COVID: Hunger Relief Updates

Dear Friends,

We hope you all are staying safe and healthy during this challenging time. We wanted to let you know about some immediate action steps that Inspiritus is taking to offset the impact of this crisis. Our COVID Emergency Hunger Relief efforts are well underway in many of our regions. We’re providing valuable assistance for seniors, neighbors with disabilities, parents, and children in low income areas with little to no access to food.

Here’s how we’re supporting our neighbors in our four major program areas:

DISASTER RELIEF Inspiritus Nashville continues to ramp up their Food Pantry efforts to serve the city’s most vulnerable citizens throughout this crisis. We’re delivering to our elderly neighbors who cannot come to us. In Middle Tennessee, many of our gardeners are growing spring greens as we continue to plan for Plant Days to support our 184 gardens. We thank Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency, Thomas Rowe and MHA for allowing this program to thrive!

REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SERVICES We're connecting refugee families to emergency resources. We're providing virtual case management and teaching individuals how to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many of our clients have lost their jobs as a result of this pandemic, and are at risk of losing their homes. We're helping with emergency financial assistance for families struggling to keep food on their tables. And we're helping refugee students navigate virtual learning and tutoring.

CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES Our staff is closely working with caregivers, families, and vulnerable children served by this program to make sure they have the support they need to navigate this crisis. Our financial opportunity center will provide emergency financial assistance for those who may find themselves in an economic or health crisis related to COVID-19.

DISABILITY HOST HOMES Our Healthy Gardens program is expanding to Georgia! Our staff have identified clients & caregivers in North Georgia who need a Healthy Garden to stay safe and well during this crisis. Through our Healthy Gardens program, families and individuals have easy access to fruits and vegetables to supplement their meals as well as a healthy outlet for relieving stress and staying active.

Through our amazing supporters and a recent $150,000 grant from the United Way we can immediately assist our clients. We are so grateful to United Way of Greater Atlanta & Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta for moving quickly to help us stabilize the most vulnerable among us. 💪❤ Our Financial Opportunity Center is preparing to disperse this $150,000 grant as emergency financial assistance so that families navigating job losses & medical concerns will be able to survive & thrive! The grant will support rent and utilities assistance, and food, household, medical and sanitizing supplies to meet the urgent needs of the individuals and families we serve across Metro Atlanta. It is such an amazing start, but to meet the needs we've assessed across our clients, we need to raise at least $500,000 in emergency financial assistance.

This is such a critical time. Today, your gift will do more than help our teams guide local families in crisis on the path from surviving to thriving. For the time being, your gift will help them survive. Please donate below and help us during this crucial time. We are so grateful for your continued support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We could not do the work we do without helpers like you!

With Gratitude,

-Virginia Spencer

Vice President of Development

Inspiritus