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.

 

Comments

[David Deschenes, United Way of Western Connecticut]

Thanks, Ceci. What a great example of just the kind of services we're working to support through the Take Five to Give 5 campaign. I'll always be impressed with the "emotional ripple effect" these types of services have on families, and in turn, on the community.

For example, Anna's stuffed animal may help her fall asleep at night as she holds tight to it, and Anna's mother may sleep better knowing that there's food for the kids and appropriate clothing for summer. As Anna and her family interact with others in the community, they just might smile more often knowing that they have help and support -- and others will smile back in return.

In fact, as I type this I'M smiling. So there you have it!

David Deschenes
United Way of Western Connecticut

[Michael Johnston]

Although you may not know them by name, organizations like Person-to-Person are a last line of defense for those in our community that have no where else to turn. I hope for a day when no one will need the emergency assistance provided by Person-to-Person or other organizations like it, but until that day, those of us who can, must help.

The 90% increase in demand for food that Ceci talks about is shocking, but not unusual in our community. Just as stunning is that some of the families needing your help could just as easily have been your neighbors one year ago. A number of the agenices in our community providing emergency assistance have begun to notice a new category of clients - those that have never needed assistance before and don't know where to go to get help.

Don't let another day go by without helping someone in need. If you can skip one cup of Starbucks today and convince 5 other friends to do the same, we'll be able to provide food shelter, health care and emergency financial assistance to countless individuals that have no where else to turn.

Take Five to Give $5 today.

[Christine Seid]

Thanks, Ceci. That's a nice snapshot of one of the many families who are helped when everyone pitches in. And I know it's an everyday story at Person-to-Person.

[Bob Merola]

Isn't it amazing that a child like Anna holding a stuffed animal tightly portrays innocence and doesn't reveal the basic necessities she may need... Agencies like Person-to-Person are currently swamped with requests for food and clothing... Take a few minutes, reflect on Anna clutching her stuffed animal and consider donating $5 for basic needs...