Town of Windsor, Windsor Chamber of Commerce, Partner with United Way to Raise Funds for Individuals and Families Impacted by COVID-19

Organizations supporting people in the community they serve

Windsor, Conn. (June 5, 2020) — The Town of Windsor, Windsor Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut are partnering to provide direct financial assistance to Windsor residents struggling to meet basic needs due to COVID-19.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in dire economic consequences for local individuals and families, many of whom were already walking a financial tightrope,” said Paula S. Gilberto, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “Together, in partnership with the Town of Windsor and Windsor Chamber of Commerce, we can help to meet the immediate needs of local individuals and families.”

“We all know hard-working neighbors who live paycheck to paycheck and have no savings to fall back on,” said Adam Gutcheon, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. “We’re thrilled to be able to partner with the Town and United Way in getting immediate assistance to Windsor residents facing hardships. The only way through this is together. While we work on ways to assist our town’s recovery in the long term, we’re now able to help our neighbors with immediate assistance as well.”

The unique joint effort is based on the Connecticut United Ways COVID-19 Response Fund launched by all 15 United Ways in Connecticut to help those who lost jobs, wages, or childcare, or who were otherwise financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, more than 1,000 households across the state have benefited from the Fund as United Ways partner with local town social service departments and community-based agencies. Through a system developed with EML Payment Limited (“EML”), beneficiaries are downloading a $200 mobile wallet card, using the money to pay for basic household necessities like groceries and utilities.

Recipients of the pre-loaded mobile wallet card represent ALICE households. (ALICE is a United Way-coined acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). ALICE households are often one emergency away from a financial crisis impacting their ability to feed their family, heat their home, maintain their housing and ensure their medical care.

In Windsor, 29 percent of households are struggling to make ends meet, according to the 2018 Connecticut United Ways ALICE Report.

The Town of Windsor is receiving 22 mobile wallet cards through the Connecticut United Ways COVID-19 Response Fund. The local fundraising effort will provide additional resources to increase the number of Windsor residents served.

To donate, visit the online fundraising page or text WINDSORCOVID to 71777. Donors will have the option to pay a 3.09% credit card processing fee so that 100% of their donation can go directly to those in need in Windsor.

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut also activated its Neighbors in Need emergency response fund to provide food and emergency services to residents throughout the region affected by COVID-19. To date, 33 awards have been made to nonprofits, providing more than 7,000 area residents with services to meet their basic needs.

To learn more about United Way’s COVID-19 response efforts or to make a donation to United Way Neighbors in Need, visit https://unitedwayinc.org/emergency-response/

About United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s vision is a community where opportunities are available for every child to succeed in school and for every family to achieve financial security. United Way brings people and resources together to address immediate needs and finds long-term solutions to challenging problems. United Way does this by investing in programs and services, leading community change initiatives, and mobilizing resources and volunteers to ensure that: children succeed in school; people get jobs and are financially secure; people are healthy; and, basic needs are met during tough times. For more information, visit www.unitedwayinc.org.