‘Tis the season to be jolly.
And to give.
Despite high egg prices, this was a good one for many Westporters. As we buy presents for loved ones, friends, and people whose good graces we need to keep, we should also think about helping others.
Give what you can.
(Of course, helping them can also ease our own tax burdens next spring. This is still a great country!)
But who to give to?
Far be it for “06880” to say. So here is a list of some worthy local organizations. Each one has a clickable link 🙂
I know I’ve missed some. Rather than bite my head off (too un-Christmas-y), please mention them in the “Comments” section. I’ll add them to this list.
And please: Keep your suggestions local (southern Fairfield County). There are way too many very worthy national and international groups to include. Thank you!
Animals
Christine’s Critters: Rehabilitation of big birds
Connecticut Humane Society: Wilton branch
Save Our Strays: Animal rescue
PAWS: No-kill animal shelter
Red Leash Rescue: Provides refuge, love and care to abandoned, homeless, surrendered or discarded dogs
Rising Starr Horse Rescue: Gives at-risk horses a second chance at life
TAILS: Spaying and neutering
Westport Animal Shelter Advocates: Care, shelter and adoption of homeless dogs
Wildlife in Crisis: Preservation and emergency help
Arts and history
Artists Collective of Westport: Creativity, education, shows, forums and more
Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County: Supporting cultural organizations, artists and creative businesses
Levitt Pavilion: More than 50 nights of free entertainment
MoCA Westport: Exhibitions, concerts, education and more
Music on the Hill: Offers opportunities for choral musicians, handbell ringers and instrumentalists to participate in performances, workshops and festivals
Music Theatre of Connecticut: Musical theater education for youngsters ages 4 through high school
Weston History & Culture Center: Discovering, collecting and preserving Weston’s heritage
Westport Community Theatre: Thought-provoking and entertaining productions since 1956
Westport Country Playhouse: 94-year-old cultural institution. They survived a near-death experience this year, and are coming back refreshed and revitalized.
Westport Museum for History & Culture: Exhibits and education
Westport Public Art Collections: Bringing art to schools and public spaces
Community aid
Bridgeport Rescue Mission: Fighting poverty, offering help
Center for Family Justice: Provides services to fight domestic, child and sexual abuse
Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants: Service and advocacy for immigrants, refugees and survivors of human trafficking and torture
Housing Development Fund: Helps facilitate affordable rental and homeownership opportunities
Integrated Immigrant & Refugee Services: Resettlement agency
Lifebridge Community Services: Bridgeport youth development behavioral health and family resources organization
New Neighborhoods: Develops, preserves and manages affordable housing and resident-centered services
Norwalk Hour: Aid to families in need
United Way of Coastal and Western Connecticut: Access to food, shelter, transportation and childcare
VFW Joseph J. Clinton Post 399: Helping veterans, servicemembers and their families
Westport Department of Human Services “We Care”: Many options, including financial help with school supplies and heating costs
Westport PAL: They do it all: college scholarships, youth sports programs, fireworks, ice rink, etc., etc., etc.
Westport Weston Family YMCA: Help in many ways.
Westport Uniformed Firefighters Charitable Foundation: Philanthropic arm of the Westport Fire Department
Community-building
06880: This blog — now a non-profit — sponsors community-wide events. Projects include the Holiday and Summer Strolls, the Lyman Ukraine sister city project, collaborations with the League of Women Voters, Westport Library and more. “06880” publishes this daily blog, to help create community.
Disabilities
Abilis: Provides vital services and supports for individuals of all ages with special needs and disabilities
Catch a Lift: Westport supports veterans through fitness programs
Circle of Friends: Teens work with children with disabilities
CLASP: Group homes and opportunities
Club203: Provides fun, engaging activities for adults with disabilities
MyTEAM Triumph:Â Road race support for children, adults and veterans
New Canaan Mounted Troop: Youth development and therapeutic equestrian center serving children and adults with disabilities, and giving horses a second chance
STAR Lighting the Way: Support for all ages
Sweet P Bakery: Provides jobs for adults with learning disabilities
Education and youth
A Better Chance of Westport: Education and support for outstanding minority boys
Achievement First: Schools provide Bridgeport families of color with a high- quality education at no cost
Adam J. Lewis Academy: High-quality experience for Bridgeport youngsters
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Connecticut’s largest volunteer mentoring network
Builders Beyond Borders (B3): Engaging teenagers in work projects that improve local and global communities
Carver Foundation: K-12 pre- and after-school programs in Norwalk
Center for Children’s Advocacy: Legal aid for education, healthcare, housing and the juvenile justice system
Child & Family Guidance Center: Counseling and support for youth and families
Kids in Crisis: 24-hour support, including emergency housing and crisis counseling
Neighborhood Studios: Arts education for Bridgeport youngsters
Piston Foundation: Helping young people acquire the education and hands-on training to build a career in the collector car industry, through trade school scholarships, apprenticeships and advocacy
Ralphola Taylor Community Center: Bridgeport organization offers leadership development, educational workshops, field trips; holiday store rewards youngsters for good behavior — they “buy” gifts (for points) for their families
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities: Helping fulfill potential; support for parents too
Staples Tuition Grants: Need-based scholarships for Staples High School students and alumni
The Susan Fund: Scholarships for young people affected by cancer
Wakeman Boys & Girls Club: Southport organization serving area youth in a variety of academic, athletic and social ways
Walter Luckett Foundation: Mentorship, test preparation, STEAM, job prep for Bridgeport youth; partner with Westport Library
Environment
Aspetuck Land Trust: Preserving open space; maintaining 45 preserves
Connecticut Audubon Society: Protecting birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through conservation, education and advocacy
Earthplace: Education, wildlife exhibits, and a 62-acre sanctuary
Friends of Sherwood Island: Preserving, maintaining and enhancing our state park
Lachat Town Farm: Offering environmental education and cultural experiences for all ages in Weston
Norwalk River Valley Trail: Maintaining 30 miles of open spaceÂ
Save the Sound: Protecting Long Island Sound
Sustainable Westport: Helping our town become Net Zero by 2050
Wakeman Town Farm: Sustainability center, with plenty of programs
Westport Farmers’ Market: Food, education, programs and more
Food and shelter
Filling in the Blanks: Providing weekend meals for children in need
Food Rescue US: Helping volunteers pick up and deliver excess food
Homes with Hope: Supportive housing, food pantry, food distribution and more
Open Doors Shelter: Aiding Norwalkers in need
Person-to-Person: Food, rent help, clothing and more
Grant-giving and foundations
100 Women Who Care of Fairfield County: Raising funds to give them away!
Fairfield County Foundation: Philanthropy to strengthen communities
Near and Far Aid: Fighting poverty in Fairfield County
Newman’s Own: Okay, they’re global — but they’re headquartered in Westport!
Westport Rotary: Noontime chapter meeting of Rotary International
Westport Sunrise Rotary: 7:30 a.m. chapter meeting of Rotary International
Westport Woman’s Club: Raising funds for charitable, educational, cultural and public health services
Women’s League of Westport: Building community through volunteerism and social activities
Health and Safety
Al’s Angels: Help for children and families battling diseases and hardships
Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation: Funds for non-medical expenses
Domestic Violence Crisis Center: Help for victims and families
Fairfield County House: End-of -life facility, providing hospice and palliative care in a home-like setting
In a Heartbeat: Cardiac screening for youngsters
Mission: Helping survivors create lives after cancer
Pink Aid: Financial aid and services to woman and families facing breast cancer
Rach’s Hope: Addressing the challenges families face during and after a child’s critical illness, requiring an extended stay in intensive care
Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service: Providing staffing, supplies and apparatus to keep the town safe
LGBTQ+
PROUD Academy: New school for LGBTQ+ students and allies, proving a safe, affirming learning community
Triangle Community Center: Providing programs and resources for the LGBTQ+ community
Westport Pride: Our town’s own LGBTQ+ organization — sponsors of the June festival, and much more
Literacy
Mercy Learning Center: Life skills training for low-income women
Read to Grow: Promoting children’s literacy from birth, supporting parents as babies’ first teachers
Westport Book Sales: Providing employment for people with disabilities — and offering books, while providing funds for the Westport Library
Westport Library: They do it all!
Mental health and addictionÂ
Laurel House: Mental health and recovery resources
Positive Directions: Treatment and prevention for addictive behaviors
Seniors
Friends of the Westport Center for Senior Activities: Support for the Senior Center (below)
Mozaic Senior Life: Skilled nursing and other care
Sister City
Ukraine Aid International: Founded by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer, UAI ensures that donations go directly to Westport’s sister city of Lyman, Ukraine. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” Scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.)
Women and girls
AWARE: “Assisting Women through Action, Resources and Education”
Dress for Success Mid-Fairfield County: Empowering women by providing professional clothes and other support
LiveGirl: Leadership development and mentoring for females, grades 5 through college
Malta House: Shelter and programs for young pregnant women and their babies
Thanks, Dan, for that thoughtfully inclusive list…good to remember that a “small” amount can be a big help to many of the smaller
eleemosynaries.
If interested in affordable housing choices in addition to Homes with Hope there is also Abilis , Housing Deveopment Fund, New Neighborhoods, Westport Housing Authority,and even the Westport Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
Abilis, New Neighborhoods and Housing Development Fund have been added in.
I totally agree with every organization Dan Woog listed except for one! There’s one mentioned I wouldn’t give a penny to! Those who have followed my comments over the years know exactly which one I’m referring to.
Westport Community Theater should be added please.
Done!
Builders Beyond Borders
It’s been added in
What an incredible list. Thank you for sharing!
Cathy, There was a Siroka in the Staples class of 1965. The first name might have been James. Are you related? We were friends in Greens Farms School in the 1950s too. He might have been a weatherman on TV too.
Jack..different spelling. Jimmy Soroka died 9-10 years ago. His brother Stu was a Boston meteorologist.
Dave, Thanks for sharing the info. Now I can’t remember which one I knew. It’s tough getting old.
Dave, 06880 in August 2016 had a post about Jimmy Soroka and he was a Staples graduate in 1965. You and Diane Silfin were the only two to comment. He’s the one I was friends with. Stu was a 1961 Staples graduate.
Great list, Dan. Thank you for sharing. One more I might add for youth mentoring with which I have been involved for years would be Big Brothers Big Sisters of CT (https://ctbigs.org/)
It’s been added in – thank you!
Amazing list Dan, thank you! Please add Music on the Hill (https://www.musiconthehillct.org/)
Done!
The local church, mosque or synagogue of your choice!
Great list of local charities! Just want to mention that Save Our Strays is no longer…they disbanded about 5 years ago when Poster Animal Hospital was taken over by Pet Vet.