All Website Activity

Syndicate content

How to help the homeless in the cold

A recent CNN report give tips on what you can do to help homeless people during the cold winter months.   "The weather has turned dangerously cold in much of the country, putting homeless people at high risk of injury or even death. If you encounter someone and want to help, what should you do?   The specific answer depends on the circumstances, but those who work with the homeless every day agree you generally should leave social services to the professionals.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Kathy Hart-Jones's picture Submitted by Kathy Hart-Jones on

 

There was a time, a month or so ago, when I was actually looking forward to winter. I couldn’t wait to start wearing sweaters (and buy more), decorating, shopping and cooking for the holidays and watching the snow fall while sitting comfortably curled up in my favorite chair in front of the TV. The first snowfall was so exciting. I went outside and took pictures, then quickly went back in to take my place in front of the TV under a blanket. Ahh, that was a good day. Well, here we are. Its winter alright and boy is it cold outside. It seems like everywhere I go it is all everyone talks about; “How much longer is it supposed to be like this?”, “I need to go away on vacation to someplace warm”, “It was so cold this morning, I didn’t want to get out of bed”, etc. Sounds familiar, right?

While most of you can relate to this, there is something else we need to think about. Or should I say SOMEONE else? There are hundreds of people in our community who are not as fortunate. They don’t have the luxury of curling up on their favorite chair watching the snow. This is nothing you haven’t already heard.

But, did you know that on a single night in January 2008, there were 664,414 sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons nationwide?

This shouldn’t be a surprise to us; with the rising number of layoffs and increased numbers of foreclosures, our nation should be questioning just how many of our neighbors can’t make ends meet.

According to Ct Coalition to End Homelessness, in 2009 there were approximately 4,154 people who experienced homelessness in CT and 677 in New Haven alone.

Community Voices Podcast: Amy Casavina-Hall, Director of Community Impact at United Way

In this 10 minute podcast Amy Casavina-Hall, Director of Community Impact at United Way talks about what she does in her postion and how United Way organizers work in the communty. She also talks about her career path and what motivates her to continue working the nonprofit sector.

New Haven Fund for “Unsung Heroes” Seeks Nominations for 2010 Award

The Morris Wessel Fund of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven is seeking nominations for its annual prize recognizing “unsung heroes” creatively and compassionately serving New Haven area families.

Established by patients, colleagues, and “fellow travelers” to honor the work of Dr. Morris Wessel upon his retirement from pediatric practice, the fund sponsors a recognition event for its recipients and provides an investment up to $2000 in groups and individuals nurturing the area’s families.

CT Department of Social Services Caseload Increases 18% In One Year

The Hartford Guardian reported on January 4th, 2010 that more Connecticut residents are turning to the state for help in meeting basic needs such as food, medical and financial support, pushing up the Department of Social Services (DSS) caseload by 18%.

Although individuals receiving multiple services are counted more than once, numbers still show a significant increase in need.  DSS reports that "...over 295,600 Connecticut residents received federally-funded SNAP/Food Stamp benefits in November 2009, up 32% in one year and 58% in five years."

Congressional Leaders Focus on Importance of Healthy Babies

Over 65 area business and civic leaders, government representatives, and community leaders gathered at the Oronoque Country Club for the “Giving Babies a Healthy Start: A Congressional Dialogue” breakfast on Monday, December 14th.   The breakfast was a culmination of a regional effort by the United Ways of Greater New Haven, Coastal Fairfield County, and Western CT to collect half a million diapers for lower income families, and to raise the awareness level of the challenges facing them in caring for their babies. The breakfast celebrated the success of the Healthy Baby Diaper Drives that took place across 33 towns throughout the months of September, October and November; recognized the many companies, civic organizations, schools, and municipalities that ran diaper drives; and announced the next steps to this important work. 
 
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Congressman Jim Himes spoke about the Congressional Baby Caucus and what is happening at a federal level to help struggling families.
 
"“I am so pleased with the good work being done by the United Way and their efforts to address one of the most basic needs of raising children,
an adequate supply of diapers. I have worked throughout my career as a legislator to ensure that children get off to a good start in life, with
access to health care, appropriate child development and good nutrition”, stated DeLauro. Ensuring these things will make children more likely to
be ready for school, and eventually, hopefully, to become productive, contributing adults,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “Too
many families are facing difficult financial choices in the face of our economic crisis this winter, and I believe that we in Congress need to focus
in on what we are doing to help America’s infants and toddlers right now.”
 
Speakers of the morning included Michael Crowe, COO, Global Operations for Covidien, who whose company collected over 60,000 diapers; Healthy Baby Diaper Drive Co-Chairs Irene Cornish, Interim Superintendent, Stratford Public Schools and Janice Gruendel, Consultant, Connecticut State Department of Education; Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Congressman Jim Himes; The Diaper Bank President and Founder Joanne Goldblum, and Merle Berke-Schlessel, Esq., President & CEO of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County. 
 

Pages