A regional nonprofit providing services to families living below the poverty level through its offices in Norwalk and Darien ”“ plus 3,000 volunteers annually ”“ has secured $250,000 in state funding to be used in equal payments of $125,000 across the next two years.
State Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, a Norwalk Democrat, and state Sen. Carlo Leone, a Stamford Democrat, made the announcement jointly, saying the money “will help (Person-to-Person) expand its work and help more families get back on their feet and find financial stability and independence.”
“Whether it is helping families stay in their homes, put food on the table or gain access to critical services, P2P has provided a lifeline for thousands of families,” Duff said. “Although Connecticut has regained nearly all the jobs lost during the Great Recession, some families are still struggling, and that is why Sen. Leone, Rep. (Chris) Perone and I made prioritized this grant for P2P.”
Perone is a Democrat representing Norwalk.
“P2P has done amazing work with local area families in need of assistance, and I am very pleased to see them expand their work into surrounding communities,” Leone said. “P2P provides a leg-up for families experiencing periods of financial and personal distress, helping them weather the storm and get back on their feet. This organization has helped hundreds of families regain their independence, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them to strengthen families in southwestern Connecticut.”
“With these funds, Person-to-Person will be able to meet the needs of so many who turn to us in crisis ”“ hard-working neighbors who find it difficult to make ends meet in one of the highest rental markets in the country,” Ceci Maher, P2P executive director, said. “The grant will enable us to provide nutritious food, and to prevent evictions and utility shut-offs. As an agency that serves as the primary social safety net for low-income families in Norwalk, P2P is extremely grateful to the Connecticut Legislature and to Sens. Bob Duff and Carlo Leone for their help in securing this grant. This ongoing support allows us to continue our efforts to create communities of financially-stable, hunger-free homes, with educational opportunities for all.”
P2P employs more than 3,000 volunteers annually.
Clients using P2P services for more than a year are 60 percent less likely to report reduced or skipped meals due to lack of money for food. The legislators said clients also have been shown to increase their financial and personal stability by as much as 70 percent over a three-year period.
P2P provides services to more than 55 percent of the Norwalk residents who live at levels 200 percent below the federal poverty level. The Norwalk office allows P2P to serve clients in Norwalk, Weston, Westport and Wilton.
Since re-opening in 2013, demand for service provided by P2P has increased, according to officials. Last year, the number of casework interviews with clients more than doubled from the previous year”™s total, averaging 34 food pantry appointments per day. Additionally, P2P provided groceries for more than 533,000 meals to nearly 2,000 households.
“The funding secured by Sens. Duff and Leone will be instrumental to P2P continuing and even expanding its services,” officials said.
P2P services include an emergency food pantry providing families with seven days of groceries, a free “store” of donated clothing where clients can shop once a month as well as the opportunity to receive free diapers, bottles and other supplies needed by new mothers. The nonprofit and its volunteers also help with financial assistance for rent, utilities, childcare, skills training, some medical expenses, security deposits and eviction prevention.
