April 2, 2020 – Update on City Year Philadelphia’s Response to COVID-19

Dear friends of City Year Philadelphia,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones in good health and in good spirits. As this unprecedented crisis continues to rapidly unfold, we can’t help but to give thanks for our beloved community and to send warm thoughts and prayers as we endure this difficult time together. I’d also like to intentionally stop to applaud all those who are working on the front lines to ensure the safety of others during COVID-19: healthcare workers, our government officials, first-responders, and all other essential employees.   

At this time, the City Year Philadelphia office remains closed through at least April 30. Our assessment of when to re-open the office remains ongoing as further guidance is shared by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local government. All City Year Philadelphia staff members are continuing to work remotely.

AmeriCorps Members

In my previous message, I shared that the safety and well-being of the City Year community is our top priority. As a result, our AmeriCorps members have moved into virtual service learning with the decision made to pause any in-person service during this time. Virtual service learning includes Life After City Year (LACY) support, trainings, teambuilding, and general community building. City Year AmeriCorps members continue to receive their stipend, health benefits, AmeriCorps childcare benefits, and continued educational loan deferral.

This week, Governor Tom Wolf announced the closure of all Pennsylvania schools until further notice. City Year Philadelphia is working with the Philadelphia School District to see how we may support its digital learning plan once it’s implemented.     

How You Can Support

During the COVID-19 outbreak, we are working hard to develop virtual programming that will keep our staff and corps both engaged and informed while preparing for the possibility to return to service through virtual learning with students. 

One of our greatest needs right now remains financial resources to sustain our service during this unsettling time. If you are able, please consider making a donation today.

Likewise, if you are interested in supporting AmeriCorps members in their virtual service, please also consider connecting with us about mentorship and career development opportunities.

Finally, as the month of March came to a close this week, we wanted to take time to acknowledge that March is Corps Appreciation Month where we celebrate the hard work and tireless dedication of our AmeriCorps members. Please visit our @CityYearPhilly Instagram page and consider leaving a message of encouragement to the corps.

Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do to support City Year and our students. Our spirits are high and we look forward to coming together with all of you very soon. 

As always, if you have any questions about City Year Philadelphia’s response plans for COVID-19, feel free to contact me at dbundrige@cityyear.org and continue to monitor our COVID-19 response page for updates.

Please continue to stay well and stay safe.

Yours in service,

Darryl Bundrige

Executive Director and Vice President

City Year Philadelphia