As United Way of Coastal Fairfield County continues to respond to emerging community needs, we have provided $150,000 in Community Response Small Grants.  The grants awarded focus on addressing community needs in one of our seven target issues.  

In the area of Education, the target issues are:

• Readiness to Achieve in School
• Academic Achievement

In our work in the area of Income, the target issues are:

• Achieving Greater Financial Stability
• Increasing Affordable Housing and Reducing Homelessness
• Providing Basic Needs

And in the area of Health, the target issues are:

• Healthy Youth and Resilient Families
• Healthy Older Adults

There were two rounds of funding and we are pleased to have provided the following grants in the First Round:

YWCA Darien-Norwalk-New Directions

$4,000 is being provided to increase the number of sessions in the New Directions program and provide a limited number of scholarships.  This economic empowerment program is for women following divorce, widowhood, and/or domestic violence. Mercy Learning Center-Literacy and Life Skills

$4,000 will go toward programming for higher level students enrolled in Adult Basic Ed II or GED Prep.  This program increases the educational functioning level of low-income women so that they may break the cycle of poverty. Operation Hope

$3,000 is being provided to purchase appliances for four units of affordable housing. Sterling House-Food Pantry

$4,000 will provide partial support for the salary of a part-time social worker for the Food Pantry.  The Food Pantry serves 10-15 clients weekly who are linked to other assistance programs.

United Way of Coastal Fairfield County serves the communities of Bridgeport, Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk, Wilton, Monroe, Westport, Trumbull, Weston, Easton, Darien and New Canaan.