Dear friends and neighbors,

Next week, we’ll celebrate two events: Giving Tuesday Now and Teacher Appreciation Week . The first is a day of unity and giving in a time when people and organizations like GCC need it most. The second is a celebration of the teachers and youth workers supporting our students and families all year long, but especially now in these trying times.

It’s a big week, and I wanted to give you a heads up to keep an eye out for it.

But today, I want to celebrate you. Because f or the last six weeks, you’ve showed up for us – from a distance. You’ve offered your support through encouraging words that have bolstered the spirits of our staff working on the front lines. You’ve made generous financial gifts – some of you have made multiple gifts in just a few short weeks. And you’ve raised your hand and asked how you can help us help our neighbors from the very beginning of this most trying time.

I’m reminded every day of how lucky I am to be a part of this community. The outpouring of love from our neighbors across the Madison area has been awesome to say the least. Thank you so much.

Wishing you strength and good health,
Becky Steinhoff, Executive Director
GLOBAL DAY OF GIVING
In This Together

On Tuesday, May 5, GCC will join in a worldwide day of unity and giving, #GivingTuesdayNow . For us, giving love and thanks to our staff is so important, as they have stepped up again and again over the last two months to ensure we’re able to continue to bring essential services to our most vulnerable neighbors. Next week, follow along on Facebook , Instagram and on our website as we honor our front-line workers.   Additionally, we'll have an exciting opportunity for you to maximize your impact on Tuesday – stay tuned!
EASTSIDE NEWS

Latest Issue on its Way
With the closure of the Center’s buildings and the majority of staff working from home, we weren’t sure if this East Side News issue was going to happen. When we got the green light to make it, we knew it had to be a little different than a regular issue. There would be fewer pages, fewer sections and fewer ads. The issue was sponsored by Monona Bank, something we’ve never done before.

It was all uncharted territory. But out of those pages came something special. Stories of our staff and our community rising to the challenge of supporting one another. The issue is in the mail now. When you receive it, we hope you will find as much comfort in its stories as we did.

Check out the issue online at: goodmancenter.org/esn or on our Medium page .
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Silver Linings, Pandemic Edition
A man donning a “fur” coat to help kids on a scavenger hunt, neighbors buying each other coffee, children’s books being disinfected and placed in little free libraries. These are just a few of the things our neighbor, Peter Leidy, learned about when collecting positive stories that have come out of the Safer at Home order. Read his article and spread a little love today.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Kids These Days
Our community is amazing, so it’s no wonder the kids of our community are also pretty darn wonderful. Meet Henry, who saved up his allowance for a long time to donate $80 to GCC . His parents matched his donation, and his mom made masks for friends who, in turn, donated another $40, for a total of $200. Thank you Henry, Michael and Amie Swanson. You’re an inspiration to us all!
OUR NEIGHBORS

Going Beyond Food
GCC has been serving families through our drive-thru food pantry, meal delivery and distance learning, but we’re always asking if there are more ways we can help. So when the principals at Lowell and Emerson elementary schools asked if we could help them gather up school and personal care supplies and then distribute them to families in need, of course we said yes.

We’ll be sharing details about this initiative next week, but if you’d like to learn more now, contact GCC Chief Development Officer Michelle Green at  michelle@goodmancenter.org  or 608.204.8059.
OUR PARTNERS

(Pizza) Pies for Produce
Yesterday Glass Nickel donated proceeds from the Atwood restaurant’s entire day of sales to GCC, and you all made sure that donation was extra generous . Thank you to everyone who ordered (or tried to order!) for no-contact delivery or curbside pickup, and thank you to Glass Nickel for hosting a successful fundraiser for the Center! They plan to donate and deliver over $1,800 of fresh produce for our drive-thru pantry service next week!
FOOD OPERATIONS

Drive-Thru Food Pantry
All are welcome – no need to call ahead. Food is distributed in the Ironworks building parking lot, 149 Waubesa Street, Madison.

Tuesday 9:30 a.m. – noon
Wednesday 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Neighborhood Dinners
The Center is managing a neighborhood meal distribution three days a week.

Wednesday & Thursday individual dinners
Friday 2 family-style meals + a pantry bag of groceries

For delivery in Darbo/Worthington and Brentwood neighborhoods:
Contact Sara at 608-807-4984 or email sara@goodmancenter.org and tell her:
1. Your address. 2. How many meals you’d like

We’ll knock or ring your doorbell between 3:30-4:30 p.m. as we leave the meal on your doorstep.

For delivery to Carbon & Generations @ Union Corners :
Contact Fran Augustine at 608-242-4400 or email faugustine@gormanusa.com and tell her h ow many meals you’d like. Meals will be delivered between  3:30-4:30 p.m.  to the community room, labeled for you.

Sign up once, then you’ll continue receiving meals weekly. Contact Sara or Fran to cancel. More information, including the dinner menu here (scroll to bottom of the page).
Photo: Jason Houge
In Business Madison featured our meal delivery expansion to Union Corners. View the article .
“I just wanted to sincerely thank you for the amazing food donation you provided for my property. I cannot even explain to you how happy my residents were to receive help during this time.” - Amanda, property manager who picked up groceries for her residents

These days and weeks have been long and challenging, but they’ve also been a beacon of hope to everyone here at GCC. And that’s because of you. Week in and week out, you continue to support our work, and we thank you for making a difficult situation so much easier to bear. We are grateful for each and every one of you.

* Consider yourself hugged. *
Information is changing rapidly. Goodman is constantly reassessing how we can help our community. Current operations can be found at: goodmancenter.org/corona
GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Ironworks: 149 Waubesa Street Brassworks: 214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
Read the Eastside News, our bi-monthy, uber-local newspaper.