pantry. Your child’s classmate may have even sought assistance in seeing a doctor. These aren’t strangers; they are the people you see everyday. They have been helped through the generosity of others. Now it’s our turn.

I have donated $5 to the United Way’s “Take Five to Give 5” campaign, and I have asked five friends to do the same. But it doesn’t take cash – you can volunteer your time to counsel children living with AIDS, share your computer skills with those looking to earn their high school diploma, or give personal support for a family in a shelter. The important thing is to act, to “Take Five to Give 5,” and to be the change you want to see. I encourage you to make that difference.

Senator Andrew McDonald
27th District
The State of Connecticut

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Bob Arnold

Programs Serving the Most Vulnerable Face an Uncertain Future

It’s no secret these are the most challenging times we’ve seen in recent memory.  Everywhere we turn around, it seems we’re reminded of the collapsing job market, the unstable financial sector and rising home foreclosure statistics.  And as the statewide deficit continues to widen, many community programs serving vulnerable children, adults and families face a very uncertain future. 

One such program that may be subject to massive funding cuts is the School Based Health Centers, which serve nearly 900 kids attending Stamford’s middle and high schools.  As many as 90,000 children in Connecticut are uninsured, and the School Based Health Centers act as many area kids’ only gateway to much-needed primary health care and counseling services.   

Take Elena for example.  She first came to the School Based Health Center shortly after her mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Weakened by chemotherapy, Elena’s mother relied on her to handle the majority of the household chores.  As a result, Elena’s grades plummeted and she became isolated from her friends.  And while her worry about her mother was constant, she grew increasingly angry with her father, who was drinking to cope with his wife’s illness.  On top of all this, Elena had numerous health issues that went unaddressed due to her family’s lack of insurance.

After working with the staff social worker for a few weeks, Elena found the School Based Health Center to be a safe place where she can talk openly about her frustrations and fears.  The Center’s nurse practioner also took care of all her medical needs at no cost.  Even though she still does get stressed about her home life from time to time, Elena is now in a much better place due to the care and guidance she received at the School Based Health Center.  Her grades and social situation improved dramatically, and she’s looking forward to beginning her senior year of high school.

You can help more kids like Elena by supporting the United Way’s “Take Five to Give Five” campaign.  Your generosity goes a long way in providing some added stability to families who need it the most.

Bob Arnold
President
Family Centers 

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Anda Cabrera

Good Will Knows No Barrier

I arrived in this country four years ago from Romania. I was ten when the communist regime fell, so I don’t remember first-hand all the hardships that my family and the nation went through. But I do know the stories about families struggling to put food on the table, including my own. There were long lines to food-stores at the end of which you could find a stale loaf of bread, maybe some soy-salami or, many times – nothing.

The last ten years of communism were the worst. That’s when Ceausescu (the communist leader) started a process of totally reimbursing the foreign debt even if this meant further impoverishing the Romanian citizens. He put a cap on everything from electricity to bread.  People had money but there was nothing they could buy. Peasants were not allowed to sacrifice the animals they raised. Everything belonged to the state. I could go on with examples from this failed utopia, but this is not the time for that. 

What we need now, is the same thing that helped families like my own thrive and find happiness even living under one of the cruelest political systems: community spirit. Back then we didn’t have an organization like United Way to lead the way; it was extended families, friends and neighbors reaching a hand to each other, even if sometimes it meant bending the laws of the iron state.

But what a great humanitarian tradition the US has! The spirit of giving time and resources to help the ones in need defines this nation. I feel privileged to have experienced this spirit from within, as a staff member of United Way of Western Connecticut. Every day I am touched by stories of people reaching out to strangers in these exceptional times.

So please…. take five to give 5 and when you do it be confident that actions like these are the ones that will strengthen the nation more than any stimulus bill.

Anda Cabrera
Administrative Assistant
United Way of Western Connecticut

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Senator Michael McLachlan

Charity Begins At Home

There is debate among scholars over who deserves credit for the expression “Charity begins at home.” Some say the Roman playwright Terence first coined the phrase around 160 B.C. Others argue it was instead 17^th century British physician Sir Thomas Browne.

Regardless of who penned the phrase first, the sentiment remains the same; you have to take care of you and yours before you can take care of others. However, I tend to agree more with a popular Scottish proverb that took the idea a step further saying, “Charity begins at home but it shouldn’t end there.” And it’s that notion of extending charity beyond our homes and into our communities that I’d like to talk about. 

Right now our state and nation face an unprecedented fiscal crisis. From layoffs to foreclosures to bankruptcy, our economy and confidence in the future have suffered a serious blow. We see the effects of these hard times not just in our own lives but all around us; a neighbor falls into foreclosure, a friend takes a pay-cut, a colleague is laid off. 

Times are indeed tough and no doubt, many of you are consumed with the financial stress in your own homes. But consumed with our own challenges as we may be, never has our interconnectedness been more critical and profound. As a result, I hope we can answer the call to reach out to one another any way we can. The United Way is sounding the call for help. I am proud to support the Take Five to Give 5 campaign which encourages folks to donate as much as they can, volunteer their time and then spread the word to their friends and family to do the same. 

If donating money is not feasible, why not start a new tradition of service and charity in your own homes? Follow the lead of the United Way and so many others and sit down with your children, your spouse, or your friends. Sign up for a volunteer project you can do together. Take up a collection for a local charity. Check in on an elderly neighbor. Visit a sick relative. A small act of kindness will go a long way, now more than ever.

Senator Michael McLachlan
24th District
The State of Connecticut

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

 

 

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy

Take Five to Give 5:
A Rally for the Community

Almost every weekend, I set up a card table at a grocery store in the Fifth District, to hold office hours to hear what's on the minds of the people of western Connecticut. These sessions, known as "Congress on your Corner" events, have changed in tone in recent months. The best way to describe them is sobering.

Job losses have hit Connecticut's families hard, and just paying the bills is becoming a huge challenge for many hardworking people.

I've talked to small business owners who are facing a choice between cutting benefits for people who are more like family than employees, and allowing their business to collapse under the weight of exorbitant health care costs.

I've listened to people tell me about how their insurance plan dropped their coverage because they developed an illness that they thought was covered, but wasn't.

My office has directed dozens of panicked callers who are one paycheck away from losing their home to the resources they need to keep it.

And I've been able to help seniors who are on their last drop of home heating oil get emergency assistance.

These are stories I hear every day, and they are a continual reminder of the work we, as a community and as a country, have yet to complete to repair our economy.

In Washington, we've made some progress. We've cracked down on predatory credit card practices, and we have taken steps to boost job creation. And with President Obama leading the charge, we are about to tackle health care reform to lower costs and provide more choices in coverage.

I am honored to have the opportunity to create real solutions for some of the problems that are plaguing Connecticut's economy, but it certainly doesn't take a career in public service to make a difference in your neighbor's lives.

Now is the time to rally around our shared challenges, and face them together. Your donation - of time, energy, or money - can help make a real, measurable difference in your community during these tough times. One way to rally your own network of friends and colleagues is by taking part in United Way of Western Connecticut's Take Five to Give 5 campaign to raise money for local programs that provide emergency basic needs services. You can make a donation as small as $5 to the United Way, or you can forward this blog post to 5 friends and ask them to spread the word, or you can volunteer 5 hours of your time at a local food pantry. No matter what you do, you will be making a difference.

Now, more than ever, taking responsibility for our corner of Connecticut will put us on the path to recovery and strengthen our future for the next generation.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy (CT-5)
The State of Connecticut
 

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

AG Richard Blumenthal

SUPPORT TAKE FIVE TO GIVE 5 AND HELP CONNECTICUT EMERGE STRONGER AND MORE UNITED THAN EVER

 

Our nation and our state face the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, leaving families struggling and anxious about the future. Unemployment is nearing a record high, as foreclosures climb and healthcare costs skyrocket.

 

Now more than ever, people need help. I urge that you give to the United Way’s Take Five to Give 5 program, extending a much-appreciated hand up -- not a handout -- to the legions of fellow citizens in dire need. It’s simple and fast. Take five minutes to donate $5 and ask five of your friends to do the same. Every dollar will help others. It may seem small, but your donation will make a huge difference for your fellow citizens.

               

A community’s mettle is tested in adversity even more than prosperity. I am sure that Connecticut will rise to the challenge and generously give to help those struggling to overcome a lost job, a foreclosed home or the loss of health insurance. Give what you can. Together, we will survive these trying times and emerge stronger, more united and more committed to our communities.

 

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal

The State of Connecticut

 

 

Learn more about the Take Five to Give 5 Campaign at:

http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

 

 

Mayor Patricia Murphy

A SMALL CHANGE ON JUST ONE DAY OF SPENDING CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE TO SOMEONE IN NEED

 

In today’s world, we are all very busy with so many aspects of our lives.  Between work, the needs of our family, neighbors and friends, we spend so much of our time focusing on others and taking care of the needs of those close to us.  This week, I ask that you dedicate 5 minutes of your time to focus on somebody you may not know who needs your help. 

 

Add $5 to your 5 minutes to support of United Way of Western Connecticut where families are assisted with a variety of basic needs including food, shelter, personal care necessities and other services.  Imagine what it would feel like to choose between groceries for your children or putting gas in the car that takes you to work each day?  It must be a terrible choice to have to make on a daily basis.

 

I am so grateful that I have not had to make those difficult choices for my family.  With the help of United Way and your $5 contribution, you will help somebody avoid having to make that choice for their family.

 

As the economy has slowly taken its toll, we have all been affected by it in one way or another.  Each day, there is a family out there that receives unwelcome news affecting their personal financial situation.  Even though you may not realize it, your 5 minutes and $5 may be helping some of the people you see everyday.   

 

Here are a few ideas of where you can spare $5 from your week and make the difference in somebody else’s life.  Skip the coffee shop, bring your lunch to work once, save a few extra dollars with coupons, skip the appetizer at dinner or spend the evening home with your family instead of going out.  

Your 5 minutes and $5 will undoubtedly make the difference to somebody who needs it.  Please take 5 to give $5 today.

 

Mayor Patricia Murphy

The Town of New Milford

Learn more about the Take Five to Give 5 campaign at:

http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

 

Jennifer Hallissey

A FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE

My dad was a man of few words, but he would give the shirt off his back to help a friend, neighbor, or stranger in need.  We didn't have a lot when I was growing up - my parents often struggled to make ends meet - but even when times were tough, they found a way to lend a hand or a few dollars to someone who needed it more.  My parents were a great example for my brothers and me.  They had a strong work ethic and often worked multiple jobs to provide for our family.

Although it probably took me too long to realize it, I think the example my parents set has led me to a career helping others.  One of my most vivid memories of summers is volunteering with my parents for Little League.  If we weren't on the field playing, we were learning about hard work, responsibility, and sharpening our math skills while running the concession stands.  Year after year, our family would spend almost every summer night working (or playing) at the ballpark.  Now that we're older and separated by miles, we look forward to an annual outing to a major league game -- it just doesn't feel like summer without baseball.

On the weekends my dad would wake us up early and we would head out with lawn mowers in tow.  We mowed several yards; my dad always took the hardest part and as his only daughter, I got the easiest patch of grass.  At the end of the day, dad would would pay us for our work - we thought he was just helping us earn some spending money, but I'm sure he had other lessons in mind.  I may not have realized it then, but I see those lessons now.

We lost dad to cancer a few years ago.  His strong, quiet presence and generosity will always be missed, but the lessons he taught us and the impressions he left will remain in our hearts forever.  This Father's Day, I'm honoring dad by following his example and giving more to those in need in our community.  We all have a few dollars to spare, even when times are tough.

Jennifer Hallissey
Director of Community Impact - Stamford
United Way of Western Connecticut

Learn more about the Take Five to Give 5 campaign at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Ceci Maher

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER!

Today Anna came to Person-to-Person with her mother. At Person-to-Person, families can collect one bag of clothes for each person in the family and Anna's mother was here to get free clothes for everyone in the family - her little girl, her brother, and baby sister.  Money has been really tight at home, and with the sun finally coming out, everyone's winter clothes were getting too warm.

Anna waited patiently in the Clothing Center while her mother looked for clothes. In the baskets she found a stuffed animal, and held onto it tightly. When they were done shopping Anna came back to the reception area and smiled shyly as she showed everyone her new treasure.

Despite carrying several bags of clothes Anna's mom had come back to the reception area from the Clothing Center  pick up a bag of free food filled with pasta and sauce, peanut butter and juice, powdered milk and cereal - all basics to help stretch the food she had at home.  School will be over soon for the summer, and the free meals at breakfast and lunch will also end, adding to the financial stress the family was feeling.

Every summer Person-to-Person volunteers pack several hundred supplemental bags of food to help families make ends meet.  This summer we have significantly increased the number of bags to help families eat. We have seen food requests increase monthly over the past year and a half; our food requests are up 90% since July 2007.

Please consider taking 5 to give $5. Take five minutes now, and donate $5. A small amount can make a big difference for a child this summer, just $5 can buy a breakfast for a whole family.

Anna left Person-to-Person smiling and holding her stuffed animal, and her mom left with a bag stuffed with food and bags of clothes for her family. Person-to Person-was able to help thanks to the support of volunteers, the community, and the United Way. 

Ceci Maher
Executive Director
Person to Person

Located in Darien, CT, Person-to-Person is a volunteer-driven, community-based agency that, through a sharing of goods and talents, responds to neighbors who lack basic human necessities and resources to improve their lives. It provides rapid response assistance to client emergencies as well as access to interconnected services that support its clients' journey toward self-sufficiency. These services include practical help, problem solving, advocacy, and education.

 

Mayor Dannel P. Malloy

TODAY'S PROBLEMS TAKE INNOVATIVE THINKING

Until the last year or so, our country had experienced a decade of wealth creation and economic expansion without historical precedent.  Recently we have been living through something very different: a massive, rapid reduction of wealth and an economic downturn.  We are acutely aware that the country’s financial problems, which are mirrored locally, may last for a sustained period.

Most of us have friends, neighbors or family members in Stamford who have experienced reduced working hours, overtime losses, or are nervous about, or have had job losses.  Many of us are already helping in some way.  Most of us are already stretched pretty thin, but some of our friends and neighbors are struggling mightily just to put food on their tables, keep their heat on, buy winter jackets for their kids, etc.

Faced with the challenge of finding strategies to help the community deal with the ripple effect of this unusually severe downturn, the first place I turned was to the United Way.

The United Way and the City have a lot in common.  We both exist to help people. We are both committed to treating all individuals with dignity and respect. And we both look for creative ways to solve some of the problems in our community.

That's why I am supporting United Way of Western Connecticut's Take Five to Give 5 campaign. It is an innovative campaign focused on raising money to help providers of emergency basic needs services keep up with needs that in some cases have increased by more than 40 percent. By donating to this campaign, you support a partnership of competent agencies that help ensure that all members of our community receive the emergency assitance necessary to their basic well-being.

None of us want to put our heads on our pillows at night knowing that there are people in our community who, through no fault of their own, lack basic necessities. Join me in supporting this urgent cause. Visit www.TakeFivetoGive5.org and contribute today.

Mayor Dannel P. Malloy
The City of Stamford

 

Mayor Mark D. Boughton

DANBURY GIVES AND WE GIVE GENEROUSLY...

Supporting each other is an American tradition, it is simply what we do in times of need.  As a nation we have struggles, ups and downs, we have recessions and financial bubbles that burst, we have disagreements and political shifts.  One thing that remains constant is the willingness of Americans to give and overcome.  Danbury residents are no different.

Danbury is blessed with residents who understand the need to help their neighbors.  I am fortunate to see first hand how our citizens are doing their part to help the less fortunate.  In city hall alone I see our employees go beyond their duties and collect canned goods for our city shelter, attend fundraising breakfasts for our many service agencies and run several fundraisers a year that benefit children, seniors and the disadvantaged.  

Unfortunately, the need is now greater than it has been in decades.  Those of us who are able should help those who can’t help themselves.  Fortunately, it is now easier to assure that the monetary help you donate is truly going to the needy in our community.  The United Way of Western Connecticut is leading an initiative called “Take Five to Give Five.”  The program doesn’t ask for much, but a little goes along way.  By taking 5 minutes to donate even just $5 you are doing your part to help our residents.  And by asking 5 friends to do the same, you are joining others in helping the campaign maintain its momentum. The United Way will ensure that your donation is wisely spent and that it will go toward assisting those who need it most.

As President Abraham Lincoln said in his 2nd Inaugural Address, “With malice toward none; with charity for all.”  I ask residents to give and support the good work of the United Way of Western Connecticut and to participate in the “Take Five to Give Five” initiative.  

Visit http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org now.

Mayor Mark D. Boughton
The City of Danbury

 

Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele

A LONG STRANGE TRIP . . . BUT STILL, COMMUNITY IS CONSTANT

Like the Grateful Dead sang: “What a long strange trip it’s been…” and from where we are right now, that strange trip shows no sign of ending.

Connecticut, the country and the entire world finds itself in a place it’s never been before—and on such a wholesale scale. Economies are struggling, businesses are working hard to survive, people are rethinking priorities and making difficult financial decisions—the world seems to have gone topsy-turvy in a matter of months.

What has not been affected in all this upheaval is the importance of community. No matter what that never changes. Neighbors need neighbors—whether we volunteer at soup kitchens, food pantries, community centers, our church—that sense of support and neighborhood is what will pull us through a little bit at a time.

 

As a member of the community and an elected official I see things from both sides of the spectrum. As a business owner and employer I understand the value of my employees and how much they and their families rely on me; as a husband, father, neighbor and member of a local church parish I understand my responsibilities to be part of the support system; and as an elected official I meet people every day who are affected by the loss of their jobs, their homes and their families. Entire networks of support systems that rely on taxpayer money are being reviewed and evaluated: every budget decision is an important one.

 

Take Five to Give 5 is a reminder that there is still value in volunteering. Small donations can make the biggest difference in people’s lives. Thanks to United Way of Western Connecticut’s efforts, Take Five to Give 5 will give 100% of the money collected back into their programs to help people with basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter.

Neighbors helping neighbors.

 

A long strange trip is not so long and not so strange with the care and support of friends and neighbors.

 

Michael Fedele

Lieutenant Governor

State of Connecticut

Learn more about the Take Five to Give 5 campaign at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Mike Rizzo

 

DO THE MATH . . .

 

Math wasn’t my strongest subject in school, but I think I got this one right. Take five to give five and tell five more about it.

 

These are times of desperation. Life savings have dwindled, millions of jobs are lost, and the houses we live in have lost 25 percent in value. Those of us that are fortunate to be working have pulled in the reins and we are holding on to every buck we can. Families that were just barely making it before, most likely can’t make it now. The pressure of making choices between paying the mortgage or buying food is a big reality today. As a nation, we are experiencing what other countries take as an everyday occurrence.

 

However, there is a significant difference between the USA and other countries. When times are troubled we band together and do what needs to be done. So for those of you, who buy a few cups of coffee during the week, make a pot at home and bring it with you to work, then make a donation with the money you saved and tell five friends to do the same thing.

Now do the math…….. your five dollars will result in a donation of $15,625.00 to the United Way of Western Connecticut who will fill the needs of those less fortunate.

 

Michael Rizzo

CEO, Caldwell & Walsh Building Construction

Jim Schmotter

WANT NOT, WASTE NOT

 

 

As I think about what the United Way’s “Take Five to Give 5” campaign (TFTGF) is all about, I can’t help remembering one of the greatest (and truest) fundraising slogans of all time:  the United Negro College Fund’s tagline: “A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste.”  What TFTGF is saying is that “A Person is a Terrible Thing to Waste.”

And in today’s very challenging economic environment, many of our fellow citizens of Western Connecticut are in danger of being wasted. 

Their emotions are being wasted by consuming worry about securing the basic needs of human life—food and shelter—for themselves and their families.  Their dignity is being wasted by the embarrassment of falling, for the first time, into the folds of our society’s often not-so-tight safety net.  Their personal aspirations are being wasted by constant rejection in efforts to better their situations.  Their very humanity is being wasted by the disappointment and invisibility that unemployment and homeless bring.   

This waste affects not only those most in need, but all of us in our respective communities.  How many potential loyal employees, enthusiastic volunteers and community role models are we losing to the frustration and defeat of today’s economic downturn?  How many great ideas to make Western Connecticut a better place will we never hear?  How many children will have their dreams deferred, if not shattered, by their families’ circumstances?

Obviously, we here in this one community cannot reverse global economic trends.  But we can today help those who are most vulnerable to them.  This Recession will end; better times and more opportunities for all will return.  If we can assist those who are in need today to make it through these difficult months by supporting the superb agencies that help them, the worst of the waste that scars their lives—and our community—can be reversed. 

That’s what TFTGF is all about:  providing resources to our social service agencies to see those in greatest direct need through the worst of this economic crisis.  Join me in supporting the United Way of Western Connecticut in this effort!

Jim Schmotter
President, Western Connecticut State University

 

Karen Gottleib

QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED

 

The plight of the uninsured has been well publicized, but never felt with more pain than right now with the current economic crisis.

 

In recent months residents of the Greater Danbury Area who have lost their jobs or suffered cutbacks in their income are coming to The Boehringer Ingelheim AmeriCares Free Clinic of Danbury at a rate we have never seen before. Some come for a pain they have had for weeks; others because they can no longer afford to purchase their diabetes medication. No matter what ails them, they all come seeking free, quality medical care.

Imagine that you lost your health insurance and had to decide between buying blood pressure medication or milk for the week.  Imagine your spouse has a growth that is getting larger and larger and you have no place to go to get it examined.  You worry it could be a cancerous tumor and the thought keeps you awake at night, but you can’t afford the exams that would alleviate those fears.  The Boehringer Ingelheim AmeriCares Free Clinic of Danbury is there for our neighbors in these situations, providing expert medical care, prescription medications, diagnostic testing and specialty care.

 

The clinic, run with the help of 150 volunteers, provides care to more than 1,200 residents of the Greater Danbury Area each year.  Danbury Hospital is a vital partner, providing laboratory tests, diagnostics, specialty care, and emergency room visits for our patients. Danbury is a community that pulls together to help those in need.

 

Here at AmeriCares Free Clinics we don’t need to see the latest unemployment statistics to know the struggling economy is affecting our neighbors.  We see it in the faces of the newly unemployed patients who come to us seeking care or help with prescription drugs they can no longer afford.  However, just like many nonprofits dependent on private funding, we are seeing a decrease in donations just when the demand for our services has never been greater. 

 

Help us keep Danbury healthy. Please “Take Five to Give 5.”

 

Karen Gottlieb
Executive Director
AmeriCares Free Clinics

 

 

Karen Tracy

COME "HIGH FIVE TO GIVE 5" AT THE MALL ON SUNDAY

If you are sitting at your computer right now, kicking back, planning your week-end, just know that someone else is not!

Someone is about to lose their house, or their job, or their car, and maybe even their family, due to the stress their financial problems have caused.  We are in a predicament right now where our friends, neighbors,or family could be at a critical point in their life. In 5 minutes our lives can be turned around for the better or for the worse.

"The worst bankrupt in the world is the person who has lost their enthusiasm". H.W. Arnold.  And that is what this week-end is about for me. We need to 'pump up the volume' and build energy and enthusiasm around the United Way Take Five to Give 5 campaign, because when we accept challenges we can begin to feel the exhilaration of victory.

The challenge is to Live United and to Give United in one of a few different  ways: We can all give of ourselves with money, time and/or networking.  The United Way wants to address the growing needs of our community citizens seeking the very basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. How great is it that 100% of the money we collect on this campaign will go directly for these necessities.

So, I will be energized on Sunday, May 31st to "High 5" everyone to be aware of our Take Five to Give 5 campaign. Disha Damania, a recent WestConn graduate, and myself along with the CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut and others will be at the mall to greet everyone with a 'High 5', and we hope to spread the enthusiasm of this very worthwhile endeavor.  See you then! Danbury Mall @ 1:00!!!!!! You can make a difference!!

Posted by:
Karen Tracy
Newtown Savings Bank

David Deschenes

REMEMBERING JIM

Like most people, I remember where I was and what I was doing during the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. But I also remember a day in 1983. I was tending bar – fixing a gin & tonic for an older man. The owner of the bar brought the phone over to me, saying it was a friend with an urgent call. My friend called to tell me that there had been a bombing in Beirut and that one of our good friends, Jim Silvia, was killed along with 240 other servicemen. I was stunned, and it took me a few minutes to realize what had just happened. How could this be? Jim had not gone over there to fight. He had joined the Marines as a way to find some direction in his life. This wasn’t going to be his career – it was a stopping point on his way in life. The owner of the bar relieved me for the night, and I sat down at one of the tables to collect myself before going home.

The older man I had just served sensed something was wrong and sat down at the table. “Bad news son?” he asked. I told him what had just happened, and he said he knew from my face that I had just lost someone to an untimely death. It turned out that he was a retired vet. He’d seen it all in World War II, and he said the look on a young man’s face at this kind of news was no different whether it was 1941 or 1983. “The best we can do is move on for them,” he said. “Trust that our friends had made the right choices no matter what the outcome.” And that was true in the case of my friend. No one forced Jim to do anything he didn’t want to. He knew there was danger, and while his reason to join the Marines was not to fight but to create opportunities for his future, he was extremely proud to serve his country. And we were all proud of him. We continue to be proud of Jim.

So as we enter the second week of our Take Five to Give 5 campaign, on this Memorial Day we ask that you take pause to remember those fallen while serving their country. And take some time going forward – whenever you can – to thank or to remember someone who has served. Because whether a vet has died in battle, from an extended illness, or of natural causes, the fact is that they have been willing to put themselves in harm’s way for their country – for us.

David Deschenes
United Way of  Western Connecticut

 

Kristin Tetrault

CALLING ALL SUPER HEROES

 

Batman… Superman… Spider-man. Which theme to pick for my son’s birthday party this year? Fortunately for our family, we can afford to make those kinds of decisions versus worrying about where our next meal will come from (let alone a cake).  As a mother with five children at home, my heart goes out to those in our community who are struggling to simply provide food, clothing and shelter for their families.

 

So when I heard about United Way’s “Take Five to Give 5” campaign, I knew I wanted to be a part of it – to contribute in some way that might make life easier for others during this difficult time. What didn’t occur to me right away was getting my children involved. Then I realized what a great opportunity it provided to teach my kids the value of giving back to their community. You can never start too young!

 

I approached my son’s kindergarten teacher about getting his class involved by bringing in spare change in multiples of five (nickels, dimes, quarters, etc.). She liked the idea and forwarded it to the head teacher, who contacted me. He suggested that the student council take it on as a fund-raising project for the entire school – how great is that? Now, not only will my son learn the value of helping his community, but his classmates will as well. And they will do it together... like a group of super heroes.

 

Action is calling: How can you get the kids in your life to Take Five?

Posted by:

Kristin Tetreault

Newtown, CT

 

Michael Johnston

MOLLY'S FAMILY

 

Her name was “Molly”.  She was a young mother of three children in elementary school.  Molly’s husband owned a business and although there wasn’t a lot of money to spare, the family had a house and they managed to create a comfortable and safe environment for their kids in a community that they loved.  Then one day, Molly’s world turned upside down.  Her husband died unexpectedly and with his death, the business collapsed.  Molly’s husband didn’t have life insurance and there wasn’t much in the way of savings, so she needed to find a job to support her family.

 

Unfortunately, Molly had never finished her high school education and because the family had always relied on her husband as the bread winner she had no work experience.  Making matters worse, the economy was in turmoil and many of the places where she could have found entry level jobs in the past were now laying off employees.  Absent any source of income, Molly found herself in jeopardy of losing the family’s home.  She was in despair and in need of help, but did not know where to turn.

 

Stories like Molly’s are not unique.  As we struggle to find ways to help those in need, we may not even be aware that our neighbors are struggling to avoid destitution.  Fortunately, United Way funded organizations in our community came to Molly’s help.  Emergency financial assistance, help with mortgage restructuring, job training and basic medical care are all available for people like Molly and her kids.  You can make sure that families like hers never find themselves without a bed or a warm meal.  You can make a difference in their lives if you just “Take Five to Give $5” now.

 

Posted by:

Michael Johnston

CEO, United Way of Western Connecticut

 

Michael Johnston

"BRICK BY BRICK" HELPING THOSE IN NEED

 

This is the first of a series of blog entries that we hope will challenge you to act. There are families in our community today that are need of food, shelter and clothing.  In fact you probably know someone who has recently lost their job or perhaps is in jeopardy of losing their home.  Even more distressing, it’s just as likely that you see people every day that have been severely impacted by this crisis, yet show no outward sign of distress - people that need your help. 

 

No one individual can solve the challenges we face today.  But stringing together many little actions reveals the true power of charitable giving – the ability to make things better.  It’s like building a new home.  When we build a house, it doesn’t spring miraculously from the ground; it rises one brick at a time.  Each brick placed by someone in our community.  The result is a home - a home that can provide shelter to a family that needs it.  That’s how small, individual acts added together can change someone’s life.

 

Jacob Riis (an early affordable housing advocate in New York City circa 1900) once said that “among the saddest things must be to go one’s grave without having in some way eased the burdens of humanity.”  His point was that having lived a life in which one made no effort to ease the suffering of others was no life at all.  He understood that the power of giving is a two way street.  The recipient’s life is improved by the gift, but the giver also benefits.

 

Right now you have an opportunity to give (and receive) in a new and important way.  In recognition of the unique nature of this extraordinary economic crisis, the United Way of Western Connecticut is launching an emergency basic needs campaign.  Please heed the call to help those in need in our community by going to our campaign web site (www.takefivetogive5.org) and contributing.  If you give $5 or $25 or $50 and you take five minutes to ask five friends to do the same, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in an historic response to crisis in our communities.  Even better, give in someone’s name and ask them to pass the giving on. You will certainly change someone’s life – perhaps even your own.

Join the blog and tell us how you’ve lived the Take Five to Give 5 slogan. 

 

Posted by:
Michael Johnston
CEO, United Way of Western Connecticut

Social Service Organizations See a 40% Increase in Need

Many of the social service organizations that run food pantries, provide utility assistance and operate shelter programs have reported seeing a 40% increase in need, while donations to run these services have decreased significantly. Consequently, waiting lists have increased, as programs do not have the capacity to stretch without additional dollars. And reflective of the economy, many of those in need of services are individuals and families that have never been served before. With the anticipated state cuts and decrease in United Way and other foundation support, these programs will face an increasingly difficult year without help from the Take Five to Give 5 campaign.

Do you work with an organization that meets people's basic needs? Share your experiences with us so we can help educate our readers.

 

Posted by:
Kimberly Morgan
Vice President of Communications
United Way of Western Connecticut

Work with Your Own Personal Network to Make a Large Donation

Giving circles have sprung up in recent years, with small groups of donors combining their donations to have bigger impact. This type of giving fits well with the Take Five to Give 5 campaign. We want people to use their personal networks, share the stories, and ask their friends to give to the campaign. Then their gift multiplies with every person they connect.

Posted by:
David Deschenes
Marketing & Communications Manager
United Way of Western Connecticut

 

Coming Soon . . . Take Five to Give 5

Look for information on our site and in the press.  Take Five to Give 5 -- a new campaign to raise Basic Emergency Needs funding for area social service programs.

Posted by David Deschenes
United Way of Western Connecticut