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The Serving the Community Fund is a volunteer-run fundraising effort to support janitorial workers in the South Bay who have lost their jobs and have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We have set up a mutual aid fund through which 100% of the donations will go directly towards income replacement for these workers.
As buildings around the Bay Area closed indefinitely due to Shelter in Place, many janitors in the South Bay lost their jobs. Those who have continued to work are operating on reduced hours and often without sufficient personal protective equipment. In addition to job loss, this community is also facing housing and food insecurity, increased risk of virus exposure, and little to no medical safety net. These are some of the many ways the coronavirus has exacerbated existing inequities in California.
Through our non-profit community partners, South Bay janitors approached Serving the Community Fund for help. Until the last few days, there was no state-wide relief focused on their community. While California has just announced a new fund to supplement the lost income of undocumented workers ($500 per person, max $1,000 per household), these folks have been without pay for over 6 weeks and need funds now.
With the funds raised through this campaign and through direct donations on Venmo, members of the janitorial community will be able to apply for grants. The criteria for receiving a grant from this program are:
* Applicants must be connected to us through our non-profit community partners
* Applicants must be current or previously employed as a janitor in California whose job was impacted by the COVID-19 nation-wide shutdown
* Applicants must be in need of basic financial support, for food, clothing, housing, or reasonable necessities
Applications will be assessed without proof of need, and 100% of funds will be sent to janitors. We will distribute (at minimum) $250 grants on a weekly basis during the crisis and, we hope, through a period of recovery.
No contribution is too small! Thank you for your generosity and willingness to support this underserved community.
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Who is the Serving the Community Fund?
We are seven friends (Cassie Peabody, Jonathan Yip, Kyle Virgien, Marie Casabonne, Sara Hundt, Victor Poon, and Victoria Yee) spread throughout California who were brought together by our shared desire to elevate the voices of the underrepresented and compelled to take action to serve the community.
As buildings around the Bay Area closed indefinitely due to Shelter in Place, many janitors in the South Bay lost their jobs. Those who have continued to work are operating on reduced hours and often without sufficient personal protective equipment. In addition to job loss, this community is also facing housing and food insecurity, increased risk of virus exposure, and little to no medical safety net. These are some of the many ways the coronavirus has exacerbated existing inequities in California.
Through our non-profit community partners, South Bay janitors approached Serving the Community Fund for help. Until the last few days, there was no state-wide relief focused on their community. While California has just announced a new fund to supplement the lost income of undocumented workers ($500 per person, max $1,000 per household), these folks have been without pay for over 6 weeks and need funds now.
With the funds raised through this campaign and through direct donations on Venmo, members of the janitorial community will be able to apply for grants. The criteria for receiving a grant from this program are:
* Applicants must be connected to us through our non-profit community partners
* Applicants must be current or previously employed as a janitor in California whose job was impacted by the COVID-19 nation-wide shutdown
* Applicants must be in need of basic financial support, for food, clothing, housing, or reasonable necessities
Applications will be assessed without proof of need, and 100% of funds will be sent to janitors. We will distribute (at minimum) $250 grants on a weekly basis during the crisis and, we hope, through a period of recovery.
No contribution is too small! Thank you for your generosity and willingness to support this underserved community.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who is the Serving the Community Fund?
We are seven friends (Cassie Peabody, Jonathan Yip, Kyle Virgien, Marie Casabonne, Sara Hundt, Victor Poon, and Victoria Yee) spread throughout California who were brought together by our shared desire to elevate the voices of the underrepresented and compelled to take action to serve the community.