Frances Russ
Cincinnati Public Schools
Businesses and organizations are stepping up and making donations to Cincinnati Public Schools to support students and their families during the three-week school closure mandate issued by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
At Cincinnati-area Staples, stores are printing students’ schoolwork packets for free. The packets were distributed last week, but not all students received them. CPS has shared all grade-level packets digitally, so parents can walk into the store and get their child’s packet printed at no cost.
In addition, GE made a donation to the district for printing services.
Many local churches are stepping up, as well, to assist CPS with the distribution of the schoolwork packets.
“It is a difficult time for many of our CPS families,” said Superintendent Laura Mitchell. “But we are encouraged by the many businesses and organizations in our community stepping forward to lend a helping hand.”
Another effort to raise money for students and their families called, Care and Collaborate for Cincinnati, has raised $36,000 in three days, according to Josh Hardin, CPS athletic manager, who is coordinating the campaign.
Money collected will be used to purchase hygiene kits, educational activity packets and non- perishable food items that will be distributed at sites throughout the school district, designated by the CPS Student Dining Services department. Healthy meals prepared by Student Dining are distributed at the sites from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week through April 3.
In addition to monetary donations, food vendors and other organization are also stepping up and contributing items, such as boxed lunches, to supplement the meals provided by CPS Student Dining Services.
While there has been an outpouring of support inquiring about volunteering at the distribution sites, district officials are limiting these efforts to school personnel to maintain the recommended number of people gathering at a location, along with the distance between individuals, in accordance with guidelines from city and state health and government officials to reduce the spread of the virus.
For more information about making a monetary donation to the Care and Collaborative for Cincinnati Campaign, contact Asia Bradford, bradfoa@cps-k12.org, or mail a check to Cincinnati Public Schools, Attn: Collaborate & Care, P.O Box 5381, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5381. For more information about making a non-monetary donation, contact Ricky Miller, milleri@cps-k12.org.