Dear Supporters and Friends,

During this unprecedented time in our community and nation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to update you on how CIS-Charlotte is responding to this crisis. First and foremost, we want to assure you that the safety and welfare of our students, families, and team members are our top priorities.
 
Over the last couple of weeks, we put plans in place to continue operations in order to support our students, families, and team throughout this period of mandatory school closures, and beyond as necessary. We are very aware of how the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular the closure of schools, will negatively and disproportionately affect our families, and we stand ready to do everything in our power to support them and connect them to needed resources during this time.
 
Our CIS Team members have already started reaching out to families by phone to assure and support them. We have developed an Emergency Needs Assessment that identifies their current critical needs, such as food, childcare, transportation, medical and mental health support. We are also supporting the coordination of student educational materials and providing immediate information about resources to families (food resource locations, for example). Internally, we are continually updating a “Community Resources” folder that staff can access to see the most up-to-date resources for families.
 
Key to our response has been partnering directly with county, governmental, and other local nonprofits to efficiently coordinate all of our efforts. In the coming days, we will keep you informed as we learn of specific volunteer needs which you can support.
 
In the meantime, the Foundation For The Carolinas and the United Way of Central Carolinas have set up a COVID-19 Response Fund. As for all businesses, this is an uncertain time for nonprofits as well. This fund is a way you can support local nonprofits who are assisting families affected by this crisis. Or you may wish to make a gift directly to CIS-Charlotte or another nonprofit close to your heart.
 
Lastly, we are most grateful for the outpouring of concern and offers of support from so many of you. While there is still much we do not know and so much that is out of our control, there is one thing we do know: if any community can come together selflessly to support one another, it is the Charlotte community and our CIS family in particular. Thank you for your big hearts and your genuine expressions of concern — it means so much.
 
 
 
 
Molly Shaw, President and CEO, and the entire CIS-Charlotte Team