March 2020
Dear Georgia Appleseed Friends, 
 
I want to share with you a brief update on Georgia Appleseed’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of you has a personal connection to GA Appleseed. You have supported us financially, by volunteering your time and expertise to one of our projects, and in many other ways. We appreciate your support and hope that you will continue to support us as we respond to this unprecedented situation. 

In response to the pandemic, we will not hold our annual Good Apple dinner on April 22. Georgia Appleseed is following  public health experts’ advice regarding public meetings and social distancing.  

In the meantime, we continue our efforts to improve the lives of Georgia’s most vulnerable children. They still need your support, perhaps now more than ever.  The pandemic will not impact all children in the same way—children already confronting poverty, disability, and systemic bias and racism will need their schools, communities, and governments to provide them with the right resources and supports.  

We are working with government agency leaders, peer organizations, fellow coalition members, and other partners to ensure that vulnerable children have the supports they need now at home and for their schooling. We are also continuing our fight against the systemic injustices that put these children at greater risk in the first place.   
 
Keep tuned to our website , Facebook page , other social media , and  Apple Bytes newsletter   for additional information ,  including some great resources from a variety of our partners. 
 
We also need your help to respond to this crisis. Your support will help us create a Georgia where every child gets the educational and behavioral supports they need and a safe, healthy home as their foundation. Support us now at GaAppleseed.org/donate . 
 
Sincerely, 
Michael Waller
Interim Executive DIrector
Additional Resources

We've included a handful of COVID-19 lists gathered by trusted partners below, which we hope will help connect people to the resources they need at this time:
  • 211—Calling 211 or searching the website can provide assistance finding food, paying housing bills, accessing childcare and more.
  • Atlanta Legal Aid—This resource list includes information about court closings, emergency food help, and more.
  • Georgia Department of Education—This DOE site includes links to school closure information and online learning resources.
  • Voices for Georgia’s Children—Voices has put together a robust list of news and resources around COVID-19, including financial resources, food assistance, closures, guidance on talking to children about the pandemic, and more.
  • Did you know there's an easy action you can take to help with food security for those with school-aged children?Many families with young school-aged children depend on WIC vouchers for basic food essentials. Avoiding WIC eligible items while grocery shopping could support another family's food security during this public health situation.

For additional reading, here are some articles and resources that are helping us think about the current situation with COVID-19:
Important Message from DFCS: Access SNAP, Medicaid or TANF info using student devices

To limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) encourages families to access self-service options online during this period. They are requesting that Superintendents work with their Information Technology offices to ensure that these sites can be accessed from student devices, and if necessary, provide access when needed. 
 
Self-service options include:
 
Those without internet access can contact the DFCS Customer Contact Center at  877-423-4746  for additional information or to request a paper application. Once completed, applications and any required verification can be mailed back to your local county DFCS office. County office locations are available online at  https://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations . 
 
If you have questions, please contact Denise Wells:  Denise.Wells@dhs.ga.gov ; Phone: 470-259-6130