UNITED WAY OF COASTAL AND WESTERN CONNECTICUT INC

WHERE GAPS IN CRITICAL SERVICES EXIST, UNITED WAY COASTAL AND WESTERN CONNECTICUT DEVELOPS DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALICE HOUSEHOLDS. UNITED WAY'S DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, HEALTH, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION. EDUCATION: UNITED WAY OF COASTAL AND WESTERN CONNECTICUT SUPPORTS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND LITERACY THROUGH SEVERAL INITIATIVES. SINCE 2018, THE CORA'S KIDS FAMILY CHILD CARE NETWORK HAS ADDED OVER 900 LICENSED CHILD CARE SLOTS, SUPPORTED 150 LICENSED PROVIDERS, AND SERVED MORE THAN 1,000 CHILDREN FROM LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES IN GREATER DANBURY AND NEW MILFORD. TO BUILD COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND AWARENESS, CORA'S KIDS ALSO LEADS THE COMMUNITY MESSENGER PROGRAM, WHICH HAS TRAINED AND MOBILIZED OVER 170 INDIVIDUALS IN DANBURY AND NEW MILFORD. IN 2024, CORA'S KIDS LAUNCHED SEEDLINGS TO SPROUTS, A FARM-TO-SCHOOL INITIATIVE THAT HAS PLANTED 12 HOME GARDENS AND SERVED HUNDREDS OF PROVIDERS AND FAMILIES THROUGH ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. A BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS ACROSS GREATER DANBURY, SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTY, AND BRIDGEPORT DELIVER MUCH NEEDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES. HEALTH: LAUNCHED IN 2023, THE FOOD FARMACY OF GREATER DANBURY IS A FOOD AS MEDICINE INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR PATIENTS EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AND DIET-RELATED CHRONIC CONDITIONS SUCH AS HYPERTENSION. THIS INITIATIVE IS OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NUVANCE/NORTHWELL HEALTH AND CONNECTICUT INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITIES. IN 2024-25, 120 PATIENTS RECEIVED FRESH PRODUCE BENEFITS, NUTRITION EDUCATION, COOKING CLASSES, AND PERSONALIZED SUPPORT FROM DIETITIANS AND COMMUNITY IMPACT WORKERS. UNITED WAY ALSO COORDINATES THE DANBURY AND STAMFORD FOOD COLLABORATIVES, WHICH UNITE OVER 80 ORGANIZATIONS - INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, MEAL PROVIDERS, NONPROFITS, PUBLIC AGENCIES, FUNDERS, AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS - TO STRENGTHEN THE REGION'S RESPONSE TO FOOD INSECURITY. VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT THESE COLLABORATIVES THROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTION, LOGISTICS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.FINANCIAL STABILITY: IN 2024-25, UNITED WAY PROVIDED DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ALICE HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE HEALTHY SAVINGS PROGRAM, THE ALICE ENRICHMENT FUND, AND THE ALICE CRITICAL NEEDS FUND. IN TOTAL, OVER $360,000 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 1,418 HOUSEHOLDS TO COVER ESSENTIAL EXPENSES SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING, CHILD CARE, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, HEALTHCARE, TRANSPORTATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND UTILITIES. COLLECTIVE ACTION: UNITED WAY SERVES AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR THREE CRADLE-TO-CAREER COLLECTIVE ACTION INITIATIVES - BRIDGEPORT PROSPERS, STAMFORD CRADLE TO CAREER, AND THE DANBURY COLLECTIVE - AND IS A FOUNDING PARTNER OF THE CONNECTICUT CRADLE TO CAREER COALITION, WHICH INCLUDES NORWALK ACTS AND WATERBURY BRIDGE TO SUCCESS. THE THREE PLACE-BASED PARTNERSHIPS IN STAMFORD, BRIDGEPORT, AND DANBURY FOCUS ON BUILDING EQUITABLE SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT MORE THAN 47,000 STUDENTS IN URBAN COMMUNITIES WHERE ALICE RATES ARE HIGHEST. UNITED WAY PROVIDES STRATEGIC RESOURCES, DATA SUPPORT, AND CONVENING POWER TO ALIGN PARTNERS AROUND SHARED GOALS AND MEASURABLE OUTCOMES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH POSTSECONDARY SUCCESS. EACH INITIATIVE IS TAILORED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF ITS COMMUNITY. EXAMPLES OF CURRENT COLLECTIVE EFFORTS INCLUDE WORK IN BRIDGEPORT TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR BLACK AND LATINA MOTHERS, SHARED STRATEGIES IN DANBURY TO ADDRESS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM THROUGH FAMILY AND SCHOOL SUPPORTS, AND EXPANSION OF FULL-SERVICE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN STAMFORD TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC, WELLNESS, AND BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT. THESE EXAMPLES REFLECT A BROADER, ONGOING COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING EQUITY, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE FROM CRADLE TO CAREER.VOLUNTEERISM: VOLUNTEERISM IS ALSO A VITAL COMPONENT OF THESE DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS. UNITED WAY ACTIVELY ENGAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS IN SERVICE ACTIVITIES THAT ENHANCE PROGRAM DELIVERY AND EXPAND REACH. IN DANBURY, UNITED WAY OPERATES THE SENIORS ADD VALUABLE EXPERIENCE (SAVE) PROGRAM, WHICH CONNECTS RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS AGED 65 AND OLDER WITH VOLUNTEER ROLES IN DANBURY CITY DEPARTMENTS AND NONPROFIT AGENCIES. IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR SERVICE, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A PROPERTY TAX CREDIT. DURING THE 2024-2025 CYCLE, THE SAVE PROGRAM ENGAGED 30 VOLUNTEERS ACROSS 15 NONPROFIT PARTNER SITES. THESE VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF 6,601 HOURS OF SERVICE AND COLLECTIVELY SAVED $19,600 IN PROPERTY TAXES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FINANCIAL RELIEF AND PEACE OF MIND FOR SENIORS LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES, WHILE ALSO STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY TIES.UNITED WAY OFFERS A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TAILORED TO CORPORATE TEAMS AND INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES. THESE INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL COMMUNITY COUNCILS - NORTHERN FAIRFIELD, SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD, STAMFORD, GREATER BRIDGEPORT, AND GREATER NORWALK - AS WELL AS INVOLVEMENT IN EVENT PLANNING COMMITTEES FOR INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE DAY OF ACTION, GOLF TOURNAMENT, AND GALA. CORPORATE PARTNERS ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN SKILLED VOLUNTEERING THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR PROJECT-BASED SUPPORT, LEVERAGING EMPLOYEE EXPERTISE TO BENEFIT NONPROFIT PARTNERS. THROUGH THESE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, OVER 990 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 790 HOURS OF TIME TO SUPPORT UNITED WAY AND ITS NONPROFIT PARTNERS. ADVOCACY: UNITED WAY ADVANCES POLICIES AND SYSTEMS CHANGE THAT SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND OLDER ADULTS. WE WORK WITH MUNICIPAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO CHAMPION EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CHILD CARE, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. OUR ADVOCACY APPROACH IS ROOTED IN COMMUNITY VOICE AND INFORMED BY DATA, LIVED EXPERIENCE, AND THE INSIGHTS OF OUR NONPROFIT AND CIVIC PARTNERS. WE ALSO PROVIDE TOOLS AND TRAINING TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGE IN POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR ROLE IN SHAPING SOLUTIONS. THROUGH THIS WORK, UNITED WAY HELPS CREATE LASTING CHANGE BEYOND INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS, ENSURING THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO THRIVE.