April 2020
Executive Director's Message
Dear Friends,

On March 10, 2020 things changed radically for our community at Caroline House. What started out as a typical week of news about COVID-19's impacting other countries swiftly came through our doors. Not the virus itself but its impact and the fear of the unknown. Like most we were in denial, assuming it was a temporary panic that we needed to comply with out of respect of our local government. We closed our doors and began strategizing like any other school. We were not at all prepared for this new challenge. How will we help our students respond to a new experience of online instruction? How do we support our teachers with the new experience of online teaching? Could this be our “new normal”?

I am happy to report that both students and teachers are adapting to the ”new normal”. Of course it’s not easy and we don’t have all the answers but as a community we are continuing to figure it all out. Here at Caroline House we will focus on how this pandemic can challenge us to rise to the occasion and raise the bar in our community. We intend to come out of this stronger than we were before. Thank you for your support and prayers!

"Look not forward with anxious care but upwards in a spirit of faith and hope." -Mother Caroline Friess

Lucy Freeman
Executive Director

Heartfelt Good-Bye
The Caroline House community says a heartfelt good-bye to our Grants & Business Manager Cyndie LaMastra. Cyndie graciously served Caroline House for over 9 years and will surely be missed by staff and students alike. Her hard work and dedication to our ministry was superb and only matched by her kind and giving heart.
"I am deeply grateful to have worked with the many caring and special people who make up Caroline House: students, staff, volunteers, board members, donors, and community members. My heart will always be a part of the mission - needed now more than ever - to help women and children learn language and literacy skills that build hope and positive change for the students, their families and communities, and in our world."
-Cyndie
New at Caroline House
Adjusting to the sudden changes we are all faced with due to the COVID-19 pandemic hasn't been easy. Our amazing team of instructors have come together to ensure we continue to provide our students with the instruction, support and hope they'll need to continue moving forward with their studies with the implementation of online classes.
Tour Tuesdays
Suzanne Jesse
Melissa Cordova, Principal
Judge Kate Maxham
& Molly Maxham
Christopher Rosario
Linda Holmes-Hannon
& Denise Loeb
Miguel Ayala
& Agnes Dubow
Thank You Sacred Heart University

Caroline House thanks the seniors of  SHU's Davis & Henley College of Nursing and Dr. Sherylyn Watson for their amazing donation.
Giving Day SUCCESS
It brings us great pleasure to share that this year's Fairfield County Giving Day was a success for us. We are excited to announce that on a day when hundreds of local non-profit organizations came together on one platform with the intent of raising funds for their respective organizations we, with the help of our friends and donors, were able to raise $2,900 that will help us continue instilling hope in the lives of our students and their families.
Sharing Our Story
On February 24th Lucy sat with Phil Hall of the Fairfield County Business Journal to discuss all things Caroline House for an article that was due to be published in late March. It truly brings us great pleasure to have local media interested in learning about our history and mission. Together we will continue to broaden our footprint in Bridgeport and Fairfield County and help more families.

Virtual Fundraiser
Due to the perilous situation currently striking our country, we have made the decision to move our auction online. In these times of uncertainty, we hope that you are able to support our mission to enable women and children to reach their full potential through English language education and life skills. Even through this testing time, we continue to empower these women with online education, but we need your help and continued support to accomplish this goal. By participating in our online auction, you are helping women and children transcend the barriers of social and physical isolation that prevent low-income immigrant women from bettering their lives. You can be the difference.

The online auction begins on April 17th and will close at 9 pm on April 24, 2020.

For information about the auction items and delivery, please contact Caroline House's Interim Development Director, Edward Martinez at emartinez@thecarolinehouse.org.
Caroline House Mission:

To enable women and children to reach the fullness of their potential
through education in English language and life skills.

Caroline House is a sponsored ministry of the Atlantic-Midwest Province