Community Efforts Underway to Help Families Impacted Amid Coronavirus Closures

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – CMS is working to make sure students don’t go hungry while schools are closed over the next two weeks.

“We feel very strongly that we must ensure students have their most basic needs met and meals is one of those things,” says Superintendent Earnest Winston.

Starting on Tuesday, CMS will have meals ready for anyone under 18.

The district has designated nearly 70 schools where students can pickup a grab-and-go lunch, including breakfast for the next day.

See the full list of locations HERE.

“It’s simply because it’s the right thing to do,” Winston says.

Also, the United Way and the Foundation for the Carolinas is launching a community-wide fund to help people impacted if, for instance, their place of work shuts down.

“Imagine what’s going on for these people’s lives, who serve you food, who drive your buses, who might be a bank teller, a teacher,” says Pedro Perez, with Charlotte Family Housing.

The fund will distribute money through grants to area non-profits.

The CEO of Lending Tree announced a $1 Million donation to get the fund started.

It will be matched with another $1 Million from Charlotte City Council.

Find out more HERE.

“We are a community and as such, we should come together,” Perez says.