Home Heating Help, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Women in Manufacturing

October 30, 2023


We are only a few days away from November, and the weather is only going to get chillier. Now is the time to apply for home heating assistance. Please read below to learn more about this valuable resource.

It's the tail end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Waterbury is coming together to help patients no matter their background or financial situation. Keep scrolling for more information on resources.

Finally, I am celebrating female empowerment in the manufacturing industry. I will detail my visit to Hubbard-Hall, which is a thriving chemical company let by a female president/CEO in Waterbury.

You will find the following sections below:

  • Home Heating Help
  • Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Women in Manufacturing
 
Home Heating Help
Even though the weather is getting chillier, you still have time to apply for benefits through Connecticut’s Energy Assistance Program! The deadline to submit applications for the 2023-2024 winter heating season is May 31, 2024.
Enrollment for the program occurs on an annual basis so even if you received assistance last year, you will need to re-apply. CLICK HERE for more information on eligibility and how to apply.
 
Pink Out for Breast Cancer Awareness

Seniors at La Casa Bienvenida, on East Liberty Street, came out for a Pink Out event to raise funds, promote breast cancer awareness, and assure the community that hospital facilities are safe, open, and have the resources to provide breast health services to people in need.

100% of funds raised support the Saint Mary's Hospital Foundation's Breast Screening Fund. Annually, this program provides free screening and diagnostic services to more than 150 local residents.
The need for awareness is great because according to the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative:
  • 430 Connecticut women are estimated to die from breast cancer in 2023
  • Among Hispanic women in Connecticut, it’s the most common cause of cancer-related deaths

In addition, the American Cancer Society says female breast cancer is the leading cause of new cancers in Connecticut.
Connecticut has been at the forefront of raising awareness and promoting access to life-saving early detection tools, like mammograms. Connecticut was the first state in the nation to require that mammogram providers notify a patient if they have dense breasts and to consult with a doctor on whether addition screening is needed – guidance the FDA will be following beginning next year.

In 2022, Connecticut passed a law ensuring that fully insured individuals and those in group health policies will now have the additional diagnostics covered by their insurance.

I'm committed to fighting for those affected by breast cancer here in Connecticut. We will never stop working to find cures, address the needs of patients and their families, and make treatments affordable.

The state offers many resources for everyone including medically underserved women.
Learn More About Early Detection & Prevention Program
 
Women in Manufacturing
It may be the end of National Manufacturing Month, but it’s never too late to highlight the incredible work of an innovative, woman-led business in Waterbury! Molly Kellogg is the President and CEO of Hubbard-Hall, a $50 million chemical company based on South Leonard Street. Molly directs, manages, and runs the business – overseeing the growth of Hubbard-Hall through years of strong leadership.

It was an honor to join Molly Kellogg, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Mayor Neil O’Leary, and others to talk about Hubbard-Hall’s growth and its push to employ more women.

Manufacturing is an increasingly safe, clean, and high-tech industry compared to when I started more than 40 years ago. More women are gravitating toward a career in manufacturing for several reasons including good pay. It's clear the industry will continue to grow and can only reach its fully potential with more diversity among the workforce.