‘Stratford Strong’ Recovery Task Force Formed

STRATFORD, CT – As a part of Stratford’s coronavirus response and recovery, Mayor Laura R. Hoydick has announced the formation of Stratford Strong, a long-term recovery task force. The task force was specifically created to “coordinate community recovery assistance with a focus on identifying community needs and leveraging financial and volunteer resources to address those needs,” according to a news release. They will first concentrate on basic needs, data collection, communication and resource development.

“Stratford Strong is bringing together the town government’s service sector in partnership with many of our outstanding community providers who continue to make a priority of ensuring that we do everything we can to provide relief to residents in need during these challenging times,” Hoydick said in a statement. “This effort is geared toward ensuring that we understand and can adequately respond to the needs of our most vulnerable and underserved populations here in Stratford as they face unique struggles in the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Key partners include Sterling House Community Center, South End Community Center, Stratford YMCA, Stratford Visiting Nurse Association, Stratford Police Activities League, Stratford Hispanic Heritage Committee, Stratford Library Association, Senior Services, Community Services, Stratford Chamber of Commerce, Stratford Rotary Club, the Stratford Interfaith Clergy Association, Access Independence, United Illuminating, Stratford Public Schools, the Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG), Stratford Housing Authority, and area small businesses.

“Based on findings at their first two meetings, a grant application to the Community Development Block program was submitted to coordinate and support a number of critically-needed long term recovery activities,” according to the news release. “These include delivery of frozen meals and case management services for seniors, the medically fragile and people with disabilities; increasing the capacity of the Stratford Fuel Bank to provide utility assistance and the South End Community Council food pantry to meet increased need.”

The application also included n95 mask fit test kits for the Stratford Health Department to train Medical Reserve Corps for proper use during COVID-19 Birdseye Complex vaccination clinics and school nurses working with students. In addition, funds were requested for Stratford Public Schools staff to reach out to engage K2 students and their families during the summer recess. They will direct families to community and district resources with warm hand-off referrals, providing COVID-19 prevention education and supporting learning at home to mitigate summer learning loss.