Community partnership helps fill the gap for Guilford families facing financial hardship

Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors (GNN) and The Guilford Foundation (TGF) recently presented a check for $2,717 to Guilford Public Schools to help ensure students facing financial hardship have access to school meals.

The funds were raised through a collaborative effort that included donations from Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors members and the broader community, along with matching support from both GNN and TGF. The check was presented to Guilford Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Paul Freeman and Director of Dining Services Janet Calabro.

While state and federal programs provide free or reduced-price meals to eligible students, some Guilford families experiencing financial challenges do not qualify for those benefits. The funds will help the district address that gap and support students whose families may struggle to cover the cost of school meals.

“We are a nonprofit department that runs independently of the Board of Education budget, and we have families yearly who cannot afford their school meals,” Calabro said when the fundraiser was launched. “It is challenging to navigate, so any help is wonderful.”

The effort grew out of GNN’s longstanding commitment to civic engagement and community service. For more than 50 years, the organization has brought people together through social activities, events and shared interests while also creating opportunities for members to give back to the Guilford community.

“Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors is proud to be both a social and civic organization, and this project gave members an opportunity to come together around a tangible need affecting local families. The response from members and the broader community demonstrated how much Guilford residents care about helping their neighbors, added Maria Calamito, Volunteer Chair for GNN.

The partnership also reflects TGF’s role in connecting local needs with people and organizations that want to make a difference. In addition to providing matching funds, TGF helped expand the reach of the campaign and provided a way for the broader community to contribute.

“Some of the most meaningful community partnerships start with a simple conversation about a need and what we can do together to address it,” said TGF Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra. “Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors brings together people who want to be connected to this community, not only socially, but through service. They identified a need, rallied their members and invited the broader community to participate. TGF was pleased to help amplify that effort.”

The $2,717 contribution included up to $500 in matching funds from GNN and up to $1,000 from TGF, along with individual donations from GNN members and other community members.

The fundraiser is one example of how GNN has evolved beyond its original focus on welcoming newcomers. Today, the organization provides a wide range of social activities and programs for residents while maintaining a strong emphasis on civic involvement and giving back to the community.

“This is what local philanthropy can look like,” Petra added. “An organization sees a need, people come together around it, and a relatively simple idea becomes meaningful support for local families.”

About Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors
For more than 50 years, Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors has been helping residents of Guilford and the neighboring shoreline towns build friendships and connections through social activities, shared interests, civic involvement, and community service. We welcome both newcomers and longtime residents who are interested in meeting others, becoming more involved, and giving back to the community.

Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where individuals and families can connect, engage, and thrive—everyone is encouraged to join.

To learn more about Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors, visit guilfordnewcomers.com.