The Power of Electricity - Help provide warmth and lights for 125 households

Fundraising campaigns target specific groups in need  

Published: Sunday, March 06, 2011 in New Haven Register
By Steve Higgins, Special to the Register

Editor’s note: Neighbor-to-Neighbor LifeLine is an emergency winter fundraising program of United Way of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven to raise awareness and funds to address critical housing and hunger needs in the region. This is one in a series of articles outlining those needs. To get involved, visit www.n2nlifeline.org.

Valerie was working as a teacher and living on the Shoreline two years ago when her life began to come apart. She was laid off from her job and last year was evicted from her apartment. Valerie moved into a less expensive apartment in New Haven and took on part-time work, but it wasn’t enough to pay all of the bills. With nowhere else to turn, Valerie approached Jewish Family Service of New Haven for help. The organization provided Valerie with emergency money to pay her car insurance bill and her electric bill that month.  “They came through for me,” said Valerie, who now is working three part-time jobs. “I don’t know how I would have gotten through that rough patch. I still struggle day to day, but that particular time, it was even worse. It was like I was drowning and someone threw out a lifeline to me. I feel so grateful.”

Valerie’s story illustrates the increased need agencies such as Jewish Family Service have seen the last three years for help with food, shelter and emergency funds. Neighbor-to-Neighbor Lifeline, an emergency winter fundraising program started in 2008-09, has provided grants to Jewish Family Service each year since 2009. This year, Jewish Family Service is reserving a special focus for helping senior citizens and Holocaust survivors pay their utility bills through “The Power of Electricity,” a micro-fundraising campaign sponsored by Neighbor-to-Neighbor Lifeline. To donate, visit www.n2nlifeline.org/campaigns. The goal is to raise $20,000 to help about 120 senior citizens, said Jonathan Garfinkle, executive director of Jewish Family Service.

“Over the last two years, the requests made to our agency for emergency funds has increased eightfold, and utilities are the single area of greatest need,” said Garfinkle. “Now is when people are in danger, because the utility companies won’t turn off your heat during the cold winter months.”  Seniors who live on fixed incomes are finding it more and more difficult to make ends meet because food costs have risen, as have costs for medical care and assistance. “After paying the cost of housing and food and medicine, something has to give, and often that’s utility payments,” Garfinkle said. “Now, people come to us in desperation because they can now lose their gas and electricity service as the weather warms up.”

The Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign has raised $1.5 million in aid to Greater New Haven residents hit hard by the recession over the last two years. All money donated goes directly to area social service agencies. The agencies are sponsoring four micro-fundraising campaigns this year. The others are dedicated to raising money for a new oven at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (this goal has been reached), to raising $10,000 for New Haven Home Recovery’s Furniture Co-op, and to raising funds to support the overall Neighbor-to-Neighbor Lifeline campaign.

To help any or all of these charitable efforts reach their goals, go to www.n2nlifeline.org/campaigns or call 203-691-4212.

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