Meeting the Moment, Together

Dear Friend,

In just a few days, another key thread in our region’s safety net will be torn away.

This Saturday, approximately 360,000 Connecticut residents will lose access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a lifeline that helps families, veterans, and young adults put food on the table across every city and town in Fairfield County.

Even in the best of times, such a disruption would send shockwaves through our community — creating new crises for nonprofits already stretched to serve families living below the poverty line.

But these are not the best of times.

Fairfield County’s nonprofit sector is reeling from months of budget cuts, economic uncertainty, and mounting need. As a result, many of those losing SNAP benefits will struggle to find support. More children will arrive at school hungry. More veterans will skip meals. More families will go without.

When faced with a challenge of this scale, we have a choice: to retreat — or to come together and find a new way forward.

At the Community Foundation, we’re choosing the latter.

Our latest annual report, released today, shows how we’re partnering with donors, nonprofits, and local leaders to help our community adapt to national and global forces that are disrupting lives right here at home. Inside, you’ll find stories of how we’re:

• helping young adults reach their potential,
• improving health outcomes for women and girls,
• strengthening local nonprofits, and
• advancing policies that expand fairness and opportunity.

At a moment when so many feel discouraged, these stories remind us that generosity and mutual aid can light the way.

Every day, people across Fairfield County are taking small actions that add up to real change. Your contribution to these causes — no matter the size — matters. And it’s most powerful when it starts here, in our own backyard.

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your values into impact, our team can help you connect your giving to the most urgent needs in our region.

The challenges ahead are daunting. But when each of us steps forward, we don’t just respond to a crisis — we build the foundation for a stronger, more just Fairfield County.

Together, we can meet this moment — and shape a brighter future.

In Community,

Mendi Blue Paca
PRESIDENT & CEO
FAIRFIELD COUNTY’S COMMUNITY FOUNDATION