Connecticut Community Foundation and the United Way of Greater Waterbury joined together during the onset of the pandemic to create the COVID-19 Response Fund. Between March 2020 and July 2021, we worked together to rapidly deploy $789,008 in funding to community-based organizations at the frontlines of the coronavirus outbreak. This has been made possible with the support of generous seed funding from a cross-section of individuals, private foundations, corporations, and others.

Through July 20, 2021, the committee has approved $789,008 in grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund. Grants include:

Basic Needs & Utility Assistance: $69,008

  • Catholic Charities, Inc.: Waterbury Family Center Support for Basic Needs– $7,500 to support additional case management for families in need and to purchase gift cards for groceries.
  • Community Solutions, Inc.: Chase Residential Re-entry Center – $5,000 to assist CSI in providing necessary cleaning supplies and services to clients in the safest manner possible as we continue to face the challenges of a global pandemic.
  • For Right Now: Support for Families- $3,000 to support families effected by COVID-19 (including purchasing food, household items, and gas for deliveries).
  • Helping Hands with Open Hearts, Inc.: Supplies for Families- $2,500 to purchase feminine products, diapers and personal protective equipment for low-income Waterbury residents.
  • Litchfield Community Center: Community Essentials Fund- $3,200 to purchase food and essential items (such as personal hygiene products and household cleaning supplies) for low-income families from Litchfield.
  • Operation Fuel: Emergency Assistance for Families- $27,500 to provide emergency energy assistance to families living in the greater Waterbury area who have been impacted financially by the pandemic.
  • The Salvation Army: Comprehensive Emergency Assistance Program – $8,000 to purchase food and other basic necessities, such as toiletries, paper goods, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies to distribute through the food
  • The Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer: COVID-19 Family Financial Support – $5,000 to expand the Family Support Program to meet the unprecedented level of need due to the pandemic for continued emotional, medical and financial support for children with cancer and their families.
  • VetFuel, Inc.: Veterans Vaccinate for Life! $2,500 to pay for public transportation through gift cards for veterans to commute to Covid-19 vaccination access.
  • Waterbury Youth Services Inc.: Homeless Youth Resource Center – $4,808 to support a portion of the Program Manager’s salary for increased case management / counseling to our homeless youth as well as for the increased demand for essential direct client needs such as food, clothing, and hygiene.

Connection to Services: $23,050

  • Naugatuck YMCA: Senior Programing during COVID-19- $4,050 to support the salaries of outreach staff that are coordinating care for older adults in
  • Police Activity League of Waterbury, Inc.: COVID-19 Volunteer Support- two grants totaling $2,000 to purchase gas cards for volunteers delivering food and other essential items to high-risk individuals during the pandemic.
  • Waterbury Mutual Aid: (fiscal sponsor Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury) COVID-19 Mutual Aid Network– three grants totaling $17,000 to support the expansion of a Mutual Aid network in Waterbury and to provide direct assistance, including food delivery, to families who are economically insecure due to COVID-19.

Education Supports: $5,000

  • Connecticut Junior Republic: Chromebooks for Distance Learning- $4,000 to purchase Chromebooks to be used by students and instructors to access and participate in remote learning.
  • Girls Inc.: Academic Support/Tutoring Program – $1,000 to fund Academic Support / Tutoring Program during Covid-19.

Emergency Childcare: $89,281

  • Easterseals: Childcare for Essential Workers- $10,000 to help cover the costs associated with reopening the Waterbury childcare facility and providing care for the children of essential Funds will support additional supplies, staff and cleaning costs.
  • Greater Waterbury YMCA: Emergency Childcare Services – three grants totaling $31,060 to support the operation of the emergency childcare for first responders, which is not covered by state funding for childcare for medical personnel.
  • Greater Waterbury YMCA: COVID-19 Prevention for School-Aged Childcare- $11,305 to purchase 20 ft room dividers for use in offsite after school programs to help create boundaries for the students and promote social distancing in accordance with State of CT standards.
  • New Milford Youth Agency: Youth Agency Childcare Program– two grants totaling $11,000 to offset increased childcare cost for families due to COVID-19.
  • Pratt Nature Center: At Risk Care– $3,416 – to support the New Milford based nature center to provide outdoor childcare for children of essential workers and those identified by New Milford Public Schools as high risk. Funding will support physical structure improvements to increase the number of children that can be
  • Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut: YMCA Camp Greenknoll – $2,500 to support camp expenses for low-income children from New Milford, Bridgewater or Roxbury.
  • Team, Inc: Family Childcare – TEAM Shared Services Network– two grants totaling $20,000 to provide direct relief and support to Family Child Care Providers in greater Waterbury in order to ensure they can remain open and viable in the long-term.

Food Security: $225,266

  • All Corners Farm: Expansion of Operations- $8,028 to expand farm operations and produce more food to distribute to pantries.
  • Brass City Harvest: Farmers Market/Senior Food Delivery Program– $5,300 to hire staff and purchase supplies to support increased access to the Waterbury Farmers’ Market for older adults during the summer.
  • Caring for Bethlehem, Inc.: Bethlehem Food Bank- $1,000 to cover the cost of food distributed to Bethlehem families with increased need during COVID-19.
  • Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT: Food Bank and Senior Meals – two grants totaling $14,200 to support the cost of increased food distribution, purchasing paper goods, personal protective equipment and increased staff time for meal prep and delivery for New Milford Seniors and Food Bank.
  • Community Services Council of Woodbury: Woodbury Food Bank- Emergency Food- $4,000 to purchase food and household products for distribution to Woodbury families and individuals in need and to support the additional cost of personal protective equipment for food bank staff and volunteers.
  • Community Tabernacle Outreach Center: CTOC Food Pantry- $7,000 to support equipment and other needs related to the increased services provided due to COVID-19.
  • Connecticut Food Bank, : Supporting the Emergency Food Assistance Network– $10,000 to support additional food and supplies distribution to towns in the Foundation and United Way’s region, as well as staff time during COVID-19.
  • Connecticut Partnership for Children, Inc.: Food and Basic Needs Distribution to Families– three grants totaling $13,108 to support food delivery for Naugatuck families sheltering in place and to purchase food for school and community.
  • Evangelical Christian Church: Food Pantry– $7,000 to support equipment and other needs related to the increased services provided due to COVID-19.
  • Food Rescue US: Food Rescue US – Northwest Connecticut– $5,000 to purchase dairy and other food from farms that would otherwise go to waste and redistribute to food pantries in Litchfield County.
  • Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries: Soup Kitchen and Emergency Food Pantry– three grants totaling $22,500 to support the costs of increased staff time, food and supplies to operate the soup kitchen and food pantry.
  • Mental Health Connecticut: Independence Center Meal Delivery Program– $14,000 to cover the cost to provide meals and household supplies to participants of the Waterbury Independence Center, which provides services to adults with mental health.
  • Naugatuck Valley Community College: Food for NVCC Students who Access the On- Campus Pantry– two grants totaling $10,700 to support food delivery for students who had been receiving support from food pantry.
  • New Opportunities, Inc.: NOI COVID-19 Community Engagement Fund- four grants totaling $52,810 to purchase 500 five-day emergency food packs, to support Meals on Wheels drivers’ salaries, to increase the capacity to deliver meals to older adults and disabled residents, and to assist the Meals on Wheels program with truck replacement.
  • Salvation Army: Meals for Shelter Guests during COVID-19– three grants totaling $33,120 to support the cost of four weeks of meals for families staying in the emergency shelter during COVID-19.
  • United Way of Western Connecticut: Food Security Healthy Savings Program– $7,500 to fund Healthy Savings food cards to help low income residents in New Milford purchase fresh produce and other healthy foods at grocery stores.
  • Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging: Emergency Senior Meals on Wheels– $5,000 to support the increased cost of meals and staffing during COVID-19 in the following towns: Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Cheshire, Goshen, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, Naugatuck, New Milford, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Roxbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.

Housing: $101,550

  • New Opportunities, : Rapid Rehousing- Rapid Exit Support– $2,250 to purchase home necessities for rapid rehousing participants, such as sheets, mattresses, and utensils. Support will assist up to 15 households with these items.
  • St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, Inc.: Support for Shelter, Soup Kitchen, Pantry and Residential Services- two grants totaling $49,300 to support the cost of extra food and supplies at the shelter, soup kitchen and food pantry, the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning products for COVID-19 conditions, and additional staff and administrative expenses due to the crisis.
  • Supportive Housing Works: Northwest CAN COVID Response: $30,000 to support housing, food and transportation expenses for homeless individuals. Funding may also be used to support staff and administrative expenses due to the COVID-19 Supportive Housing Works is the regional administrator of the Waterbury/Litchfield County Coordinated Access Network (CAN) that is designed to assist homeless households to move quickly out of homelessness into permanent housing.
  • Supportive Housing Works: Street Outreach Effort– $20,000 to support outreach to the homeless population in Waterbury that is not currently served by the shelter system and increase access to resources and permanent housing.

Medical Services & Telehealth: $66,018

  • Connecticut Counseling Centers, Inc.: Patient Scholarship Fund – $5,000 to pay for the treatment services for uninsured or underinsured patients accessing treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, including opioid dependent patients, who are experiencing financial hardship.
  • Danbury Hospital: COVID-19 Relief at New Milford Hospital- $5,000 to help offset costs associated with obtaining supplies and equipment, including needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare providers to keep them healthy and safe as they care for patients; increased staffing; and increased costs to clean and sanitize overflow units in the Hospital.
  • Human Resources Development Agency: Increased Medical and Basic Needs Transportation– $3,198 to support the hiring of a part-time driver to extend the hours of transportation in the morning to Naugatuck seniors who need to shop and pick up medication during designated times.
  • McCall Center for Behavioral Health: COVID-19 Communication– $1,320 to purchase phones and calling cards for clients who live in the following towns: Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Cheshire, Goshen, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, Naugatuck, New Milford, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Roxbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, and Wolcott.
  • Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation: COVID-19 Medical Response Efforts- $5,000 to support the hospital’s COVID-19 response efforts.
  • Wellmore: Telehealth Start Up– $10,000 to support equipment, video conferencing and increased bandwidth to serve clients through telehealth.
  • Women’s Choice Charitable Association: COVID Pregnancy Support– $10,000 to provide pregnancy and birth support services to low-income families in need and women of color who are pregnant.

Personal Protective Equipment and Cleaning Supplies: $137,425

  • Ability Beyond Disability, Inc.: COVID Support for Adults with Disabilities- $2,690 to pay for a deep cleaning of group homes and vehicles for facilities operating in New Milford and Wolcott.
  • Central Naugatuck Valley HELP, Inc.: PPE and Cleaning Supplies- $5,000 to help cover the costs of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for residential programs located in the Response Fund’s
  • Children’s Community School: COVID Health and Safety– $3,000 to pay for intensive cleaning and sanitation at the school where students are still participating in learning.
  • Chrysalis Center, Inc.: Community Supportive Housing– $5,000 to support supplies, food and other equipment needed to keep residents and staff safe during COVID-19.
  • Community Solutions: Waterbury Chase Residential Center– $5,000 to support supplies, food and other equipment needed to keep residents and staff safe during COVID-19.
  • Connecticut Renaissance: Waterbury Programs- $5,000 to support supplies, food and other equipment needed to keep residents and staff safe during COVID-19.
  • Grace Farms Foundation: Bulk PPE Purchase-$95,000 to purchase PPE, including surgical masks, Nitrile gloves, and face shields for distribution to nonprofits in the greater Waterbury.
  • Madre Latina: Inter and Volunteer Program / Office– $735 to provide PPE and other office supplies to encourage a safe work environment for all staff and volunteers.
  • Naugatuck Senior Center: Support to Provide Safe Senior Services– $6,000 to support the purchase of a laptop, printer and answering machine, outdoor tent, personal protective equipment, and signage and materials needed to promote social
  • Oak Hill: Community Programs and Oak Hill School– $5,000 to support the purchase of PPE and other essential supplies at twelve group homes in Watertown, Waterbury, Thomaston, Oxford and Middlebury that serve 72 individuals.
  • Wolcott Volunteer Ambulance Association, : COVID-19 Emergency Supports- $5,000 to support additional equipment, staffing costs and food expenses during COVID-19.

Social Services: $10,000

  • Catholic Charities: COVID-19 Emergency Support – $10,000 to address emergency needs of families caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and prevent homelessness and food insecurity.

Support for Undocumented Communities: $32,400

  • Kadiwaku Family Foundation: Food & Non-Food Assistance to Undocumented/Immigrant Residents – $3,000 to assist Waterbury families who have been left behind or do not qualify for government assistance programs during the coronavirus pandemic period. The funding will help provide them with food, sanitation and hygiene supplies, and other
  • La Bodeguita de La Gente: Inter and Volunteer Program/Office– $7,500 to distribute food pantry items every week to families in the Waterbury community while also supporting other needs such as immigration updates and domestic violence prevention
  • Naugatuck Valley Project: NVP 2020 Domestic Worker/Homeless Families in Need- two grants totaling $12,900 to provide food, rent and medical assistance to families of domestic workers, homeless and undocumented families unable to access other financial supports.
  • The Neighbor Fund: CT UndocuFund– two grants totaling $9,000 to provide financial assistance to undocumented individuals and families that have suffered a loss of income or other financial loss due to COVID-19 and live in following towns: Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Cheshire, Goshen, Litchfield, Middlebury, Morris, Naugatuck, New Milford, Oxford, Plymouth, Prospect, Roxbury, Southbury, Thomaston, Warren, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and

Technology to Improve Services: $30,010

  • Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center of Greater Waterbury: PPE and Webcam technology for Easter Seals of Greater Waterbury – $7,490 to fund PPE (personal protective equipment) as well as webcam technology for site leaders and staff.
  • Key Human Services: COVID-19 Relief– $1,200 to support technology costs that will increase connections for group home residents to family and community
  • Radical Advocates for Cross Cultural Education (RACCE): Technology for Homebound Youth Organizers and Staff– $4,000 to support the purchase of technology and supplies for youth organizers in order ensure that they can have a complete experience working with RACCE on education related
  • St. Margaret Willow Plaza NRZ: Technology for Seniors– $8,000 to provide senior friendly computer technology for online workshops and alleviate isolation.
  • TeleHealth Access for Seniors, Inc.: TeleHealth Access for Seniors $1,500 to provide TeleMedicine Access for low-income patients at Guardian Ad Litem Services, Inc in Naugatuck, CT and other partner clinics in the Greater Waterbury area.
  • The Arc of Litchfield County (LARC): Laptops for Remote Workers– $7,820 to support the purchase of laptops to support staff in working remotely due to social distance protocols.