Town of Fairfield Receives Support from United Way of Coastal Fairfield County

Grant to Help Fairfielders Affected by Covid Pandemic Fallout

Left to Right: Christina Bodine Aysseh and Giles Payne (United Way Board Members & Fairfield residents), Julie DeMarco (Director of Human and Social Services), Jeff Kimball (United Way CEO), First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, Brenda Steele (Director of Bigelow Senior Center), Laura Incerto (Chair of the Human Services Commission). Not pictured are local UW board members Anne McCrory, Bob Trefry, and Mark Barnhart.

Today, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County awarded the Town of Fairfield a grant to support residents impacted by the Covid-19 crisis. Presentation was made to First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, Director of Human and Social Services Julie DeMarco, and Chair of the Human Services Commission Laura Incerto.

On hand from the local United Way were CEO Jeff Kimball and Fairfield residents who also serve on the non-profit’s Board of Directors, Giles Payne and Christina Bodine Aysseh.

“On behalf of the entire Town, I am deeply grateful to United Way for giving our Social Services Department this generous grant that will help struggling Fairfield families who have been financially burdened by COVID’s impact,” commented First Selectwoman Kupchick. “I appreciate all of United Way’s good work and its support for our community.”

The Covid Relief Grant provides emergency assistance for food, rent, utilities and critical bills to help keep families in stable homes. This is the second round of grants awarded by United Way to support those impacted by the pandemic.

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

Before the pandemic, more than one out of four Fairfield families struggled to make ends meet. Now families are challenged by increased household expenses with school children at home, and by the loss of income due to reduced hours or shuttered businesses. In the past year, Fairfelders’ requests for help to United Way’s 2-1-1 Infoline increased by over 50%.

This grant of $4,000 follows previous supports provided to both the Town of Fairfield and Operation Hope last spring.

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

• Grants for Basic Needs: Approximately $150,000 in grants to support towns and community partners providing for basic needs like food, rent, and utilities.

• Direct Help to Families: Over $89,000 in electronic gift cards to families in need, distributed by towns and local social service agencies.

• Protective Equipment: Tens of thousands of protective masks, gloves, and face shields to help neighbors ranging from frontline health workers to teachers and families, thanks to corporate donors and healthcare partners and like Bank of America and Yale New Haven Health.

• Virtual Learning Support: For remote learners in Kindergarten to 12th grade, UWCFC has provided 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.

• Freshly Made Lunches: Over 3,000 lunches delivered to hungry neighbors in 3 towns, through a partnership with Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company.

• Connections to Resources: Through the 2-1-1 Infoline, United Way has fielded over 86,0000 service requests from Fairfield County residents in the past twelve months.

These supports were made possible through grants, partnerships, local fundraising, and state-wide relief efforts.

Noted Kimball, “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.”