United Way of Meriden and Wallingford

Advocacy is a core focus of our United Way as we continue to support our communities, including those experiencing homelessness. ?? This morning, we held our Legislative Breakfast with the wonderful Columbus House, Inc team at their Wallingford Seasonal Emergency Shelter to discuss the hopeful future of keeping critical support behind the shelter. ???? Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning, Shelter Guest Speaker, Mary Mushinsky, The Regan Foundation, Burns & McDonnell, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Town of Wallingford Government Town Councilors, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford Family YMCA, Most Holy Trinity Parish, MMW CAN, a Senator Richard Blumenthal Representative. #LiveUnited ??

??Week of Action: Nonperishable Food Drive ?? Mark your calendars! ??? Our annual Week of Action collection kicks off on April 1st (April Fools' Day) through April 8th. No joke – your contributions WILL make a real difference in Meriden and Wallingford! 1 can of soup = 1 warm meal for a neighbor in need. ?? We invite individuals, families, groups, and businesses to donate and help stock our pantries, ensuring no neighbor has to worry about their next meal. ?? ?? https://lnkd.in/e6YYbxwB

?? WOW! What a Week! ?? After an incredible community effort to re-open the Wallingford Seasonal Emergency Shelter, the outpouring of support has been truly heartwarming! ?? ? Choate Rosemary Hall has generously committed to donating hot, balanced dinners for all the shelter guests. ? The amazing employees at Burns & McDonnell delivered a huge amount of first-necessity items and non-perishable foods last night. ? One of our United Way board members donated brand-new sheets for the beds, while another contributed $100 to support the shelter! ?Spanish Community of Wallingford, Inc. stepped in with personal care items for individuals using the YMCA as a warming center during the day. This incredible generosity ensures that our neighbors facing homelessness have a safe place to sleep and warm meals to eat during the coldest months. ?? A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has come together to support this essential effort! Your kindness and compassion are truly making a difference! ???? Please help spread the word that the Emergency Shelter is open & walk-ins are welcome! ?????????? #LIVEUNITED

Spread the community news!!!?????? In response to the frigid winter & shelter need, The Columbus House, Inc Wallingford Seasonal Emergency Shelter will reopen ??Monday (2/24) evening at ??7pm for our neighbors in need of shelter. During the day, individuals in need are welcome to use the Wallingford Family YMCA as a warming center. ? This reopening is a collaborative community effort among our United Way & our wonderful Wallingford community partners: Columbus House, Inc, Town Of Wallingford, The Regan Foundation, Burns & McDonnell- Wallingford & Wallingford Family YMCA. The shelter will be collecting donations for breakfast/dinner, kitchen items, clothing, personal care items & bedding. Local companies, community groups, individuals/families are welcome to donate towards the collection.???????? You may call our office: ?(203)235-4403 for more info!

TODAY is National 2-1-1 Day!!! (Feb 11)?? 211 Connecticut is an essential “one stop shop” connecting residents to resources to meet their urgent needs- housing, food, physical & mental health support, transportation, employment, childcare, utilities, and more! ?? In 2024, 1.8 million requests came through 211 Connecticut and our communities made 13,513 of those requests. #LiveUnited ??https://www.211ct.org/

Our United Way observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a day of mentorship and service, encouraging individuals to join together in supporting local communities and embodying Dr. King's spirit of compassion and activism. ???? #MLKDay

We're extremely honored to support The Collaborative’s in training the next generation of Recovery Support Specialists through our #PowerUp program!?? CONGRATULATIONS to Wallingford residents, Melanie Tarr, Muhammad Navaid, and Vilma Correa on becoming State Certified! Their dedication & hard work is inspiring.?????? AND shout out to TriCircle & Women and Families Center for their fantastic support given to trainees along the way. Together, we’re stronger!!! ??#LiveUnited

A huge, THANK YOU to the wonderful G SALON team & their loyal clientele for their INCREDIBLE generosity of donating $3,285 in essential gift cards to our 2024 Adopt-A-Family program!!!?? We are beyond grateful for their 17 years of continued support that makes such a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve during the holiday season. ????? #LiveUnited

A BIG shoutout to WPAA-TV and Community Media Center & the amazing team at #TeenTigerTV Youth Program!?????? We are immensely grateful for the hard work & creativity you poured into promoting our #PowerUp program. Members of the WPAA - TV have once again shown why they are a huge asset for our community, earning top honors at the Alliance for Community Media Nor'Easter Film Festival. ???? Special CONGRATULATIONS for the "Community Impact Award" win with the short promotional video crafted under the guidance of Ben Negron, Youth Mentor and Project Lead (Summer 2023). Kudos to Tim Lopez for his incredible design contributions, and a huge thank you to Spencer, a fan from South Africa, for the original song that added soul to the project. ?? ?? This recognition is a testament to the power of community, creativity & collaboration! ?? #LiveUnited

Today is our Executive Director's birthday! Happy Birthday Maria!!! ?? Cheers to another amazing year of leadership & inspiration. ??????