Dear Friends and Supporters of Buffalo Promise Neighborhood,

As we all try and adapt to working in these unprecedented times, under extremely challenging circumstances, we continue to do what we do best - support our children, their families and our school community.

Our Response:  Buffalo Promise Neighborhood staff have settled into their new normal - working remotely, limiting exposure and doing our part to “flatten the curve.”  While this is not the way we are accustomed to performing this important work, we continue to rise to the occasion.

We recently published and shared an Emergency Resources and Community Pantry List on our social media channels.  If you haven’t had a chance to see it, please do and share with others who are in need.  We are all in this together.

Our Schools:

Westminster Community Charter School & Highgate Heights: Staff at Westminster and Highgate successfully distributed student work ensuring our children continue to study during this unplanned break.  Both the BPS and Westminster websites have information referencing grade appropriate student work and interactive websites to assist during remote learning.  Our teachers are regularly interacting with their students remotely and continue to work on new interactive ways to keep everyone connected and engaged.

A grab and go breakfast and lunch distribution continue to be popular at both schools.  At this time, meals are being distributed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with two breakfasts and lunches on Monday and Wednesday, so children continue to receive five meals during the week.  Since the inception on March 17th, 3,700 meals have been distributed.

BPN Children’s Academies: We made the decision to temporarily close the Children’s Academy at Gerard Place on March 20th.  At that time, daily attendance was down to less than a dozen children at each of our sites.  All families at Gerard Place were given the option to bring their children to the Children’s Academy on Bailey and East Amherst.  Staff from Gerard Place was placed at the Bailey and East Amherst location or have the opportunity to further develop their skills by participating in targeted professional development.  As you are aware, childcare for essential personnel is critical during this time and we are dedicated to ensuring our families have reliable care for their children.

How You Can Help:  Keep up-to-date by liking, sharing and commenting on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.  Please visit our website at https://buffalopromiseneighborhood.org/ This world health crisis challenges us to step up, reach out and help each other – together we can make a difference!

Stay Well,

Pamela Hokanson, CEO