Blog
Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day! According to data from the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office, a total of 275,114 people have signed up to vote in Connecticut since 2016. The data reveals that this is an upsurge in voter registration in the state during a mid-term election cycle, when the number of those signing up to vote is usually low.
At United Way of Western Connecticut, we don’t just ask people to give. We want everyone in our community to become aware, invested and part of the ongoing conversation on what our collective needs are, how to address those needs, and how...
Post date: Monday, September 24, 2018 - 12:14pm
The anticipation of the children nearly burst at the seams as they waited in line with their parents to get their brand new bookbags filled with school supplies. The excitement and sheer gratitude shown on their faces as they entered the gym and finally got their first peek at the bookbags set the tone for an unforgettable experience.
“Mommy, look! It even has my name on it, does that mean I’m special?” Asked one child as a United Way volunteer handed her a brand-new princess themed bookbag.
40 percent of families in Connecticut fall under the ALICE® (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained,...
Post date: Tuesday, September 4, 2018 - 1:15pm
United Way of Western Connecticut is deeply concerned about the separation of young immigrant children from their parents. It is hard to imagine a more vulnerable person than a child who may be fleeing violence and oppression in their home country. It is unconscionable to further victimize such a child by taking them from their parents. That is simply not who we are as a nation.
United Way is a non-partisan, non-political organization and believes that Americans must work together to find an immediate solution to this urgent matter.
Post date: Friday, June 22, 2018 - 12:24pm
This is Martha. Martha lives alone in a one-room apartment. She has a small monthly income and suffers from complicated health issues that prevent her from getting out of the house.
Due to her limitations, she is unable to obtain or prepare food for herself. But, a gift from United Way’s Giving Fund has now provided Martha with home-delivered meals for one year!
“I am so grateful for the meals. I was embarrassed to ask for help but I’m so happy I did,” Martha says, “I never could have made it through the winter if United Way was not here to help me in...
Post date: Wednesday, June 13, 2018 - 4:15pm
This is Sandra. Sandra is a grandmother raising her granddaughter Ella, and she recently lost her job. Ella is 7 years old and she loves karate.
Sandra had been saving for months to afford the classes but with the mounting bills and a very limited income, Sandra realized her only option would be to sideline Ella from starting karate this Spring. But, with the help of United Way’s ALICE Enrichment Fund, she now could.
“I just registered Ella for three months of karate,” says Sandra, “without the Alice Enrichment Fund, this would never have been possible....
Post date: Monday, June 11, 2018 - 4:48pm
This is Brandon. Brandon takes five every month to provide the families at our Mobile Food Pantry in Northern Fairfield County with fresh lemonade and water, as they wait their turn to get groceries. His vibrant smile and personality lights up the room. As a thank you to Brandon, one of the patrons discovered his love for The Titanic and brought him some books. In return, Brandon wrote a Thank You card for her to showcase his deep appreciation for the gift. Thank you, Brandon, for taking five minutes to make an impact and creating your legacy every...
Post date: Saturday, June 9, 2018 - 9:18pm
The classroom door creaks open slowly, and the expectant faces of the kindergarten and first-grade students turn towards the door with barely contained excitement as they look to see who will be reading to them. As the company volunteer enters the classroom, the buzzing of anticipation bubbles up and overflows as they watch men and women in their work uniforms, suits, and dresses make their way towards the reading carpet.
The animated faces of the volunteers regale the children with laughter and enthusiasm as they read each story and encourage the children to join in on the fun....
Post date: Friday, May 4, 2018 - 12:48pm
Thanks to the Supporting Community Partners of United Way of Western Connecticut’s (UWWC) Financial Opportunity Center (FOC), we are able to offer programs to help households understand their finances and create budgets, start saving, reduce debt, build assets and plan for the future.
UWWC’s FOC empowers individuals and families in Western Connecticut to take the necessary steps to become financially stable. For too many families in our communities, the reality of living paycheck-to-paycheck despite working full-time (or multiple jobs) is that these individuals and families have...
Post date: Friday, April 27, 2018 - 1:18pm
Elizabeth is a real Western Connecticut resident who wants her story told. She is one of thousands of people United Way of Western CT (UWWC) is dedicated to: hard-working, struggling households that we call ALICE® (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). She is an established digital media professional who has"worked in and paid taxes in the great state of Connecticut since I was 15 years old," she says.
“All of my money is spent, right out the door as soon as it comes in, so that we have a roof over our heads, utilities and coverage for our...
Post date: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 - 3:15pm
January is National Blood Donor Month
We received a notice from the Connecticut Blood Center and the American Red Cross that blood donations are critically needed, in light of shortages resulting from the severe weather last week.
In Connecticut, 13 blood drives were forced to cancel due to last week’s winter storm, causing 339 donations to go uncollected. Uncollected donations can mean the difference between life and death: every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.
While all blood types are urgently needed, there is a more critical need for the following...
Post date: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - 3:36pm