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Without people like you, it wouldn't be possible for the team at The Open Door Shelter to provide support to people in need in our community. Thank you for caring!
If you would like to help us make the most of our food donations, please contribute to help us purchase a freezer for storage. A new freezer will allow us to take more bulk food donations and help us stretch out our donated food.
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Please remember us on Giving Day!
Why? Because every day we see the impact of the work we do for more than 1,500 individuals and families who need food, shelter, clothing and other social services. We build on the strengths of those in need. By leveraging their ability, we give them the hand up they need to be successful in keeping their family fed or finding a safe home or getting and keeping a job. The Open Door Shelter provided more than 28,000 bed nights in 2016 because of good people that supported our work.
It's always a good day to give to those in need, but March 9 is
particularly good. The Open Door Shelter will be competing in
Fairfield County's Giving Day
- 24 hours of fundraising for great causes in our community. Last year, donors gave
$6,296 to the Shelter
and with help we can exceed that
(and win some of those prizes!)
If you want to help by promoting it, please contact Erin McDonough at 203-866-1057 x29 or emdonough@opendoorshelter.org. We would love to have you stop by and get a tour of the shelter to learn more about how you can help!
Every friend makes a difference, and we hope we'll have your support on 3/9/17!
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Making it through a hard winter
Tami, her husband, and their two children were living in a two-bedroom apartment near the kids' school. They weren't able to save much, but they were getting by. After Tami had to leave her job to take care of her elderly mother, the amount her husband was making was just enough to cover the bills. Every week was stressful and money went out as quickly as it came in; they were worried that they wouldn't be able to pay the rent. When times were better, Tami had donated clothing to The Open Door Shelter and knew that we had a food pantry. She reached out to us and we were able to provide her with groceries and connect her with heating assistance for the winter. Now she and her family are able to stay in their home and Tami has found a part-time job that will work with her schedule.
For families like Tami's who struggle to make it from one paycheck to the next, winter can be a particularly hard time. Utility bills go up. Many people who work seasonal jobs see their hours and income go down dramatically. When you're forced to stretch what little money you have even further, it can be hard to make it through.
The Open Door Shelter is here to ease the burden. We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for anyone in need of a hot meal. Our pantry program helps families year round, but is especially important when school vacations mean that children are eating more meals at home. Thanks to our partnership with Norwalk Community Health Center, neighborhood residents have help managing chronic conditions and are able to treat illnesses and injuries before they become serious.
No one should have to choose between rent and medicine, between their heating bill and their grocery bill. With your help, The Open Door Shelter is helping hundreds of people in our community stay in their homes and get through the winter safely.
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We're proud of our Lighthouse Award (and staff and volunteers!)
In 2016 we provided more than 400,000 meals for those who were hungry - three meals a day, seven days a week. The Norwalk Health Department recently gave us a certificate that we've been proud to continue to receive... their annual Lighthouse Award! The Norwalk Board of Health established the Lighthouse Certificate award program to recognize city food establishments for maintaining the highest rating for the four most recent inspections. This is our third award!
This certificate reminds us that our kitchen staff and volunteers are truly the best! Because of them, our hot meal program is listed alongside the top restaurants in Norwalk.
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April 27 - Save the Date for our Gala and Auction!
It is not too early to get your tickets for The Open Door Shelter's annual Gala and Auction - this year's Gala will be held on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Woodway Country Club
! The gala is returning to Woodway and will include a cocktail hour and dinner as well as silent and live auctions.
Proceeds from the Gala help support those who come to The Open Door Shelter for shelter, food, and assistance on a path towards independence and success.
Special thanks to our sponsors: Wheelock Street Capital, Capossela, Cohen, LLC, GWay Print Solutions, Source, Bank of America, Cesco's Trattoria, Hotel Zero Degrees, IMSci, Merrill Lynch, Diageo, People's United Bank,
Jon and Susan Beyman
,
Dennis and Nancy Meany
, and
Corky and Jill Stewart
.
For more information on tickets, sponsorships and program book advertisements, please email Erin at
events@opendoorshelter.org or call 203-866-1057 x29.
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Thank YOU for sharing the love!
There are wonderful people working every day to make a difference at The Open Door Shelter! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to check it out.
Thanks to those who sponsor meals at The Open Door Shelter! Garelick & Herbs is generously donating a weekly dinner, and groups like Congregation Beth El, New Canaan Congregational Church, Noroton Presbyterian Church, Our Lady of Fatima, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Jerome's, St. Luke's, and Wilton Congregational Church also regularly sponsor meals and volunteer.
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We've been lucky to receive support for the work that we do at the Shelter from foundations like the People's United Community Foundation and the
Emig Foundation
's grant that allowed us to buy a new washer and dryer for our laundry room.
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In remembrance of Art Malcarney
We would like to remember Arthur Malcarney, who passed away at the end of January. Art volunteered regularly in our kitchen, and his positive attitude brightened everyone's day. His giving spirit was an inspiration. The staff, clients, and volunteers at The Open Door Shelter will miss him greatly.
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If you would like to help those in need of food, shelter, and support, you can always serve the people who come to The Open Door Shelter for assistance.
The Open Door Shelter, 4 Merritt Street, Norwalk, CT 06854.
It takes a village to find a home for everyone.
If you'd like to help The Open Door Shelter as part of your online shopping, visit
smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2536909 and Amazon donates to The Open Door Shelter.
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