Volunteer opportunities to support first responders

Dear CPS Community, 
We hope you and your families are doing well. During these uncertain times, it’s critically important that we all come together to support each other. We ask that you consider giving just a little more of yourself to your fellow Chicagoans. It’s these moments of give and take that will strengthen the bonds of our community. 
To that end, today we are asking for your support in three vital ways:

1. Volunteer to work with the children of Chicago’s First Responders. While first responders, healthcare professionals, and other essential personnel work on the frontlines during the fight against the spread of COVID-19, their families are in dire need of child care during this unprecedented time.
   

You can help by volunteering to provide child care for the family of one of these workers keeping our city going through Sittercity’s “Chicago Responds” program. Launched in partnership with the City of Chicago, the “Chicago Responds” program will connect members of the public and public-sector employees like yourselves with first responders who are looking for volunteers to provide sitter services in their homes. The program will also give all Chicago parents working as first responders free access to Sittercity Premium. Please consider donating your time to these local heroes and their families by signing up at www.sittercity.com/chicagoresponds.
If you are a licensed medical professional, please consider volunteering with the Illinois Medical Reserve Corps. Please help Illinois provide the surge capacity needed for public health emergencies. Additionally, volunteers of all backgrounds are welcomed and are encouraged to register. There will be a need for volunteers with all types of skills and expertise, such as those who are skilled in: interpretation (languages and hearing impaired); administration; transportation training; provision of day care, IT and security services. Learn more at www.illinoishelps.net/

1. Share information with essential workers on how to secure reliable, safe childcare during the school closure period. If you or someone you know are an essential worker in need of childcare during the school closure period, please consider using or sharing information on Chicago’s Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies helpline.
   

A dedicated helpline has been created so Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) can help connect essential worker families to emergency child care. Call toll-free (888) 228-1146. The helpline will be available from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Monday through Friday to answer calls, but callers will be able to leave a message 24 hours a day.

1. Follow the statewide Stay at Home order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Under Governor Pritzker’s Stay at Home order, all Illinois residents have been asked to stay home except for essential needs and to maintain at least six feet of distance from others at all times. Earlier today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot implemented additional measures to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic through social distancing, including immediately closing the city’s Lakefront, Riverwalk, 606 trail, and all adjacent parks. 
   

Please note that outside of food distribution, all CPS schools and playgrounds are closed to the public. The playgrounds in particular pose a high risk for transmission and it is critically important that we take these measures seriously and do our part to keep ourselves and our communities healthy. 
We thank you for your support of our first responder families and everyone throughout the city of Chicago. This is an unprecedented challenge for all of us, and our team is committed to supporting you however we can. We will continue to keep you updated, and we look forward to welcoming you back to your schools as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Janice K. Jackson, EdD           LaTanya D. McDade
Chief Executive Officer            Chief Education Officer
Chicago Public Schools.          Chicago Public Schools ​