Family Emergency Fund

Family Emergency Fund 

Community Services for Children established the Family Emergency Fund to provide support to families who are confronted with unforeseen financial burdens and have exhausted all other outlets. This program is made entirely possible by charitable donations.

During the past four months, financial help was provided to eight families to many areas of Allentown needing rental assistance. Funds were also used to fulfill food insecurity needs and help with the purchase of diapers and seasonally appropriate clothing.

CSC home visitors work closely with families to explore options and help them find a path to future stability. Jonathan Calcano, Head Start, Family Engagement Partner, shared “After seeing a child come to the classroom with clothes that don’t fit, it’s great to help with necessities that some of us take for granted.” Being able to help in this manner supports our goals of providing early education excellence because if a child feels good about herself or himself they will come to the classroom ready to learn. The parents told Jonathan it meant so much to be provided with gift cards to allow their children to pick out their own clothes.

The multi-generational model employed by CSC and all Head Start programs is essential to the programs’ success because, in addition to providing resources and education, the staff works tirelessly to help prepare families for life-long success. On one such visit, the father of four girls shared his goal in the program is “to provide for and support his daughters and for them to have a great career in the future.”