MEET CASSANDRA GATES
"United Way was there for me."
In 2023, Cassandra experienced her second house fire
in seven months. She and her son were distraught,
and had nothing but the clothes on their backs.
They turned to their municipality's Human Services
Department, which made a referral for United Way
Rapid Response Funds. This direct cash assistance
helped Cassandra and her son secure a new
apartment so they could focus on rebuilding their lives.
In 2025, Cassandra's son, Decovin, overcame the
distress that accompanied losing his home twice in one
year. Today, he is a top-ranked high school football
player who is exploring scholarships to become
the first in his family to attend college. Cassandra
herself started her own business that offers her
family financial stability while also providing her
with a flexible schedule to best support her son and
continue volunteering to help people experiencing
homelessness. Their future is incredibly bright, and
they owe it to the direct cash assistance received
from United Way's Rapid Response Fund.
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT | 2025 COMMUNITY IMPACT REPORT | 11
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