Dear Friends,

Thank you for responding in all the ways that you have.  Whether through donations of food, essential items, volunteer time or cash donations, you are right there with us helping many people on the margins deal with this global crisis.  The needs continue to grow – in ways we had anticipated, as well as in unexpected ways. 

It’s been over a month now since Mecklenburg County and North Carolina began to reduce the number of people allowed to convene in one place, starting at 100, then 10 and now basically down to family units, and still with social distancing.  And it’s working.

However, the needs continue and the work continues. Here’s what’s happening in the community:

Resident & Neighborhood Life

  • 26% of residents on caseload have lost their job, seen a reduction in their hours, or have been furloughed
  • We continue to get requests for basic needs items. Over 100 boxes of basic needs items have been donated and shipped to RWCI by members of the Junior League of Charlotte.  
  • Food distribution services continue. Residents are requesting more.

Howard Levine Child Development Center

  • The HLCDC is averaging 10 children per day.  The main reason parents are not sending their children is because of job loss.
  • A Hardship Application has been created in order to handle an increase in childcare scholarship payment concerns from parents

Renaissance West STEAM Academy

  • Virtual Learning continues
  • CMS provided hot spots for any family without access to internet

Adult Education

  • Online classes continue
  • Additional classes have been added to assist residents in filing for unemployment.
  • These classes are an important source of positivity for residents as they navigate their day-to-day

Major Challenges

  • Keeping up with rapidly changing situations of our residents
  • Social Distancing – residents are getting cabin fever and are congregating within the community
  • There is difficulty in providing mental health service because of lack of privacy in homes
  • Demand for Life Navigation continues to increase
  • Teacher well-being as they work hard to deliver education remotely

As we fight to maintain our relationships and serve our neighbors, this virus threatens what makes us truly human – community. We are grateful that you choose to be in this community with us.

Your support allows us to continue this important work, to partner with our residents, and to provide a safety net for our families.

Thank you!

Mack McDonald

Chief Executive Ofificer

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