“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

Hello again. We're checking in and wishing you and yours well during this time of waiting. Though things seem a bit uncertain, and maybe even scary, we want to offer some hope and resources to you as we navigate this strange time together. The work continues at ChildSavers. Our Mental Health team is rallying to onboard clients to teletherapy in addition to volunteering at school food drives in their spare time. Meanwhile, Child Development staff are hosting virtual trainings for child care providers, providing guidance about sanitation, food resources, and day-to-day operations during COVID-19. If you are one of many asking how to support our children, families, and early child care providers during the pandemic, we ask that you please: Donate to ChildSavers to continue mental health services using teletherapy for our clients and resources for child care providers. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For those of you who may have already taken action, thank you for standing with us during this difficult time.

Resources Just For You 3 Ways Parents Can Help Kids Process Emotions During Lockdown (10-minute video) 3 Tips for Parents with Infants and Toddlers During COVID-19 (2-minute read) The Ultimate List of COVID-19 Resources for Families in RVA (4-minute read) The Difference Between The Effects of ADHD and Trauma on The Brain (1.5-minute video) The Robins Foundation created a Family Crisis Fund for those who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic (1-minute read). Partaking in a Zoom meeting? Help spread awareness and show support for ChildSavers with our Zoom Backgrounds!

Easy Craft Projects Edible playdough - Be sure to wash your hands before assembly! Blast into fun during lockdown with cardboard tube spaceships. An easy nature color hunt for stir-crazy kids. Spread some joy with rainbow suncatchers.

Donor Spotlight

Blue Edge Capital

After reaching out to our Supper at Sunset sponsors to inform them that the event was cancelled, Blue Edge Capital emphatically requested to donate their sponsorship to our area of greatest need during COVID-19. Their generosity provides ChildSavers the flexibility we need during these unforeseen circumstances to continue providing ongoing therapy for our most vulnerable children as well as training and resources for early child care providers whose work makes it possible for those on the front lines with children to continue their service to the community.   "Blue Edge Capital is proud to partner with ChildSavers and to support its mission to guide our community’s children through critical moments and provide mental health and child development services. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, community needs are in peak demand at a time when non-profit organizations can face uncertainty around their funding sources. We know that ChildSavers will use our donation to continue the excellent care that it provides to the youth and families of Richmond, and we couldn’t think of a better time to recognize the team’s efforts." - Macon Clarkson of Blue Edge Capital

Mrs. Ginny Purcell Longtime supporter and leadership volunteer, Ginny Purcell, foresaw our need to continue services during this pandemic and she took action. Given her extensive background as a fundraiser, Ginny intimately understands the need for organizations to determine where their greatest needs are and what resources they need to support those efforts. We are sincerely grateful for supporters like Ginny who are willing to help our community's children when the going gets tough. Our work is not possible without the support of those like you and Ginny. "Riker and I had planned to be among the sponsors of Supper at Sunset. But when the COVID-19 pandemic closed city schools and the annual May fundraiser's future was in limbo, we immediately sent the sponsorship amount, but without strings. Regardless, Childsavers would need extra financial help, for needs in so many ways that none of us could predict. Our services depend on the combination of Medicaid payments plus charitable gifts to pay for this critical help to children. And smaller numbers being able to access clinic-based funding would demand new investments, like telemedicine, or at least unpaid telephone access to children, quickly. What could be more important than children's security and resilience for the future?" - Ginny Purcell

Giving Tuesday Now You may have heard about Giving Tuesday, a global day of fundraising that happens each year. As a reminder, you raised more than $8,000 for ChildSavers this past Giving Tuesday in December! The coronavirus pandemic has brought on a second day of giving, called Giving Tuesday Now on May 5, 2020. Will you mark your calendars, transform your social media profiles, and donate on May 5 to help us reach our $10,000 goal? Save the date! Download social media graphics ChildSavers in The News WTVR: ChildSavers Crisis Hotline Available for Immediate Intervention Virginia Public Media: Tips to Helping Kids Adjust to "New Normal" of COVID-19 Pandemic Richmond Free Press: ChildSavers Offers 24-hour Immediate Response Hotline RVAHub: ChildSavers Transitions To Telehealth, Offering 24/7 Immediate Response Line for Families If you’d like to stay up to date with our ongoing response to COVID-19, refer to our website and tune in to Facebook for live updates and tips from our staff. Donate