NORWALK — This is the last installment of the Giving Fund, an annual partnership between the Norwalk Hour and the Family and Children’s Agency, a nonprofit based in Norwalk.
Each week, the Giving Fund included 10 stories of a local person or family in need, and the community has stepped up to help. Donations to the Giving Fund this year total more than $11,000, and every dollar goes to clients in need.
The cases this week include a college student who needs financial help to complete her degree, a father who overcame homelessness but lost his job, and a family that survived domestic violence.
FCA emphasized that a gift, of any amount, makes an incredible impact on the neighbors in need. The agency also gives thanks to all who have contributed and united to lift those in the community who need it most.
In the stories below, names have been changed to protect their privacy and individuals who benefit from the Giving Fund often don’t know they have been included in the series. Each story has a case number and an estimated dollar amount that would help the clients face everyday challenges like rent payments, transportation or medical expenses.
Online donations go directly to the clients in need and can be designated to a specific case or to the general Client Support Fund at FCA. Donations that exceed the person’s need will go to the Client Support Fund to help others. FCA has also provided a QR code, which can be found below.
Here are this week’s cases:
Case 170: Irie is a first-generation college student. Although college was her dream, the financial burden is becoming crushing. A gift of $500 would allow Irie to get the supplies she needs and set her up for success as she finishes the school year.
Case 171: Nichelle, 32, lives in Stamford. Her family sought political asylum after they became aware that their lives were in danger in their home country. Nichelle has been working numerous jobs to support her parents and siblings while struggling with PTSD that has, at times, made it nearly impossible for her to get out of bed. She works hard to provide for her family, pay for their asylum lawyers, put herself through school, and help her family acclimate to the U.S. She has dreams of going to business school and having a family of her own. A gift of $300 would take some burden off Nichelle.
Case 172: Laurel is a single mother of two young children, living in Stamford. She is a domestic violence survivor and has been making progress in her recovery from a substance use disorder. Laurel has a minimum wage job and gets almost no support from her children’s father. Making ends meet has been challenging. Laurel and her children would benefit from a gift of $400, which would help her sustain her living situation, pay monthly bills and provide basic needs for her children.
Case 173: Zoe is a middle school student who attends FCA’s ASPIRE after-school program. She lives with her mom, a single parent who works hard to provide for Zoe and her brother. Zoe’s mom lives paycheck to paycheck, making less than $20,000 annually. A gift of $350 would help Zoe buy winter clothes and a warm comforter.
Case 174: Alexi is a 35-year-old man living in Norwalk who recently moved out of the shelter into his own apartment. But he lost his job due to health-related absences. A devoted father of two young daughters, Alexi has been picking up odd jobs and hopes to get a full-time job when his health improves. A gift of $500 would help him pay for basic living expenses so that he and his daughters can remain safely housed.
Scan this QR code for a direct link to donate to the Giving Fund for 2022.
Contributed by FCACase 175: Jillian is a full-time nursing student who lives in Bridgeport with her mother and sister in a one-bedroom apartment. They were recently approved for a larger apartment and have saved enough money for the security deposit. But they do not have money for much else. A gift of $250 would help them settle into their new home with some basic necessities.
The following four stories previously ran in the Giving Fund this year, but the clients described still need funds:
Case 176: Rachael, 28, is the mom of an infant boy, living in Norwalk with her husband and his family. Her husband has a seasonal job and makes just enough money to cover essential needs and pay their rent. Their baby was diagnosed with a rare allergy. He can no longer tolerate breast milk and needs a specialized formula that is expensive. A gift of $200 would help Rachael buy the specialized formula that her baby needs.
Case 177: Rebekah is 16 and pregnant. She is enrolled in high school and remains committed to finishing. She lives with her father, but he is raising her two younger siblings as a single father and cannot financially support Rebekah’s baby when she is born. Rebekah has an after-school job and is saving up. A gift of $500 would allow her to purchase necessary diapers, wipes and a crib while she awaits her new arrival.
Case 178: Rosaline and her husband, Josue, immigrated to the U.S. with their two children a few years ago. Both work in retail, but they recently suffered a devastating financial setback. Rosaline’s sister was kidnapped in her home country, and she borrowed money to pay the ransom. Her sister was returned physically unharmed. But the ordeal has caused serious mental strain on Rosaline and financial strain on the family. A gift of $500 would help Rosaline and Josue pay their debt and find solid financial ground.
Case 179: Paola is 62 and is quickly losing her sight. Last year, her husband died of COVID-19, and she quit her job because of her blindness. Paola can’t file for assistance without paperwork, which costs hundreds of dollars to obtain. After working her entire life, Paola deserves to age with dignity and stability. A gift of $400 would help her get paperwork so she can file for disability and Social Security.
To contribute to these cases, visit https://bit.ly/FCAGivingFund22.
