We're proud to partner with A Better Chicago, an organization fighting poverty and supporting young people throughout our home city. Many of us are currently facing financial and emotional hardships, making it difficult to supply daily essentials to our families. Low-income families have become especially vulnerable during this crisis. In partnership with A Better Chicago, we are donating thousands of soaps to distribute to those in need.
Our mantra is “If the wind will not serve, take to the Oars.” Right now, it certainly feels like the wind is not serving. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to pick up our Oars and fight.
Why soap? The CDC recommends that everyone wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, yet many families are struggling to afford daily essentials like soap.
If you would like to help, please consider donating to A Better Chicago. In response to COVID-19, they’ve created an Emergency Relief Fund with 100% of the proceeds going to address the urgent needs of vulnerable communities.
About A Better Chicago and its Emergency Relief Fund for COVID-19
A Better Chicago fights poverty by investing in bold ideas that create opportunity for Chicago's youth.
The rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis is affecting the students and families with whom A Better Chicago works in outsized ways. 400,000 Chicago Public School students are currently out of school, putting both safety and long-term learning at risk. Of these students, 76% depend on free or subsidized meals and 16,000 are homeless. With the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States already
surpassing all other countries and Chicago named as a hot spot for the virus, this new reality is devastating for families that were barely making ends meet even before the pandemic.
In response, A Better Chicago is raising an Emergency Relief Fund to provide lifesaving support to the low-income youth and families with whom they work.
100% of donations will go to addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable communities in the following ways:
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Providing direct financial support (e.g. stipends to students who have lost work)
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Providing essential goods and services (e.g. groceries and medicine)
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Rapidly innovating to continue delivering high-quality programming (e.g. virtual instruction)
*Photo credit: Max Bender
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