Growing unemployment and rising costs for food, energy and medical care add up to greater need, and more stress on the region's nonprofit sector.

"This is the time when you need to step up, if you can afford it," said William C. Bassett on Thursday, after speaking before a Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast club meeting.

The Chamber's breakfast clubs usually take on an informal air and include awards that feature a coffee mug and trophy/plaque. But they are also aimed at providing insight into business trends and conditions.

Bassett's family runs Shelton-based W.E. Bassett Co., which designs and markets cutting implements, including fingernail clippers. His company manufactures its products in China and markets and sells them throughout the nation and in 70 countries.

Bill Purcell, the Chamber's president, said this meeting's theme was competitiveness and charity.

"One begets the other," Purcell said by phone.

Two weeks ago, the Valley and the greater Bridgeport region learned that firsthand, when Stevenson Lumber Co. of Monroe announced plans to shutter its operation. Not long after this, Seymour Lumber and Supply Co. said it would close its Seymour business and consolidate operations into its Bethany facility.

While the impact on the families of employees who will lose their jobs is immediate, closures like these can ripple through the community, driving up the need for services and reducing revenue and donations to the nonprofits upon which

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these families depend for help.

Just days after Stevenson's announcement, Habitat for Humanity ReStore manager Tom Gabrielson said the closing hurt his organization as well. The ReStore depends on donations of the building materials it resells to the public, and Habitat for Humanity depends on materials donations to build housing for people with low incomes.

Gabrielson said Stevenson had been a regular donor of materials to the cause.

Bassett said when the economy takes a difficult turn, people need more help from charitable organizations, but those same organizations can see their revenues decline in a down economy.

He said he supports The Birmingham Group, which treats people with mental illness and drug addiction, as well as shelters for the homeless and for abused women and children. Bassett is chairman of The Birmingham Group's board of directors.

But his support comes mostly because these groups take care of "the ones that can fall through the cracks of our society."

That's especially true when it comes to women and children fleeing violent homes. When the economy goes into a downturn, domestic violence rises, he said.

While businesses have an obligation to the community to try to improve it, he said it's vital to maintain a competitive and profitable business, as well.

"If you're not competitive, you end up not helping anybody," Bassett said.

Purcell said the chamber decided to honor companies that embody success and the obligation to community that comes with that.

On Thursday, the chamber recognized Microboard Processing of Seymour for a different kind of community support, Purcell said. That company makes a point of giving people with addictions or prison records a second chance at life by hiring them and working to help them stay on the job, he said.

Microboard, which makes computer board components for a variety of machines, celebrated 25 years in business recently and announced it is now bringing in manufacturing from China, instead of exporting it.

Receiving their first Valley Cup of Coffee plaques were Mitch Williams, the new president and chief executive officer of Shelton-based Gexpro, and James E. Cohen, the new president of the Valley Community Foundation.

Purcell said Gexpro and the Valley Foundation are both integral to the success of the Valley, as is the sponsor of Thursday's event, Latex International.

Bassett and Purcell said even when money gets tight, companies and their employees can still give of their time, and that's what many do.

Rob Varnon, who covers business, can be reached at 330-6216.