The Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA) mission is to protect and promote the legal rights of Connecticut’s low income children and youth so they have equitable opportunities for good health, quality education and successful transition into adulthood. CCA provides legal representation and advocates for system reform to ensure low income children’s basic needs are met and they have appropriate services from juvenile justice, education, child welfare, healthcare or court systems.
Unemployment Applications Exceed 350,000 in CT as Businesses Remain Closed
With the closure of many local businesses, some of our most vulnerable neighbors have either been furloughed or lost their jobs. Many of these families report that the number one anxiety is putting food on the table. “Food distributions are one of the most, I think, visible and emotional proofs of this pandemic,” said Paul Shipman, spokesman for the Connecticut Food Bank, which provides commodities to pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and more. “We are working hard to meet (the increased need) and, clearly, it’s a challenge.” (CT Post 4/18/20)
Near & Far Aid has donated over $100,000 in COVID-19 Relief Funds over the past two weeks to local agencies addressing food insecurity. Following is a small sampling of the gratitude expressed by our grantees:
It is because of YOU that Filling in the Blanks was able to feed 2,200 children this week!
Thank you for taking a stand against hunger! Your donation helps ensure Food Rescue US can continue to provide food to those who need it during this critical time of need.
Thank you for Near & Far Aid Association’s grant to B1C’s COVID-19 Response Fund! It is very kind of you to extend additional support to your grantees during this trying time.
Thank you so much for thinking of your neighbors who are homeless or hungry during this particularly difficult time. Your help makes it possible for The Open Door Shelter to provide food, shelter, and crucial resources to our community at a time when it’s most needed.
I hope it brightens your day to know how much your support means to us (at Home Front) and the older adults, single parents, persons with disabilities and people living paycheck to paycheck. You guys really do get it!
17,550 have tested positive for COVID-19 in CT with 1,086 deaths as of April18. 42% of those testing positive reside in Fairfield County. We see numbers continue to climb in urban centers, with Stamford reporting the most cases at 1,748, followed by Bridgeport at 1199, Norwalk 857 and Danbury 841.
Please consider making a one time or recurring donation. For any questions about the COVID-19 Relief Fund, or the work we do, please visit our website at www.nearandfaraid.org or email us at [email protected].
While the COVID-19 global pandemic creates enormous economic pressure on all Americans, the consequences of income inequality are multiplied for low-income individuals and families, including residents of Fairfield County. Those with the fewest financial resources are more vulnerable to the adverse economic effects of this pandemic as well as infection from the virus itself. The implications for cost-burdened households ripple across all aspects of a budget: loss of income due to illness, reduced hours or sick days, the burden of medical bills for the uninsured, childcare while schools are shuttered, additional daily meals for family members sheltering-in-place, and risk of infection due to cramped living quarters.
Near & Far Aid was founded over 65 years ago with a singular focus to mobilize our community to ensure that the most basic needs of our neighbors were met, especially in times of crisis. With the initiation of our COVID-19 EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, our intention is to be proactive, funding areas of greatest need at this critical moment in time. Emergency grants to trusted organizations on the frontlines of poverty are being released immediately and targeted to alleviate the social and economic hurdles faced by so many during this crisis.
Of highest priority, at this time, are grants to assist with:
· food insecurity
· essential health and mental health care
· personal hygiene and cleaning supplies for organizations keeping their doors open to feed and serve all those seeking assistance.
Through the collective participation of our patrons, sponsors, and Host Committee, and with the incredible support of the Mitchell family, we raised over $1 million at our 25th Anniversary Gala on March 6th. Money raised will fund critical programs in the coming year, undoubtedly reeling from the blows dealt by the pandemic. The outpouring of generosity at our gala enables us to seed our Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund with $100,000 from the event’s revenue for immediate grants.
The need in our community is both outsized and urgent. Near & Far Aid’s track record of granting over $1 million annually to programs and agencies with proven outcomes makes us a trusted resource to distribute your donation thoughtfully and responsibly to the areas of greatest need.
On March 6, local philanthropists and supporters of Near & Far Aid will once again gather at Mitchell’s of Westport for a spectacular evening dedicated to bridging the service and opportunity gaps in Fairfield County. This will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Spring Gala and Near & Far Aid will honor the Mitchell Family for their extraordinary philanthropic contributions to our community. Guests at this year’s gala will be treated to delicious fare prepared by Marcia Selden Catering, wine and spirits generously provided by CDI distributors, a fabulous Spring Fashion show, live and silent auctions including highly curated items and experiences, and to cap the evening, a Shagadellic Dance Party! It is a celebration not to be missed!
Near & Far Aid 2019 Designer House Tour is TOMORROW, Friday May 10th! Don’t miss out on your chance to experience some of the most beautiful and unique properties in Fairfield, Southport and Westport!
After the tour, please join us for SUNSET COCKTAILS at a stunning waterfront residence in Westport from 6:30-9:30 pm.
ALL ADVANCED TICKET SALES WILL BE CLOSED TODAY AT 1:00 pm – buy your tickets now and save $10! Any tickets thereafter can be purchased Friday at Kohler Signature Store by Plimpton & Hills in Westport (1320 Post Road). Tickets can also be purchased at the properties on the tour or at Sunset Cocktails location. Email [email protected] for any questions.
Near & Far Aid’s 2019 Designer House Tour presents a lovely day filled with wow-factor interiors and design inspiration. This year, each stop on the tour will feature additional experiences for patrons including refreshments, cocktails and even a Pop-Up accessories shop! Read below for a sneak peak of what we have in store for you!
Waterfront Retreat
This inspiring waterfront residence on Fairfield’s coastline was created for Rebecca Timlin-Scalera, the founder of The Cancer Couch, and a breast cancer survivor. It is modeled after Ocean House, a timelessly elegant luxury hotel in Watch Hill, R.I., the family’s “favorite place in the world”. This whimsical family home was designed by Sarah Weiland of Tusk Design, as well as Gina Schapiro of GRACE Design, and is a true celebration of life and an appreciation for the ocean.
Subtle Sophistication
“Who doesn’t want to live on the beach?” It’s a rhetorical question asked by Andrea Cross, who lives steps from Long Island Sound. This sophisticated and elegant home is a collection of old and new, of beloved family antiques through mid-century modern furniture, and the contemporary pieces made by the innovative craftspeople she represents in her design firm and showroom, AXEL Interiors in Norwalk.
The New Traditional
Danielle Perdue, homeowner and founder of DK Decor, designed her family-friendly home to revolve around the dramatic play of old and new. She chose a neutral background of whites and grays with pops of blue throughout. Danielle mixes antiques with contemporary furniture and artwork to create what she calls a “magical puzzle”. She chose traditional, classic pieces and balanced them with “a splash of modern art.” The result is a traditional house that still feels fresh and current.
Wonderland House
Travel down the rabbit hole to Alice’s Wonderland in this contemporary house on a knoll above Long Island Sound. This truly unique home, designed by Heidi Holzer, of Heidi Holzer Design & Decorative Work, is infused with playfulness and joy, and incorporates many elements of the homeowners’ lives, including music, poetry, art sports, birds, and the natural elements. Blink and risk missing many unusual features, like the champagne bar with gold leaf walls, poetry emblazoned on the walls, and the Alice in Wonderland themed dressing room!
