1. Food Donations

We have been partnering with an organization that is delivering groceries to homebound families once a week.  Please consider donating.

The more we can raise, the more families we can support: https://givebutter.com/COVID19SNACC

2. Literacy + School FAQs

At the link below, you will find an opportunity for families to attend literacy workshops to support at home learning. You will also find a translated version of our FAQs for families (Chinese, Spanish, English).

Literacy Workshops Document (PDF)

Family FAQs Document (PDF)

3. Unemployment + Small Business Relief + Updates

Below is a message from Gale Brewer’s Office: 

Unemployment Applicants
The State Dept. of Labor is working to improve response times (and their infrastructure) for unemployment insurance, and has hired 300 more operators, expanded service from six to seven days a week, and Google has been hired to enhance intake capability. Meanwhile, in an effort to manage the influx, applicants are now asked to call based on the first letter of their last names, as follows:

• Monday, names starting with A – F.
• Tuesday, names beginning G – N.
• Wednesday, last names with initials O – Z.

If you miss your day, you can also file on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Any claim filed will be back-dated to the date the filer became unemployed, NOT the date of filing. If you are eligible, you will be paid for all benefits due. If you are instructed to call to complete your claim, the ONLY valid number is 1-888-209-8124.

Small Business Owners
If you’re a small business owner with less than five employees, Columbia Law Professor Tim Wu has been putting together a team of Columbia law students to help owners like you apply for the $349 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans– the employee retention loans created by the CARES Act passed by Congress. *IF* owners use these loans to pay workers rather than lay them off, the “loans” are forgiven. You may recall I mentioned Friday that applications have opened and that these loans are first-come, first serve. This is a terrific offer, and to keep them from being overwhelmed, please email me at gbrewer@manhattanbp.nyc.gov with “Columbia Law PPP” in the subject line

Other Updates

• If you received an iPad from DOE, setup instructions are available here. If you need help, contact Apple Support at support.apple.com or call 1-800-800-2775. If you have issues connecting the device to T-Mobile internet, visit www.t-mobile.com/support or call 1-800-375-1126.
• If you already HAVE a device and need technical support, call 718-935-5100.
• The New York State Board of Regents is cancelling the High School Regents exams in June.
• Students can receive one-on-one free online homework help through the New York Public Library, daily from 2 – 11 pm, in English or Spanish, K-12. Families will need a New York Library card to access this service, and can apply for a free card here.
• Families of students with IEPs will now have IEP meetings conducted over the phone. Email your principal or specialeducation@schools.nyc.gov, or call 311.

4. PS20’s New Enrichment Schedule

If there is no link attached to the Enrichment it is considered grade specific and will be posted in your child’s google classroom or SeeSaw.