Griswold Home Care Urges Donations to Keep Local Seniors Safe

New Milford CT

06 April, 2020

4:05 PM

Description

Grant Money Awarded Through Jean Griswold Foundation's Griswold Gives COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program to Benefit Local Seniors New Milford Senior Citizens Advisory Board has received a grant from Griswold Home Care’s charitable foundation for its work to provide seniors living in western Connecticut with food during the COVID-19 outbreak. This grant was awarded through the Griswold Gives COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program, which supports senior-focused nonprofits facing a lack of funding, resources, and volunteers due to the pandemic. “Significant need still exists to help provide local homebound seniors meals at home,” said Cathy Howard, director of Griswold Home Care of Danbury-Bethel, which awarded the grant. “During such uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to lend a hand to local nonprofits serving the growing number of people in need – especially seniors.” As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread, nonprofits throughout the state are struggling to meet the rapidly increasing needs of local seniors – many of whom are unable to leave their houses to purchase food and other essentials. “In New Milford, for example, the Senior Center’s request for support has been growing daily as the needs of seniors in Western CT have been funneled to this organization”, said Carolyn Haglund, director of the New Milford Senior Center. The Griswold Gives grant will be used to purchase food and coolers to support the growing demand for the New Milford Senior Center’s meal delivery service, which works with the Community Culinary School of Northwest Connecticut to prepare and deliver a total of four ready-to-eat meals weekly to elderly residents during the pandemic. Since launching the meal delivery program on March 16, the number of requests for meals from seniors living throughout New Milford has grown exponentially. "Senior centers throughout the region are coordinating their teams’ efforts to provide 'basic needs' to seniors in their communities in a new manner, including meal deliveries,” said Haglund. “Whether they are facing a financial crisis, struggling to connect with local and state resources, or lacking nutritional support, we are doing our best to serve them. We are staying physically distant – not socially distant – and look forward to the return of our on-site services." Launched in 2019, Griswold Gives is an annual grant program that helps Griswold Home Care’s franchise directors award grants to local nonprofits of their choice. This year, the Jean Griswold Foundation activated the program early under the new name, Griswold Gives COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program, to provide nonprofits immediate support during the ongoing crisis. “On behalf of the Jean Griswold Foundation, we are proud to support Connecticut Community Care’s constituents and the New Milford Senior Center as they help our neighbors in need stay safe in the place their homes during this challenging time,” said Howard. “More help is desperately needed!” The Jean Griswold Foundation is a private charity established by Griswold Home Care to further the company’s belief that care for the elderly and disabled should be available to all. Every dollar donated is used to further its mission to support programs and services that allow seniors to age in place. The Jean Griswold Foundation has also partnered with organizations, such as Meals on Wheels America, to help seniors and disabled adults in need. To learn more about programs and services to assist seniors in Western CT during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit https://agewellct.org/whats-new/featured-resources/food-pantries-special-programs-during-the-covid-19-crisis/. To learn more about and donate to the Griswold Gives COVID-19 Emergency Relief Program, please visit https://www.jeangriswoldfoundation.com/. About Griswold Home Care With 200 locations in 30 states, Griswold Home Care is one of the country’s top home care companies. Griswold provides non-medical personal care services at home allowing adults to maintain quality of life despite advanced age or onset of illness. For more information, visit https://www.griswoldhomecare.com/danbury-bethel/ or call 203-744-9200.