The COVID-19 pandemic is having catastrophic effects on the struggling households we serve called ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). To address this, United Way of Western Connecticut has activated the ALICE Emergency Fund. This Fund will immediately address the urgent need of access to food for individuals and families living in the 15 cities and towns that we serve in Western Connecticut.
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The ALICE Emergency Fund will expand the ability of individuals and families to purchase fresh produce through our Healthy Savings program. Participants in the program will receive $20 of fresh produce for free each week until June 27, with the flexibility to extend depending on the availability of funds.
Healthy Savings offers participants a pre-loaded app that helps them pay for groceries, and offers additional weekly savings on various pre-qualified healthy items that frequently include staples such as milk, whole-grain breads, lean meats, yogurt, beans, cereals, eggs, and many others. Those additional savings can total up to $50 or more per week. Healthy Savings has qualifying foods from over 200 brands participating in the program. They can purchase food at participating Connecticut stories, which include Stop & Shop, Walmart, and Acme.
Additionally, households that have been financially affected by the pandemic may be eligible to receive up to $200 for basic household necessities like food, utilities, prescriptions and gas. We are working with social service agencies and municipalities to identify those most in need. Eligibility is determined by a loss of job, a loss of wages, a loss of child care, or the need to be homebound due to Coronavirus.
This Fund will serve only residents of United Way of Western Connecticut's 15 cities and towns: Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Kent, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Stamford, Warren, and Washington. Those who are struggling should call (203) 297-6674.
Donors will have the option to pay a 3.09% credit card processing fee so that 100% of their donation can go directly to those in need. United Way of Western CT will not charge any administrative fees on donations to the ALICE Emergency Fund.
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