Our Community Response

Grace Farms Foundation responds to community needs while temporarily closed

Our Community Response

During these uncertain times, Grace Farms Foundation is partnering with several local not-for-profits throughout Fairfield County to provide healthy food for local families and communities in need. While Grace Farms is temporarily closed to the public, we are continuing its work to advance good in the world by developing an ongoing, supportive strategy with our current local partners below to ensure that our entire community receives the support it needs. Read more about our efforts.

We recognize that, beyond the immediate concerns related COVID-19, there are long-term implications for individuals, families, communities, small businesses, NGOs, and not-for-profit organizations. While the needs in our communities are growing, many organizations are already struggling to keep up their operations. The economic and social costs will be immense, and the actions we take now can help to hedge this crisis.

Through our continued efforts to support our community during these unprecedented times, we hope that you will join us in committing to lifting up our community in its time of need.

“As a foundation dedicated to advancing good and addressing difficult, pressing humanitarian issues through our place and initiatives, our full team is working as hard as ever to uniquely serve the most vulnerable during our temporary closure. 

Our extraordinary team at Grace Farms Foundation has the ability to safely cook and donate staples, and we are committed to using our resources to do whatever we can. Right now, as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) escalates, that means providing healthy meals for those without food security in our local neighborhoods and communities.”

Sharon Prince, CEO and Founder

Our Team

With care and concern for the safety of our community and staff, Grace Farms is temporarily closed to the public as of March 9th. There has been no known case of COVID-19 connected to Grace Farms; however, Grace Farms Foundation took the prudent step of enacting preventative measures to ensure the health and safety of all our visitors, staff, and community.

All of our teams are working together to ensure the work of the Foundation continues. We recognize the reality of what is going on in our local neighborhoods, and we are developing a thoughtful strategy to give our staff opportunities to live out our mission of advancing good in the world. We are committed to working to serve others in our local community.

Support Your Community

Take a stance of social distancing. While we tend to believe that community is defined by being together, taking a stance of social distancing right now is indeed an action that considers the community and the wellness of all of us for the long-term. Let’s invest in staying and getting well together.

Leverage your screen time for something bigger. We are more connected than ever via social media and online platforms. Check in with your friends and family, near and far – school closures are affecting families all over the country and hourly workers are particularly impacted.

Check in with your neighbors. Send an email or text to neighbors, especially those who are elderly or live alone and offer to drop food or supplies to them. Reach out over FaceTime or Skype for 30 minutes to maintain social engagement and limit feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Talk to your children. As a parent, you are concerned not only for your own well-being and stability, but that of your children. It can be daunting to know how much information to share, how to share, and what resources are trustworthy. Explore the resources below for advice and tips:

• • How to talk to your child about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); 8 tips to help comfort and protect children (UNICEF)
  • Talking to your child about COVID-19 (Boys and Girls Clubs of America)

Volunteer virtually. Visit https://www.volunteernewyork.org/vvc for more information

Support Local Organizations

Support local small businesses. Purchase a gift card now from a local small business that you can put to use in the future at their establishment.

• • Support the local small businesses of New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Fairfield, Westport, and Ridgefield

Increase your philanthropic efforts. In times like this, philanthropy can shine. We encourage you to support not-for-profit organizations that work with the people and families who are most vulnerable in our community.

• • COVID-19⁠—Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do (FSG)
  • Watch Philanthropy New York’s webinar
  • Watch the Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s webinar

Support local not-for-profit organizations. Lower Fairfield County-based organizations are in need of support, and it is important to recognize that those needs are changing on a daily basis. We recommend that you check websites and make phone calls before delivering goods, meals, or donations.

• • Support New Canaan-based not-for-profit organizations through the New Canaan Community Foundation
  • Support Fairfield County’s Community Foundation and the hundreds of local not-for-profits that they serve
  • Below is a short list of local not-for-profit organizations and community friends who have immediate needs:
    • Bridgeport Rescue Mission | Items needed: canned soup, veggies, canned tuna, boxed cereal, pasta, macaroni & cheese, jars of peanut butter and jelly (plastic only), diapers (especially larger sizes), and baby formula. Donations can be dropped off Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm at their Donation Center, 1069 Connecticut Avenue, Unit 2B, Bridgeport.
    • Caroline House | Items needed: basic food staples including rice, canned vegetables, frozen meats, bread, and paper products. Visit their website to make a donation.
    • Filling in the Blanks | Items needed: soup, macaroni & cheese, cereal, oatmeal, pasta, canned beans, canned corn, pasta sauce (no glass), granola bars (no peanut butter), goldfish crackers, and crackers. Visit their website for drop off details and locations.
    • Open Door Shelter | Items needed: bread, cold cuts, and peanut butter and jelly. Please drop off your donations Monday through Friday between 9 and 11 am at 44 Merritt Street, South Norwalk.
  • Please also reach out to the following organizations to provide support and inquire about needs:
    • Boys and Girls Club of Stamford
    • Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI)
    • Inspirica
    • Lower Fairfield County Food Bank
    • Malta House
    • Person to Person
    • Silver Source
    • Staying Put in New Canaan
    • New Canaan YMCA