Maya McFadden Photo
A donation from The New Haven Chapter of The Links Inc. helped Ward 30 Alder Honda Smith provide 50 West Hills families with $100 gift cards to Stop & Shop along with 500 masks, which Smith began distributing on Friday.
The 50 residents signed up in advance with Smith, who offered a gift card to residents with children and/or who have been laid off during the pandemic.
The residents picked up their gift cards at the West Hills Community Center.
The New Haven Chapter of The Links Inc. donated $14,700 worth of gift cards to five leaders and organizations and 2,200 masks for distribution throughout the city.
“As a committee, we all came together to discuss who was in the greatest need,” said Links member Deborah Desir.
Members of the New Haven Links Inc. Covid-19 response committee.
Smith was joined by Ward 30 Democratic Committee Co-chair Iva Johnson, team member Nadine Ricks, and others to distribute masks to West Hill residents who stopped by, including a mailman who happened to get to the community center at the right time.
The Ward 30 team planned to continue to distribute the remaining masks on Saturday to places like McConaughy Terrace and to others they might find in need of one.
Before the Links team could leave, Smith made a Facebook Live video thanking the members for their dedication throughout the pandemic to the isolated area. “We need help here on Gilligan’s Island. I won’t let my people be forgotten about,” said Smith.
The New Haven Chapter of The Links Inc. Friday donations included:
• $5,000 in Stop & Shop gift cards and 1000 masks to the Christian Community Action’s food distribution sites.
• $5,000 in gift cards and 500 masks was given to Smith for Ward 30 residents.
• $1,000 in gift cards and 100 masks was given to Jeanette Sykes, founder of Perfect Blend Training and Mentorship for Youth.
• $2,500 in gift cards and 500 masks to Allison Rivera of St. Martin De Porres Academy to distribute to its students families.
• $1,200 in gift cards and 100 masks to Link memeber Camille Cooper to distribute to the families in the Parents, Partners, and Peers (PPP) program of the Westville Manor Housing Devlopment.
Great work by The LINKs Inc., thank you!