Three City Groups Awarded $15K in United Way Grants

announces three one-time grants totaling $15,000 to programs working in the areas of income, health and housing. As Middlesex United Way continues to address the underlying causes of serious community conditions, United Way volunteers and staff seek to support programs focusing on prevention.

In United Way’s focus area of health, The Diaper Bank will receive $5,000 to be used as a challenge grant. Since 2009, United Way and the Middlesex Coalition for Children have actively worked to become a partner of The Diaper Bank. The collaboration became the Middlesex County Diaper Bank and a full-fledged sustainable effort to provide diapers to families in need year-round.

Now, 10,000 diapers per month are distributed to 200 poor and low-income Middlesex County families through four local programs. The one-time grant helps ensure the health of babies as well as United Way’s ongoing commitment to the issue.

In United Way’s focus area of housing, will receive $5,000 to support efforts in Middlesex County. Due to cuts in funding from other sources, Connecticut Legal Services has been forced to make significant reductions in services.

The agency provides housing-related services to poverty-stricken residents and is an active partner in community collaborations such as the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, the Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-housing Program, and the Middlesex Areas Interagency Council. Funding will help them increase the ability of individuals and families to attain and retain affordable housing.

In United Way’s focus area of income, the Youth @ Work Program will receive $5,000. Since 2006 the Chamber has placed at least 26 Middletown youth into summer employment in a variety of professional fields. Beyond teaching youth specific skills relevant to the work site, youth learn the fundamentals of employment and increase their economic self-sufficiency in later years.

As state and federal funding has decreased for Youth @ Work, the Chamber has employed fewer youth and has a growing waiting list. Additional funding for this program is coming from the City of Middletown, Liberty Bank Foundation, and Season’s Federal Credit Union.

Programs receiving United Way funding undergo a review by volunteers to ensure the support will be used wisely and efficiently. After approval by United Way’s team of volunteers on the Community Impact Council, the recommendations are brought to the organization’s full Board of Directors.

Middlesex United Way is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. Its focus is on education, income, health and housing — the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way recruits people and organizations that bring the passion, expertise, and resources needed to get things done.

Middlesex United Way is a locally-based organization serving the towns of Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook.