Greeting,
Today marks week 7 since Governor Wolf mandated strict social-distancing guidelines across Pennsylvania. In this time, The Common Place continues to learn about our community’s needs and mobilize to meet them. We are grateful for all of your help in such a trying period as we continue doing the work we are called to do in this special neighborhood.
Access To Technology Updates
In our previous update, we shared our concerns regarding 12 young students who lack the digital resources to resume their schooling. In the absence of laptops, these students have been receiving work packets from teachers through the mail with the hope that they would not fall behind in school. Many other students have received laptops from the Philadelphia School District’s purchase of 50,000 Chromebooks, however, these children have somehow fallen through the cracks. But there is hope in the great news that we present you in this update that your financial contributions have helped us to buy laptops for these students. The Chromebooks should arrive early next week and we will begin the work of setting students up with what they need to remain connected to their teacher, peers, and curriculum. We continue to ask for your help as we anticipate a growing need for technology (such as these laptops). We continue to communicate with Southwest Philly schools to understand their needs and the needs of students. We ask that you continue to give so that we can continue to provide assistance where needed.
Virtual After School Program
The Common Place Scholars (TCPS) virtual after-school enrichment program is underway. We are gradually getting parents and caregivers engaged and are communicating with local schools so that our programming complements rather than competes with virtual programs being established at these schools. Each of our TCPS staff has created a Google “classroom” for their students and have uploaded activities into their individualized Google classroom platforms. Students have a live link to students for classroom activities and scheduled office hours for one-on-one communication. We are working out the kinks of educating caregivers to technology, passwords, and protocols. The largest challenge is the apparent lack of supervision to students as parents and caregivers are either at work or having to deal with multiple children. There is presently no incentive (such as graduation/grades for regular school) to help with motivation and focus. Our staff is brainstorming and researching methods to keep students engaged in a virtual setting. Our staff is also utilizing their Social-Emotional training as a resource to parents, caregivers, and families working through trauma resulting from life-changes brought about by the present health crisis.
Food Pantry Program
Our food pantry program has grown tremendously in the short weeks it has been in operation. We have been extremely blessed to have secured a partnership with Caring For Friends to help to collect and distribute food to the community. On Monday, April 20th, staff and volunteers made their first pick-up run to Caring For Friends’ Northeast Philadelphia facility. With 2 SUVs packed to capacity with fruits and vegetables, dairy, bread, and meat, food pantry staff made their way back to TCP to inventory, sort, bag, and store the food donation for Tuesday’s giveaway. The organization was gracious in providing us with so much food that retrieval, transportation, and storage was a challenge. The abundance of food also overwhelmed our capacity to properly refrigerate it. Carl’s Kitchen @ TCP has a large refrigerator and freezer, in which staff, who are apparently masters as Tetris, struggled to fit perishables. We are proud to say that while Tuesday’s food program went extremely well, leaving our stores bare, our success undergirds the vast food insecurities that Southwest Philly is currently experiencing. Our present challenges include a shortage of refrigeration space for perishable food items and the need for a van to pick up and transport donated food items. In addition, we are also asking for help from those who would like to volunteer. However, we must caution that because of the risk coronavirus poses to human life, we ask that those with underlying health issues, or are presenting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 do not apply. Instead please consider donating financially or with non-perishable food items.
Thank You
Although enduring personal hardship, many have stepped up to help others during this health crisis. This amazing outpouring of compassion for others is a testimony to the inherent goodness that lies in the human heart. On behalf of the Southwest Philadelphia community that we serve through The Common Place, we thank you!
This is a difficult time for all but for some; lack of nourishment and basic resources is much more than an inconvenience. Your donations are enabling us to provide food, cyber-education, computers, social connections, and consideration to those in need. These donations not only support the provision of necessities; they are an expression of love and kindheartedness that is as important as the other benefits.
We Need Your Help
Needs continue and we are still asking for help. The Common Place will continue to be a beacon of hope through you as long as we are able. Our present needs surround the need to secure more refrigeration for perishable food items, a form of transportation for the collection of food, and volunteers to help pick up, sort, store, and distribute food.
Finally, our mailing list is limited and we ask that you consider sharing our needs with others whom you feel might have an interest. We cannot express enough the appreciation that our community has for your thoughtfulness. GOD blesses you all.
