We have been serving youth, adults, families, and seniors for the past 48 years.
We protect our communities no matter what. You can help too by donating to El Centro de la Raza's Emergency Response Fund.
 

Estimad@ Amig@ {FIRST_NAME},

We need your help. We are all getting hit hard by COVID-19; some more than others, and not everyone qualifies for assistance. El Centro de la Raza staff are working remotely to continue to provide many of our 43 programs and services.
Staff are doing everything in their power to provide relief by checking in with their program participants and helping them enroll in assistance programs, from unemployment and healthcare to small business financial assistance. Our dedicated staff are also:

• Operating the Food Bank by providing pick-up service from the north ground floor entrance only. Staff are protecting themselves by passing bags of food through a walk-up window. The hours are Wednesdays 3:30-6:30 (Wednesdays are reserved for seniors and mobile limited individuals.) | Thursdays 10-12 & 2-4 | Fridays 2-4.
• Calling senior program participants to make sure they are safe and have access to housing, medication, and food. The Senior Program is also offering bag lunch distribution.
• Engaging program participants creatively by providing our classes online, like Financial Empowerment, Unidos in Finance, and Unidos @ Work. 
• Raising funds to get young people a laptop $150 each through Comcast's Internet Essentials program. 
• Assisting eligible DACA individuals in renewing their status by applying for a scholarship to cover the exorbitant fees.
• Conducting outreach efforts by phone to complete the Census. All households should have received a notice about the Census with their Census ID on March 12. If you do not have a Census ID, the system can generate one for you. 
• Providing childcare at our Child Development Center locations to families who need it in order to be able to continue working with priority for first responders, those in the healthcare field, and grocery workers.

Please make a donation now to support vulnerable children, families, and seniors facing unprecedented economic hardship. We are activating an Emergency Response Fund because of the growing need for rent, food, utility, and other basic needs assistance. We hope you join us in this fight against COVID-19. With your generosity, you can help recently laid-off hourly workers, unemployed restaurant and service workers, the elderly, the disabled, and immunocompromised individuals. These vulnerable groups are the most impacted, yet have the least access to resources. How will minimum wage workers pay rent, care for children, and feed themselves and their families without a source of income? 

I do not know when this virus will pass, but know that we are riding this difficult time out together. When a disaster hits, that is when we as a community are resilient, kind, and strong. It takes a community to overcome unexpected challenges. 

Please consider giving the gift of certainty to our vulnerable community members by check or online. Checks are payable to El Centro de la Raza and can be mailed to 2524 16th Ave South - Seattle, WA 98144. Mil gracias for your compassion, thoughtfulness, and generosity. 


Respetuosamente, 


Estela Ortega
Executive Director 

Community Action Agency • United Way Agency • Affiliate of Unidos US
2524 16th Ave South - Seattle, WA 98144
1607 South 341st Place - Federal Way, WA 98003
501(c)3 Nonprofit Tax ID: 91-0899927 • www.elcentrodelaraza.org