Near & Far Aid Awards $1.1 Million in Grants to Local Agencies
Near & Far Aid is pleased to announce that they will grant a total of over $1.1 million to 100 agencies in Fairfield County that work to alleviate the causes and effects of poverty. The organization received a record number of applications this year. Near & Far Aid’s all-volunteer board reviews each agency personally and selects the agencies and programs that have the most significant impact to help provide a better life and a brighter future for those in need. Near & Far Aid makes grants to agencies that provide educational opportunities for children, aid to the homeless and families at risk, and adult education and job training among others that that seek to end poverty in Fairfield County.
Spotlight on Affordable Housing
Near & Far Aid has long supported affordable housing for low income areas of Fairfield County. This year, we granted to a newcomer to us in this area – HomeFront. HomeFront’s mission is to repair homes in Bridgeport for those with low incomes whose homes are in disrepair and need assistance in making them structurally sound and livable. We support HomeFront’s three-pronged approach to the problem and Near & Far Aid’s grant fully funded their HomeFront Day project on June 4, 2016. HomeFront recruited volunteer groups to work on the homes, solicited donations of in-kind building materials and fundraised from granting organizations. Near & Far Aid also recommended teaming with Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust (BNT) to help mobilize the volunteer base necessary to complete the jobs. We are proud to support HomeFront in their unique efforts in Bridgeport to take on non-profit home repair for those in need.
We thank all who attended and sponsored our events as well as our many donors who share our mission. A summary of the the Near & Far Aid funded HomeFront Day on June 4th is below.
Report From HomeFront DAY June 4, 2016
William (Bill) Toms is a gentleman in his 50s with considerable disabilities who still manages to work sporadically as a home health aide/companion. He lives in a large home in a very central location on Stratford Avenue. Bill has fond memories of a much more pristine neighborhood from his childhood. A mere block away from Bill’s home, BNT re-developed a building that now offers affordable, high quality housing.
Bill’s home was plagued by a chronic roof leak leading to extensive ceiling damage. His front porch was a safety hazard and an eyesore on a highly visible street corner. Bill had been visited numerous times over the years by different HomeFront representatives all of whom were impressed with his positive attitude and passion for returning this Bridgeport neighborhood to a trace of its exalted past. At every turn, HomeFront evaluators documented his inability to rectify the damage with his own resources.
Funding from Near & Far Aid empowered HomeFront to activate volunteers from BNT to help restore this home for a man who spends his life caring for those who suffer despite his own impairments. We got to work as soon as the award was announced. We wished that everyone at Near & Far Aid could hear Bill’s reaction over the phone when we told him that help was on the way. His screams of joy and “God Bless Yous” nearly damaged our eardrums! Roofing shingles that we secured as donations were put into the hands of a very deeply discounted roofer who finally patched Bill’s three-story roof. HomeFront also enlisted a second heavily discounted contractor to work alongside BNT volunteers tearing down the damaged ceiling and re-sheet rocking it. Meanwhile, goodhearted BNT volunteers scraped, painted and installed new lattice work to spruce up Bill’s abandoned-looking front porch. Fellow Samaritans limbed a tree that was threatening the home. The leverage factor of teaming up professional labor with volunteer “worker bees” is tremendous. Bill worked hand-in-hand with the volunteers and had the biggest smile at the end of the day. We have enlisted additional professional help to complete the ceiling repair.
