Rick and Bernadette had been doing their best to support their family...

But finding quality affordable childcare on a limited income has been difficult. “Our family had to put groceries and utilities on credit cards in order to meet our monthly expenses, ” Bernadette said. “I couldn’t work to increase our income because we couldn’t afford the childcare.”

Here in Northern Fairfield County, many families find themselves walking along a financial tightrope like Rick and Bernadette—barely getting by, with no ability to ensure their children receive quality early childcare, have safe after school activities, or save for college.

United Way is working to transform that financial tightrope into solid ground, using a number of strategies with both immediate and long-term benefits. United Way helped Rick and Bernadette’s children receive a subsidy to one of the area’s finest childcare programs, giving Bernadette the opportunity to work and support her husband’s income. We also provided them with heating assistance and access to nutritional food.

United Way is working to prevent more working families like Rick and Bernadette’s from slipping. We’re helping them find affordable quality childcare, become more financially stable, and take the next steps towards long-term independence.

“The childcare assistance means so much to our family ,” said Bernadette. “It has given us the ability to make ends meet, while our children receive the level of care, love, social and mental stimulation they deserve.”

When you give to United Way, it’s an investment in your community . . . and in hardworking families like Rick and Bernadette’s. 
 

Our goal is long lasting change that prevents problems from happening in the first place. 

Here in Northern Fairfield County, we’re focused on critical issues like:

Helping Children and Families Succeed

•  Enhancing the quality of child care services

• Ensuring safe out of school opportunities

• Closing the achievement gap

For more on Successful Kids and Strong Families, click here.

Improving People’s Health

• Connecting families to lower no-cost health services

• Reducing the effects of substance abuse

• Helping families access counseling programs

For more on Promoting Health & Well Being, click here.

Promoting Self Sufficiency

• Equipping low and moderate income working families who are struggling financially with tools to increase their income, create savings, and gain financial independence

• Increasing financial literacy and education

• Increasing access to affordable housing

For more on Promoting Self Sufficiency, click here.

Encouraging Community Involvement

• More individuals being involved and actively volunteering in their neighborhoods, communities and schools

• Having volunteers represent a good mix of racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, crossing regional boundaries to work together

• Supporting a network of organizations that works together to provide volunteers resources to improve community conditions

For more on Encouraging Community Involvement, click here.