Dearest Canopy Supporters!
We recently had our Claremont Canopy Board of Directors meeting (meet our board!) and we want to share some impact numbers with you!
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, we at Canopy knew quickly that it was going to have a devastating impact on our families. Job loss as a result of the shutdowns has caused financial strain for every one of our 40 families, and with children now at home full-time, it’s even more difficult for parents to work.
However, because of your generosity, Canopy has been able to step in and help our families when they’ve needed it most. We’ve created a COVID-19 emergency relief fund that has allowed us to help our families stay afloat during these difficult times. With this fund, we’ve been paying out $300 monthly rent supplements to local landlords on behalf of Canopy families that have requested our assistance. In the third quarter alone, we have paid out $5,700 in rent supplements. (And since the creation of the COVID-19 relief fund, that figure is more than $14,000!) We are so incredibly thankful for your steadfast generosity. We could not do what we do without our amazing community of supporters.
Rent supplements are not the only way in which we’ve been serving as allies and advocates for our families. From our general Canopy fund, we have purchased more than $300 worth of college textbooks this quarter for our amazing young adults who are continuing their studies during these unprecedented times.
We have also been able to kick off our New Beginnings Internship program during COVID-19. This program is funded by a grant Canopy was awarded by the Claremont Community Foundation. The internship program is designed to give Canopy family members U.S. work experience to boost their resumes by finding jobs for them to do within our organization!
We are so grateful to welcome Mursal Samadi to the Canopy team. Mursal and her family arrived in Southern California from Afghanistan in 2016. Mursal has been a wonderful addition to the team, helping with translation and essential day-to-day business needs. Before coming to the United States, Mursal worked for the United Nations and Save the Children. We are incredibly lucky to benefit from her expertise with service-oriented programs.
Thank you to you, our community of supporters, for continuing to stand by our side — and our families’ sides — during these challenging times. We'll all emerge stronger from this pandemic together.
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With gratitude,
Christy