United Way’s Free Resource Fair Serves 2,000 Area Children as Summer Draws to a Close

Hartford, Conn. (Aug. 16, 2025) – United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut hosted a free resource fair today for local young children and families as part of its quarterly 860Cares activations. The event, which was presented by RTX, mobilized more than 200 corporate and community volunteers assembled and distributed United Way 860Cares early childhood care packages for 2,000 children. United Way’s community partners provided additional free materials and information that help children ages birth to five achieve academic and developmental milestones during the most formative years of their lives.

“United Way’s 860Cares initiatives are designed to provide community members with resources and opportunities to give back, and today’s family resource fair is a great example of this in action,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “United Way proudly brings together partners across sectors to end poverty. By offering equal opportunities for young children to learn and grow, together we are creating a brighter future for the 860 region.”

This resource fair provided families with the opportunity to learn about the benefits of quality early childhood education, and its importance in reducing literacy gaps while supporting working parents. In addition, according to the 2024 Connecticut United Ways ALICE* Report, a study of financial hardship, 33 percent of families with children in our state are struggling to afford the basic cost of living, especially those who contemplate the affordability of quality child care.

To alleviate some of the financial strain, United Way’s 860Cares early childhood care packages included items recommended by its strategic partners and area early childhood experts, such as: books, enrichment activities, sensory toys, nutritious snacks, and free information and resources tailored to local youth. United Way’s strategic community partners also offered additional resources such as affordable child care options, youth enrichment opportunities, literacy supports and more.

United Way’s 860Cares strategy connects individual and groups of volunteers directly with initiatives that close gaps in child literacy, housing, wages and life expectancy – the pillars of United Way’s Onward860: United to End Poverty strategic plan. Interested individuals and groups are encouraged to find their next one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunity at unitedwayinc.org/860cares.  

*ALICE is a United Way-coined acronym that stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.