Dear Fred’s Footsteps Community,

I hope you and your families staying safe and healthy during this uncertain time.

We have been thinking so much about everyone who makes up our incredible Fred’s Footsteps family – Our donors, partners, volunteers and especially the families we serve.  For so many, but in particular those families with medically complex children, this crisis is devastating.

You may be wondering what Fred’s Footsteps has been doing during this crisis.  Fred’s Footsteps is fully operational with our employees working remotely and taking necessary precautions to assist with flattening the curve. We are faced with challenges shared by nonprofits and businesses the world over; but, our commitment to serve families in our region as they care for their sick or disabled child will remain our top priority. We will stay in close contact with our families and hospital social worker partners to understand the impact that this crisis is taking on the financial stability and ability to safely access care for the families we serve.

Because of the generous support from our donors over the last 15 years, we have not only been able to carry on with our regular work, but we have expanded our support to offer relief to additional families during this crisis.

In late March, with the help of our incredible Grant Advisory Committee, support of our board of directors, and through our strong partnerships with local hospitals and social workers, we launched the Fred’s Footsteps COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund . The mission of this fund is to support families with seriously ill, injured and disabled children who work in trades disproportionally impacted by the effects of COVID-19, such as retail, home healthcare, factory work, and food service, especially those without PTO or sick days. The fund helps these families with their most immediate needs by providing short term assistance for groceries and household items.  While we continue to meet the needs of families currently as well as accept new families monthly into the program; this emergency fund allows us to immediately help families in dire need.

Your donations continue to benefit hard-working families during this time of uncertainty. In fact, because of you, we are serving more families than ever. And, we will be here when this is all over, when we will inevitably be needed more than ever before.

Until we see one another again, please take care of yourselves, your families, and your friends.

Gratefully,

Christine DiBona Lobley

Executive Director

Fred’s Footsteps