Take Five to Give 5 Blog

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