2021 Access Community Action Agency Annual Report

Access Community Action Agency
2020-2021
ANNUAL REPORT
BETTER
TOGETHER

A letter from our Board Chair and President/CEO
Susan Esposito, Board Chair of Directors and Peter S. DeBiasi, President/CEO
To our Partners and Friends:
2021 is the fifty-sixth year that Access has served the greater
northeast region of Connecticut, and we’re delighted to share
this Annual Report with you. This report provides a window
into our work during the pandemic-impacted 12 months from
July 2020 through June 2021, which aligns with our fiscal year.

As you know, 2021 due in large part to the pandemic,
continues to bring new and evolving challenges and solutions
related to meeting our Mission to build equitable access to
opportunities that empower under-resourced individuals,
families, and communities to achieve and sustain economic
stability.
And with the ongoing generous and sustaining support of
many community partners and friends like you, we have been
able to continue making a positive difference to so many in
need in northeast Connecticut.
Our partners have included our state and federal government,
local towns, foundations, faith communities, and generous
individual donors. Two other groups of key partners are our
dedicated staff and committed members of our Board of
Directors who embody the spirit of our Mission. Together we
keep uniting to confront the causes and conditions of poverty
to get results that matter for people in need throughout our
region. We’re doing that by focusing on making sure people
have equitable access to resources that increase food security,
safe decent affordable housing, and pathways to jobs and
other keys to self-reliance.
Your continued partnership with us makes us stronger, and
inspires us every day to work to make northeast Connecticut a
better place to live and work for all, particularly for those
struggling with the burden of poverty.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you do to make that
possible. We couldn’t do it without you.
Sincerely ,
Peter S. DeBiasi
President/CEO
Susan Esposito
Chair, Board of Directors

July 2020 – June 2021
Board of Directors
The Access Community Action Agency Board of Directors consists of
dedicated volunteers who generously donate their time and talent
in service to the local community. They represent the region’s
towns, private businesses, organizations, and constituent groups.
Susan Esposito, Chair
Melissa Phillips, Vice Chair
Richard Ives, Treasurer
Jane Hale, Secretary
Elizabeth Brown
Michael Dell
Gregory Haddad
Heather Lamotte
Robert Miller
Christine Rosati Randall
Emily Ross
Nyaunu Stevens
William Stover
Zulayka Torres
Rhonda Wishart

Our Community Vision
All Windham and Tolland County residents
will be economically secure.
Our Mission
To build equitable access to opportunities that
empower under resourced individuals, families,
and communities to achieve and sustain
economic stability.
Strategic Commitments
Build Equitable Access to:
Resources that Increase Food Security
Safe Decent Affordable Housing
Pathways to Jobs and other keys to Self-Reliance

Resources that Increase Food Security
CACFP Supervisor, Jennifer Smith and CACFP Staff Tina Poulin

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
CACFP participant and Child Care Provider Nancy praises the Access
program and says, “I would like to thank you and all the staff at Access,
not only does it (CACFP) help our child care financially it has helped in so
many other ways.
CACFP participant and Child Care Provider Lori was grateful for the
CACFP program’s quick transition to digital technology in response to
the pandemic, “I was able to fill in the information with ease and also
was able to scan in my signature and copied it onto the spreadsheet. It
even calculated! I have no idea if the figures were correct because you
gals do all that. I must say you did an excellent job”!
These are just a couple of the many success stories of the
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reimburses the licensed
home child care providers in Connecticut for serving nutritious meals
and snacks to the daycare children in their care. Access Community
Action Agency is one of the sponsoring organizations of the program in
Connecticut. CACFP currently has 160 licensed home child care
providers throughout the State, serving approximately 1,200 children.
Access-CACFP program:
Ensures that participating childcare providers have the
opportunity to consult with child nutrition experts.
Teaches children and adults about the benefits of eating
wholesome foods.
Offers partial cash reimbursements to providers for serving
nutritious meals and snacks to the children in their childcare center.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the need for remote
working, the Access-CACFP program adopted the use of digital
technologies to keep the program going during the shutdown.
Access-CACFP was the first and only program using Zoom
technology in 2020 and now provides full electronic access to all
documents and correspondence for all participants.
To qualify for CACFP reimbursement a person needs only to be
licensed by the State Department of Public Health to provide childcare
services in their home. A recent reimbursement increase was issued by
the Federal Government for all Daycares earlier this year to help ease
unforeseen financial circumstances caused by the Pandemic.

Safe Decent Affordable Housing
Tyra Banks and Howard Smith, UniteCT Navigators

UniteCT
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Autumn became the sole provider of a
growing family and had to make a choice between buying food for her
family or paying her electric bill. As her electric bill continued to rack up
she realized she needed immediate help and relief. After a quick search
for assistance, she came across the UniteCT program and found Access
on a list of providers in her area. She called Access and spoke with
Howard, a UniteCT Navigator, who helped her apply to get her past due
electric bill paid and also get rental assistance. Her application was
approved and not only was her electric bill paid, she also qualified to
receive three months of her rent paid to help her and her family
recover after much hardship.
Bob, a landlord, had a tenant who lost her job due to the COVID-19
pandemic and had not been able to pay her rent since September of
2020. They both agreed to sign up for UniteCT but had a hard time
navigating the system. After calling UniteCT directly at least once a
week and spending countless hours on the phone, Bob and his tenant
became extremely frustrated and were getting nowhere. Eventually,
Bob found Access’s number on a list of resources provided by UniteCT
and called for help. He spoke with Tyra, a UniteCT Navigator at Access.
After that everything changed. Tyra knew the system and once the
information was sent to her she expedited the application. The
application was finally approved on August 13th and Bob received all
the back rent money by August 19.
These are just a couple of the many success stories of the
UniteCT Program
The UniteCT Program is administered by the Department of
Housing on behalf of the US Treasury. UniteCT provides up to
$15,000 rental and electricity payment assistance on behalf of
Connecticut households financially impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic. UniteCT is stabilizing CT’s rental housing market by
financially supporting those households up to 80% of HUD’s Area
Median Income (AMI). Tenants and landlords use the UniteCT
Rent Relief software to submit their own sections of the
application creating a unique case file for evaluation and
decision-making. UniteCT will provide continued rental and
electric utility assistance to eligible households until all funding
has been committed. There is no current end date.

Pathways to Jobs and Keys to Self-Reliance
A2E Supervisor Ian Matthew Harrington and Employment
Navigator Sherry Perkins with A2E Graduates

Access to Employment (A2E)
“Sheila” came to the Access to Employment (A2E) program in the
Spring of 2021 hoping to improve skills that would help her get a
better job - one with more meaning and more pay. During the 11
week course, her participation really helped the class have great
discussions about their values, their vision for themselves, and
how to better express themselves. This in turn helped her to better
understand herself. By the end of the course, she was working
with the Windham Community Food Network making food deliveries
for those in need.
“Emily” and “Juanita” came to A2E, never having met before, and
became friends. helping each other understand the computer
lessons that are a key part of the course. They’re an example of
how A2E connects people and helps them to grow. Sandra helped
Carmela get a job at the same place Sandra worked. Using what
she learned in A2E about how to write a resume, and how to interview,
Carmela got the job! Carmela and Sandra still work
together six months later.
These are just a couple of the many success stories of the
Access to Employment (A2E) program
The Access to Employment is an 11-week classroom program,
supported by meetings with a Case Manager, that meets twice
weekly. Each 11-week session helps between 10-15 participants
learn about how better prepared to get and keep a good job.
During the 11 weeks, students explore their own values, vision,
and voice. by learning about how to speak up and stand up for
themselves in ways that will improve their lives. They learn
about how to manage their money and social media, and how to
use or better use computer spreadsheets and word processing.
The course also teaches the participants about how to find and
apply for jobs, and once they get a job, how to keep it. Skills
taught include writing and sending resumes and cover letters,
and how to interview either in-person or online.
Access to Employment is funded by the Connecticut Department
of Social Services (DSS) with CSBG CARES and HSI funds.

Results That Matter
Because of the help and hope Access provided:
365 nights of housing and 24,909 meals were
provided to those living in our group homes and
emergency shelter
1,720 women, infants, & children are healthier
because they redeemed $570,208 worth of healthy food vouchers.
200 income eligible seniors lived in 187 safe, high
quality, affordable one-bedroom apartments
1,080 low-income children are healthier because of
185,472 nutritious meals and snacks provided through their
licensed home childcare providers
44 families and 307 individuals obtained and/or
maintained safe and affordable housing; 37 individuals had a
safe, warm place to sleep at the Cold Weather Overnight Shelter
11 adolescents developed independent living skills while
residing in safe, nurturing congregate care settings.
5,021 households were able to stay warm last year.
The value of Energy Assistance provided was $4,010,417.
105 individuals were more prepared to find and
retain a job and 63 individuals have obtained a job.
50% increase in Mobile Food Pantry
deliveries to those in need by adding 4 new
locations and 4 new Senior Housing sites.

VAX Education
Community Outreach:
Thank you Eastern
Highlands Health District,
Northeast District
Department of Health, and
North Central District
Health Department for
partnering with Access for
community outreach in
vaccine education!
Pictured above:
Sashary Rios, Vaccine
Outreach Assistant.
Far Left:
Eduardo O’Neil-Caban,
Case Manager with
Dianisi Torres, Vaccine
Outreach Supervisor
Left:
Dianisi with Sashary in
the community.

Financial Statement
Access to Food
Nutrition Programs, Food Pantries, Mobile Food Pantry
INCOME $ 1,858,873
EXPENSE $ 1,899,149
Access to Affordable Housing
Energy Assistance, Homelessness Prevention, Accessing Home
Ownership, Accessing Home Danielson
INCOME $ 7,917,157
EXPENSE $ 7,945,786
Access to Jobs and Other Pathways to Self-Reliance
Case Management, Employment Programs, Youth Transitional
Housing and Support
INCOME $ 1,195,515
EXPENSE $ 1,076,832
Mobilize Stakeholders to Advocate & Act
INCOME $142,659
EXPENSE $109,424
TOTALS INCOME $11,114,204
EXPENSE $11,031,192

Funding Sources
Federal Agencies
Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA)
Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)
Department of Energy (DOE)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
State Agencies
Department of Children & Families (DCF)
Department of Social Services (DSS)
Department of Education (SDOE)
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA)
Department of Public Health (DPH)
Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS)
Partnering Organizations
Eastern Highlands Health District
Eversource
Northeast District Department of Health
North Central District Health Department
Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA)
The Connection, Inc.
Town of Stonington
United Way of Central & Northeastern CT
United Way of Southeastern CT

Thank You 2021 Annual Appeal Donors
Individual Donors
Elisha Adams
Kelly Ahern
Edith Allison
Anonymous Donors
Carmen Arroyo
Ken Avery
Jalissa Banks
Kathleen Barry and
E. Arthur Barry III
Vicki and Donald Bars
Sandra and Donald
Baxter
Jolene Berard
Martin Berliner
Bruce Berstein
Kaitlin Binnington
Honey and Harry
Birkenruth
Robert Bloom and
Karen Ravenelle-Bloom
John and Susan Boland
Deborah Boulet
Ruth Bourassa
Amarilys Bristol
Linda Brock and
Mark R. Dodd
Elizabeth Brown
Irene and Richard
Brown
Karen and Christopher
Brown
Ellen and Vito Buffa
William and Nancy
Bunnell
Howard Bursen and
Sally Rogers
Nahuel Cervigni
Charles and Carol
Chatterton
Alyssa Clement
Bruce and Donna
Clouette
Sherry Cole
Raymond Congelosi
Taylor Lynn Copeland
Pamela and David
Correll
Karen and Rick Cote
Joseph and Audrey
Courtney
Brenda Coutu
Alexander Cuevas-
Mendes
Julie Culp and
John H. Nicol
Robert and Cheryl
Darling
Marguerite Davis and
Glenn Warner
Peter DeBiasi and
Gloria Murray-DeBiasi
Jacques Demarais
Jean DeSmet and
Robert L. Hackemack
Maryellen Donnelly
Carolyn Drescher
Quinn Ellis
Elkin Espitia-Loaiza
Susan Esposito
Katherine and Neil
Facchinetti
Terina Fay
Delia and Martin Fey
Mae Flexer
Roman Flores
John Folsom, Jr.
Kerstin and Richard
Forrester
Carl Foster
Alex Fuentes
Patricia Gaenzler
Richard Gault
Jane Getz
Grace and Ronald
Glaude
Richard Gold
Ronald Goldstein
James and Linda
Goodwin
Dorothy Grady
Susan and Paul Graseck
Silvana Green
David Gregorski
Ann Gruenberg
Francis Guernon
Lori and Carl Guillard
Gregory Haddad and
Donna Becotte
Jane and Laurence Hale
Gretchen and Roswell
Hall
Deborah Haraldson
Carl Harrington
Ian Matthew Harrington
and Bethany Busch
Rachel Heath
Pamela and Michael
Hill
Samantha Huff
William and Suzanne
Ingalls

Yolanda Irizarry
Richard Ives
Kevin and Margaret
Johnston
Kelsey Keefe
Quentin and Margaret
Kessel
Jessica Klewin
Uwe and Helen Koehn
Ann and Youssef
Kouatly
Carol and Yves Kraus
Kathleen Krider
Andrea Krofina
Ohla Lacasse
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Lamb
Anne and Rusty Lanzit
Miriam Larocca
Mark Letson
Julia & Carl Lindquist
Thomas Long
David and Sandra Lyons
Veronica Mallqui-Reyes
David and Noreen
Manzo
Christopher
Marcinkewicz
Allison Maynard
Rhiannon McCabe
Jeanne McDonnell and
Michael Turcio
Hannah McKenna
Katherine McKeon
Shoshana Merced
Linda and David Miller
Robert Miller
Peter Millman and
Marie Cantino
Palmira Mindek
Tammy and Kerry Miner
Jonna Moone
Angely Morales
Courtney Moreau
Faith and Clark Moseley
Maryanne Nolin
Ruth and Vernon Olson
Sarah Peabody
Sherry Perkins
Christina Petricola
Pat and Robert
Pheanious
Melissa Phillips
Lauren and Jacob Piehl
Robert and Patricia
Plankey
Janet Plantier
Elyse Poller and
Gerald V. Dunne
Colette Poudrette
Tina Poulin
Parrish Protheroe
Sheyla Ramos
Christine Rosati Randall
Shirley Riemann
Stewart and Edwina
Rivers
Christine Robinson
Matthew and Marie
Rodimon
Augustus James Rogers
IV and Maria Linda
Doyle
Myrna Romero
Sandra Rosado
Karen Ryker and
Sarah Jo Burke
Theresa Rzepa
Somsanouk Saksith
Sharlene Sanchez
Gerald Sazama
Rabbi Jeremy Schwartz
and Merle Potchinski
Earl Semmelrock and
Sarah W. Heminway
David Shadbegian
Elisha Sherman
Pamela Shooks
Eleanor Skomro and
L.L. Lamoureux
Elizabeth Smith
Jennifer Smith
Jeff Smithson
Ezekiel Smukler
Maribel Spain
Bruce Staehle
Gemma Stirba
Jessica Stomberg
Ashlee and Andrew
Stone
William Stover
Emmanuel Tavis
Harold J. and Barbara A.
Teller
Lee and Tom Terry
Sheryl Thomas
Sharlene Thornton
Luz Torres
Zulayka Torres
Ashley Vienneau
Steven and Catherine
Vollweiler
M. Deborah Walsh
Douglas Warner
Kathryn Watson
Cathy Whitehead
Dianne and Charles
Williams
Elaine Wilmes-Pandolfo
Lona Zalatimo

Foundations
Ahold/Super Stop &
Shop Foundation
AmazonSmile
Foundation
Berkshire Bank
Foundation
Bob's Discount
Furniture Charitable
Foundation, Inc.
Community
Foundation of
Eastern Connecticut
Women and Girls
Fund
Connecticut Credit
Union Charitable
Foundation
Connecticut Health
Foundation
CT Association of
REALTORS
Foundation
Greater Hartford
Community
Foundation
Liberty Bank
Foundation
Newell D. Hale
Foundation
PayPal Charitable
Giving Fund
Pepsi-Co Foundation
Savings Bank of
Manchester
Foundation
Staples Foundation
Town Fair Tire
Foundation
United Way
Foundation:
Neighbors In Need
Business Donors
101 Business Solutions
Affordable Fuel
Company
Amplisound
Anonymous
Archambault
Insurance Associates
Bachand, Longo &
Higgins
Bank of America
Big Y Community Bag
Program
Christ Church of
Pomfret
Desmarais & Sons
Eastern CT State
University
Elks Lodge # 1311 of
Willimantic
Federated Church of
Christ/ WCGCS
First Congregational
Church of Willimantic
Friendly Spirits
Harvard Pilgrim Health
Care
Hosmer Mountain
Bottling Company
J&D Civil Engineers
Killingly Quiet Corner
Regional Lions Club
Landon's Tire Inc.
Lifelong Learning
Corporation
Linemaster Switch
Corporation
Logee's Greenhouses
Mutual of America
Life Insurance
Company
New England Financial
Group
North Windham
Walmart
Northeast Family
Federal Credit Union
Putnam Plastics
Corporation
Rawson Materials
Science Engineering
Associates
St. James School
Spherion Staffing
Storrs Friends Meeting
The National Institute
for the Clinical
Application of
Behavioral Medicine
Town of Ashford
Town of Brooklyn
Town of Chaplin
Town of Killingly
Town of Mansfield
Town of Pomfret
Town of Putnam
Town of Sterling
Town of Thompson
Town of Union
Trinity Episcopal
Church
Vanilla Bean Café
Webster Bank
Weiss & Hale Financial
Willimantic Brewing
Company
Yankee Oil

In-Kind Individual
Donors
Mohammed
Awawdeh
Mackenzie Bell
Donna Billings
Cara Blackington
Rhianna Curotto
Nick and Regina
Daniels
Quinn Ellis
Kristin Fischer
Kevin Galey
Michael and Maria
Guillot
Jack Henderson
David Henriques
Britney Lisee
Randy and Sandy
Motasky
Maryanne Nolin
Alanna Parisek
Levi Sherman
Mary Ellen Snyder
J. Dennis and Betty
Sutton
Amanda Swinson
Alida Turner
In-Kind Business
Donors
4 G's Pizza
AFC Transport
Aisling Fit
Aldis
Angelos Barbershop
Archambault
Insurance. Assoc.
Berkshire Hathaway
Home Services
Brooklyn Walmart
Danielson Big Y
Blended Nutrition
Boy Scouts of America
Briarwood Falls
Community
Brooklyn Walmart
Connecticut Coalition
to End Homelessness
Classic Pizza
CT Army National
Guard, COVID-19
Commodities
Warehouse OIC
CT Heat Pros
District 23C Lions Club
Windham Dunkin
Donuts
Faithway Communty
Church
Gulick Trucking
Hanks Restaurant
Ice Box
It Starts at Home, Inc.
Brooklyn KFC
Killingly Memorial
School
Lillium Florist
Love Rose Florals
Moes
One Yoga Center
Peaceful Soles
Plainfield Mobile
Pourings and Passages
Railroad Tavern
Senior Center
St. James Friends of
Assisi Food Pantry
Stop & Shop
Sugarz Bakery
The Honey Good
Foundation
Troop D of Plainfield
Walgreens
Distribution Center
We Truly Appreciate Your Support!
Report represents donations received July 1, 2020– November 12, 2021.
If you find an error, please bring it to the Community Engagement
Department’s attention.
Design thanks to Elisha Sherman

The Difference is You!
We Could Not Do This
Without Your Support.
Thank You!

Service Delivery Locations
The Promise of Community Action
Community Action changes people’s lives,
embodies the spirit of hope,
improves communities,
and makes America a better place to live.
We care about the entire community,
and we are dedicated
to helping people
help themselves and each other.
www.accessagency.org
Access Community Action Agency is
an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Willimantic
1315 Main Street, Suite 2
Willimantic, CT 06226
(860) 450-7400
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Affordable Home Ownership Program (AHOP)
Unite CT Rental Assistance
Food Pantries: Site-Based and Mobile
WIC: Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children
CACFP: Child and Adult Care Food Program
Case Management
Access to Employment
Danielson
231 Broad Street
Danielson, CT 06239
(860) 412-1600
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Homelessness Prevention: Family, Adult & Youth
Unite CT Rental Assistance
Affordable Rental Housing
Next Steps Supportive Housing
Supportive Housing for Families®
Food Pantry
Case Management
Emergency Shelter
51 Reynolds Street
Danielson, CT 06239
(860) 774-4977
Crossroads: Youth Residential
Supportive Work, Education
and Transitional Program
Norwich, CT 06360
Senior Housing Property Management
Elisha Brook
56 New Park Avenue
Franklin, CT
(860) 886-0367
Willington Woods
25 Senior Way
Willington, CT
(860) 429-8777
Access Housing at Parker Place
100 Old Post Road
Tolland, CT
(860) 454-4300
Salem Village
70 Proulx Street
Brooklyn, CT
(860) 779-0504