Demand For Social Services Is Up This Holiday Season

By Steve Bigham

At the start of the 2001 holiday season, the demand for social service assistance is greater than it has been in many years.

The recent economic downturn has left some people out of work. There are also several others out of work due to injury or illness. No matter what the circumstance, social services is there when families call, especially around the holidays.

Last week, the Newtown Social Services Department (along with the Women in Newtown organization) handed out 83 Thanksgiving baskets to families in need.

“It seems like everyday I get a call that somebody has been laid off or let go,” said Social Services Director Gynnis Lanzetta. “It’s times like these that social services needs to spring into action. We’ve been busy all year, though, not just now. It started last fall.”

Usage of the food pantry is way up this year as are requests for temporary financial assistance and the energy assistance fuel program, which is designed to help people with their heating bills.

Ann Picinni, a caseworker in the social services office, said the demand this holiday season is on par with what went on in the early 1990s during the last economic recession.

“Back then, we used to do 120 Thanksgiving baskets. It had leaned out for a while with the good economy. Now it’s climbing back up again,” she explained.

The people who work in the social services department are at the front lines when times are tough. They are the ones who see first hand the kind of hardships that people are facing.

“We see it everyday. Newtown is a mixed town and we should be thankful that Newtown is willing to provide social services. Some towns do not,” Mrs Lanzetta said. “There are people living in tents in Newtown right now.”

Of course, the purpose of social services is to provide people with adequate assistance while also allowing them to maintain their dignity. Tough economic situations can happen to anyone. Residents come to social services for many reasons. For example, one Newtown couple sought help recently after the husband was injured on the job. Both he and his wife are self-employed and lack the kind of health insurance needed to get by. He cannot work and she needs to take time off to help him recuperate. Social services was there to help.

“It’s a very sensitive issue and you have to be very sensitive about it. We see it everyday,” Mrs Lanzetta said.

The Newtown Social Services Department is located in the lower level of Town Hall South on Main Street. For more information, call 270-4330.