The unexpected hard stop that the Novel Coronavirus precipitated has been challenging, especially for the most vulnerable members of our community and also for the organizations who serve them. Some of those organizations are our past and present grantees.

Here’s what a few of them have done to continue to serve their clients even in the face of shelter at home orders:

CASA DE SALUD

The primary health care clinic continues to support Casa’s patients to ensure continuity of care. They are addressing patient questions and concerns, education and refill authorizations. Providers are also reviewing charts and scheduled patients are being offered telehealth services with a medical provider, an interpreter and a staff medical assistant.

Telehealth is being deployed for the Mental Health Collaborative program and the GUIA program. The GUIA Program is also connecting patients affected by the pandemic to a variety of resources for food assistance, rent/utility assistance and more.

SOULFISHER MINISTRIES

Meal Service

They have delivered 3000 meals a day and added tutoring packets for school-aged children. They have also partnered with Riverview Gardens School and Two Mikes Catering to set up six sites for food distribution.

Reentry Services

They are continuing to offer reentry services to Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostics and Correction Center (WERDCC). The women in the AGAPE supportive housing program continue to receive food, shelter and mental health services and remote access to programming.

READY READERS

They have spent the time creating new ways to support children, educators and families.

Especially during times of uncertainty and trauma, the life changing power of literacy and the magic of a book can bring light and life into children’s lives.

Visit Ready Readers You Tube channel and share Ms Sheila’s Storytime Magic with little ones at home.  https://www.youtube.com/user/readyreadersstl

CITY GREENS

City Greens will continue to serve their community during the COVID-19 crisis. They have closed their indoor market space to the public and instead offer pre-order and pick up options from the patio.

This is only a small sampling of the organizations we have supported and how they are innovating to continue to serve their communities in these difficult times.

Please review all of the organizations we have supported and visit their websites to see how they are managing during the COVID-19 crisis. https://www.spiritstlwomensfund.org/map-our-impact/

Everything has changed about the way we work and play; the way we live our lives and spend our time.

We hope that each of you have found silver linings in the protracted pause that we have been forced to take.

We thought we‘d take this time to add to your tool box.

Here are some suggestions to inform support, entertain and distract.

Stay safe and stay healthy.

Websites of interest:

Philanos Blog

SOS is a member of this National Collective Giving Organization.

Missouri Foundation for Health

Council on Foundations

Tired of Netflix offerings? Try this:

“I have loved my Zoom happy hour with friends and former colleagues. I have a weekly Paint ‘N Sip going where we’ve ordered a paint by numbers kit and visit through Zoom while painting. It’s a great stress reliever and I’ve really enjoyed catching up with old friends.”

– Sharon Abel

“I am reading a series of books with our 10yo grandson, who lives in SF. We read ½-1½ hours everyday. He reads a page and I read two pages – (his choice). We are on Book 4 of the Apollo Series by Rick Riordan. It is the highlight of my day!! He even sent me 2 letters about how much he is enjoying this.”

– Joni Karandjeff

Other fun book series for young readers:

“I have enjoyed discussing online images of works of art from the St. Louis Art Museum with my 7yo grandson. We call it “Picture Time”. His favorite, “The Titanic” by Max Beckmann”

– JoAnn Sanditz ( https://www.slam.org/explore-the-collection/)

For those comfortable leaving the house. St Louis Area Foodbank is looking for volunteers for 2 hour shifts to help pack food boxes. ( https://stlfoodbank.volunteerhub.com/)

VOTING ENDS MAY 1, 2020!

• Go to the SOS website: www.spiritstlwomensfund.org and login as a member using your email address and password
• Email soswomensfund.help@gmail.com if unable to login or experiencing problems voting
• Click on the “Members” tab then select “2020 Ballot”
• Click on “Proposal Summaries” for a compilation of brief application descriptions
• You can vote for as few as one single-year grant applicant or as many as eight
• Only one vote can be cast for a multi-year grant applicant
• By selecting the agency name, you can read their Final Ballot Summary electronically
• By selecting the arrow on the far left of the agency name, you can review all of their uploaded full grant application files
• Vote by clicking the box on the right
• Vote for a multi-year applicant by selecting “2020 Multi-Year Ballot”
• Electronic voting closes at 5pm on May 1
• To request mailed Ballots and Proposal Summaries, contact the grants chairs directly

Gifting to charities from your IRA has become a very practical way to give without any tax consequences.

Visit  https://stlgives.org/making-qualified-charitable-distributions-from-your-ira/

Madaline Creehan, an SOS member and wealth manager, has offered to field your questions. If you have them please contact her at  mcreehan@buckinghamgroup.com

Seoul Taco is taking donations to send food to hospital workers. From their website:  https://www.seoultaco.com/  there will be a pop-up window requesting donations.

Sump Coffee is taking donations to provide coffee to the neurosciences department at BJC:   https://www.sump2go.com/neurosci?fbclid=IwAR2U55LuQrhvj2vWMUsuzTAao6yCERCXtamjoWUrr_uciD_0p0hrGbk76bg

Renew your membership for the 2020 Grant Season.   Annual payments must be received by voting to be counted in the 2020 Spirit Award Grants. If you are on a monthly payment plan, no action is necessary! Thank you for your support! Our small agencies need us now more than ever!!

Matching Gifts for Dues  – Did you know that many companies match their employees’ charitable giving? Often, these gifts are matched 100 percent or even more.

It is important to know that this can include your annual membership fee or any gift. This is a great way to double your investment in the community-whether this is a strategy for reaching your membership total or a way to amplify what you are already giving.

For more information please contact Wendy Witte at the St. Louis Community Foundation:  wwitte@stlgives.org  or 314-588-8200.