Westport Awarded COVID-19 Relief Grant By United Way

WESTPORT, CT — On Monday, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County awarded the town of Westport a grant to support residents impacted by the ongoing coronavirus crisis, along with a supply of KN95 protective face masks, according to a news release provided by the town.

The presentation was made to Westport First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker and Human Services Director Elaine Daignault. On hand from the local United Way were CEO Jeff Kimball and Westport resident Tom Green, an emeritus member of the non-profit’s Board of Directors.

Tooker acknowledged the United Way’s longstanding commitment to support local social services programs.

"Westport is so grateful for the United Way's continued partnership and support of programs that meet the needs of our most vulnerable residents," Tooker said in a news release.

The COVID Relief Grant provides emergency assistance for food, rent, utilities and critical bills to help keep families in stable homes. This is the third round of grants awarded by United Way to support those impacted by the pandemic.

The goal of the KN-95 mask donation is to help stem the rapid spread of the coronavirus. Additionally, masks can be an important support for families whose budgets are strained by this additional cost.

Daignault noted that the pandemic has placed additional stress on seniors and families.

"The United Way grant funds allowed us to purchase and distribute supplies at a time when testing resources were particularly difficult to find," Daignault said in a news release. "The grant’s timing couldn't have been better; the most recent Omnicron wave posed a significant setback to those who needed to get back to work and reengage in community offerings. Recipients of the PPE supplies are so grateful to access the resources they need to protect their families."

"Our neighbors need our help, and many of them are seeking help for the first time in their lives," Green said in a news release. "We're honored to work with the town of Westport, my hometown, to bring help and hope to those who are struggling."

Even before the pandemic, one out of five Westport families struggled to make ends meet, according to the town. The health crisis and the rising cost of living have worsened the situation.

This surging need is reflected in the increased calls to United Way’s 2-1-1 Infoline. Last year, town residents’ requests for resources doubled; overall, requests are up nearly 400 percent since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the town.

The current grant of $2,000 follows an earlier award of electronic gift cards to help town residents in need. During the pandemic, United Way also provided grants to three area agencies serving local families--Homes with Hope, Person-to-Person, Open Door Shelter.

As of this week, United Way has donated 6,500 protective face masks to the town for resident use.

Since the start of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County (UWCFC) has made investments in every one of the 12 towns it serves, offering:

• Supports for basic needs: Approximately $216,000 in grants to support towns and community partners providing for basic needs like food, rent, and utilities. Also, over 3,000 freshly-made lunches were delivered to hungry neighbors in three towns, through a partnership with Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin Company.
• Direct Help to Families: Over $89,000 in electronic gift cards to families in need, distributed by towns and local social service agencies.
• Protective Equipment: Over 140,000 pieces of personal protective equipment, including protective masks, gloves, and face shields to help neighbors including frontline workers, teachers, and families, thanks to donor partners like Bank of America and Yale New Haven Health.

• Virtual Learning Support: For remote learners in Kindergarten to 12th grade, UWCFC has provided online tutoring, STEM learning programs, and college financial aid workshops. During summer, United Way supported enriched learning in robotics, engineering, e-sports, leadership, and college preparation. These innovative offerings were made by the Greater Bridgeport STEM Learning Ecosystem, an initiative of the United Way’s flagship collective impact movement, Bridgeport Prospers.
• Connections to Resources: Through the 2-1-1 Infoline, United Way fielded over 123,000 service requests from Fairfield County residents in the past two years.

These supports were made possible through grants, partnerships, local fundraising and state-wide relief efforts.

"Throughout the pandemic, our United Way has worked innovatively and tirelessly to ease the burden shouldered by our neighbors," Kimball said in a news release. "Together with our partners, we will overcome this crisis and keep building more equitable and resilient communities, where all our neighbors have the opportunity to thrive."