We can all agree that 2020 has been a year like no other. We’re living through a global pandemic and fighting for social justice, while also navigating homeschooling children and finding ways to stay connected to friends and family as we practice social distancing.
While each of us has been affected by COVID-19, the pandemic underscores the health and economic disparities of lower-wage earners and people of color. People in our region are facing challenging situations — limited childcare and youth programs, financial instability due to furloughs and layoffs, and food insecurity. While these are not new issues, more people are affected today as result of COVID-19.
The tough work needed to help people recover is the very work our United Way was built for. We bring the right people and resources together to ensure that children and youth succeed academically, people get good jobs and are healthy, and basic needs are met.
This has never been more important than now. No one person or single organization can address the big challenges we are up against. It takes all of us, collectively combining our resources and talents.
When you give to United Way, you support a network of community partners and volunteers who work together in an integrated way to address the immediate and long-term needs of local individuals and families.
United Way has always been the organization you can turn to when times are tough and that is as true today as it was when we began. For us, getting “back to normal” or learning to adapt to a “new normal” is not enough. We need to reimagine a better normal that results in equity and opportunity for every person in every community.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Join us in building a better normal.
Paula S. Gilberto
President and CEO
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
