Casa Chirilagua

How would it feel if you became aware of the tension and chaos related to COVID-19 around you, but didn’t have resources to keep your family safe? What if you didn’t have internet in your home?  How would you know what to expect next regarding your child’s education?

What if you didn’t know who to call for help?

Without Casa Chirilagua, many families in our community began finding themselves in this very situation. Sadly many families have lost their jobs. Positive cases of COVID-19 are beginning to appear and families need trusted information.

The good news is that since 2007, Casa Chirilagua has been developing long-term relationships with families in the community. Our relationships with families are already strong, making us well positioned to respond to immediate needs that have come up related to COVID-19.

Since mid-March, we have learned about the staggering number of adults in our community who are now without work. Casa staff has responded in the following ways:

• Helping parents know where they can get free meals
• Sharing information about food pantries and the Lazarus project  (especially for those adults who have limited fluency in Spanish and in English)
• Helping families set up an account with Cox Communications to get internet service
• Paying rent and utilities, based on need and current job loss, for Casa families
• Distributing paper “homework” packets to the Kids Club students so that they can continue to learn, have fun, and find engaging activities while at home
• Moving adult learning classes to online platforms
• Distributing essential items such as soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste, food and more through donations from our Amazon Wish List
• Partnering with churches to distribute food such as hundreds of donated Chik-Fil-A sandwiches

To date, Casa Chirilagua supporters have provided over $40,000 in direct aid for the community which Casa has been using exclusively to help pay for rent and/or utilities for families in our community, based on needs and job loss. Because of your generosity, Casa families won’t have to worry how they will make ends meet during this crisis and instead be able to focus on supporting their children as best as they can.

Through our online programming, we are able to come alongside parents in providing much needed academic assistance while schools are closed. We are also providing weekly virtual meetings where families can learn about new information regarding COVID-19, hear an encouraging word from Liz, our Adult and Families Programs Coordinator, and stay engaged as a community.

We expect the current crisis to continue for the foreseeable future which means Casa Chirilagua is relying on donations to continue supporting families in the months to come.

For more information about Casa Chirilagua, visit us online:

www.casachirilagua.org

www.facebook.com/casachiri

www.twitter.com/casachiri