It has been my good fortune and great honor to be able to administer the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund (WGNF). I try to administer it with the fairness and in-person touch people deserve and with the watchful eye of the guardian of the people’s money. It’s a funny little dance and there are no hard and fast rules about how to do it.
Thankfully, with disasters, and I count three on my watch — Irene, Covid and now the storm of July 10, 2023 — the people, you and your neighbors, respond with such generosity that I am often left speechless and in tears. Since July 10, I have deposited $34,000 into our account! I have sent out some thank you letters, but not all — please know how grateful your neighbors are. The fund has paid for several electric panels, washers, dryers, rent, mortgage, insurance, gas, food, clothing, insurance, propane, and lodging.
The work of the WGNF will carry on responding to this disaster long after all of the dumpsters are gone and the FEMA offices have shut down. Furthermore, I am delighted to say that this work will carry on while I am on vacation, starting August 4, under the compassionate attention of one of my neighbors who has been volunteering at the municipal building in coordinating the massive cleanup effort. Nora will continue to take emails, calls and text messages from folks needing assistance and help figure out the best way to help.
If you’d like to contribute to the cause, the easiest way is through our PayPal at https://www.waterburycast.org/donate though instructions for mailing a check are also there.
Thank you!