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Resources for individuals affected by COVID-19

Resources for individuals affected by COVID-19

By melissa in General on March 30, 2020

Financial Aid – TN Dept of Human Services

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making essential financial resources available to families that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.  Beginning 10 A.M. CST Thursday, March 26, families can begin applying, online, for up to two months of emergency cash assistance if they were employed as of March 11, 2020 and they’ve lost employment or at least 50% of their earned income as a result of the pandemic.

Visit TN DEPARTMENT HUMAN SERVICES for the application and more info.

 

COVID-19 Response Fund (United Way of Greater Nashville)

COVID-19 continues to impact our entire region. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their jobs, seen reductions in hours or are experiencing loss of income due to closed establishments or canceled events. Here are SOME RESOURCES that are available right now.

 


CARES Act
( (Federal Coronavirus Aid Package, passed Friday, March 27, 2020)

* Direct payment of $1,200 to individuals, $2,400 for married couples, plus an additional $500 per child. Payments available to individuals with an income of up to $75,000 and $150,000 for married couples.
* Provides $250 billion for an extended unemployment insurance program and expands eligibility and offers workers and additional $600 per week for four months, on top of what state programs pay.
* All testing and potential vaccines for COVID-19 will be covered at no cost to patients.

 

COVID-19 Closure Update

COVID-19 Closure Update

By melissa in General on March 18, 2020

These are definitely concerning and overwhelming times for all of us, especially following the recent devastation left by the tornado.

Given recent recommendations by our Governor, the CDC, and Metro Health Department, and to ensure our staff and families’ health and well-being, our board has elected to close our center effective Wednesday, March 18th through Friday March 27th.

UPDATE 3/26/2020: In a continued effort to ensure everyone’s safety and health, we will remain closed until Friday, April 3rd. 

UPDATE 4/2/2020: We will remain closed until Friday, April 10th.

UPDATE 4/9/2020: We will remain closed until Friday, April 17th.

UPDATE 5/8/2020: We will remain closed until Friday, May 15th.

We will be carefully monitoring the ever-evolving situation to determine if continued closure is necessary. We will be in contact towards the end of the week with those updates. The health, well-being, and safety of our staff, children, and families is of the utmost importance and we thank you for your understanding.

If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Stacie, Program Director, at sspasoff@fanniebattle.org.

Update on our 8th Annual Yum!East

Update on our 8th Annual Yum!East

By melissa in General on March 13, 2020

Hello, friends. Much has happened in our community and we wanted to give you an update on where we’re at with Yum!East 2020. After talking with a few of our participants, they felt it best for the community to have this party.

“East-siders are a tough little tribe and will remind everyone what ‘normal feels like.”
“Everyone is looking for ways to support the community…I think it would be a way to get together and have fun.”

We couldn’t agree more and are currently moving forward with making this year’s Yum! a celebration that

showcases “we are tougher than this!”

*****

That said, we are also very well aware of the situation regarding the COVID-19 virus. Many events and venues have been cancelled as to lessen the spread and burden on our medical community and resources. Our board will be making a determination of whether or not to cancel, based on CDC and the Metro Department of Health Services’s advice, on or before March 31st.

We here at Fannie Battle hope for the best, but ultimately the safety of our community is the most important matter. #eastnashvillestrong

Update on COVID-19

Update on COVID-19

By melissa in General on March 13, 2020

 

To our Fannie Battle families:

Our administration and board want to assure you that we have the health of our children, families, and staff is of the utmost importance in our policies and daily practices. Please refer to our family handbook, page 17, to review guidelines regarding children who have symptoms of illness. At our center, our guidelines regarding healthy safety extend to daily routines, such as meal service, diapering and toileting, and cleaning and sanitizing classroom furnishings and materials.

All indications from the Centers for Disease Control assure us that healthy children are less likely to be vulnerable to COVID-19. However, if circumstances warrant additional action, we will inform you immediately. We encourage you to help us ensure the health of our of children, families, and staff by following the steps provided by the CDC to prevent the spread. Should you you or any of your family members show symptoms of COVID-19, please immediately notify us.

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to our administration should you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your assistance and understanding during this very unsettling time for us all.

Happy Holidays from our Interim Executive Director

By melissa in General on December 13, 2019

Greetings to the Fannie Battle Board of Directors, Families, Staff, and Community Supporters

 

An important Fannie Battle tradition, Caroling for Kids, happens during the month of December when there is an outpouring of community spirit and generosity. This event began over 100 years ago when Miss Fannie Battle struggled to generate adequate funding to keep the day home open. Caroling for Kids remains one of our most vital pieces to our fundraising efforts. As caroling groups are formed, going door-to-door throughout our city, a new awareness of Fannie Battle’s existence, mission, and services is created.

As a child with older siblings, I could hardly wait until I was old enough to join Christmas Eve caroling in our neighborhood. Each year the neighbors looked forward to the carolers and greeted us warmly. Afterward, we gathered for hot chocolate in the warmth of our church basement. I believe that Fannie Battle continues to provide that kind of warmth and security to our families. This experience of my formative years has had a lasting place in my heart and led me eventually to discover other ways to be involved with Fannie Battle.

After my retirement from an Early Childhood Education career of 30+ years, I became more actively invested with Fannie Battle as an advisor, volunteer, member of the Board of Directors, and currently serve as Interim Executive Director.  There are many challenges and benefits that come each day as we work to fulfill our mission of service. Watching the expressions of joy and anticipation on the faces of the children as they enter each day; observing staff as they work to nurture, comfort and motivate our children; and knowing that families leave their children with us each morning with confidence that they will be kept safe while away at work or school is one of the most rewarding parts of this new role.

It is heartwarming to observe the outpouring of love and generosity that comes from many businesses, individuals, and organizations in our community – including volunteers that show up to help in the day-to-day events of our program. I especially appreciate those who participate in Fannie Battle’s holiday festivities through helping our staff provide food, gifts, cheer, and volunteer assistance during our holiday events.

My wish for each of you is that you and your family will experience love, peace, joy, and good health throughout the holiday season.

Holiday blessings,


Evelyn Hale
Fannie Battle Interim Executive Director

Christmas Fannie Pack

Christmas Fannie Pack

By melissa in General on December 4, 2019

From December 8th to December 14th Donut Distillery will be offering a special Christmas Fannie Pack of mini donuts and donating $5 back to Fannie Battle for every pack purchased. Packs retail for $20.

These packs will be filled with 5 different flavors: strawberry, powdered sugar, chocolate with snowflakes, chocolate with festive sprinkles, and vanilla with green sprinkles. These packs are great for gifts for clients, teachers, friends, family, and holiday parties.

Have a large catering order? Donut Distillery will be donating a portion of proceeds back to Fannie Battle, as well!

Visit Donut Distillery at 311 Gallatin Ave. Nashville, TN 37206. For hours and other questions, visit their website at donutdistillery.com 

Cheers to One Hundred and Three Years!

Cheers to One Hundred and Three Years!

By melissa in General on December 2, 2019

Come celebrate 103 years of Caroling for Kids at this family and pet-friendly event, benefiting Fannie Battle Day Home.

East Nashville Beer Works has an amazing menu with tasty appetizers, delicious pizza, and fresh salads. There are non-alcoholic drink options for the whole family. (And wine and cider for those non-beer drinkers).

Fannie Battle board member, and parent, Curtis will bring his guitar and hopes you will join him in a fun – and definitely hilarious – round of carols from 3p – 3:30p.

If you can’t make it during our gathering stop in the brewery any time as 15% of proceeds from the entire day will be generously donated to our center.

Caroling Open House

Caroling Open House

By melissa in General on November 14, 2019

I had a great time at our 3rd Caroling Open House last week catching up with many of our long-time volunteers, members, and past board members.

We are all really proud of how far Fannie Battle has come and it was a real honor being able to connect with such amazing and passionate people who really helped build many foundations (literally and figuratively) that we continue to stand on today.

The biggest hit, though, Mrs. Aubree’s Holiday Popcorn. I asked her if I could share the recipe and she was more than thrilled to do so (she did want me to add that it is pretty much the easiest thing to make so you shouldn’t have any troubles re-creating this masterpiece).

 

  • 3 bags of popcorn
  • 1 bag of white Ghiradelli melts (they also have many other colors so have fun with it)
  • Holiday-colored sprinkles
  • 1 bag of holiday M&Ms
  • 1 large bowl

Pop the popcorn and put in the large bowl, melt the bag of chocolate and drizzle on the popcorn, shower the popcorn with as many sprinkles as you’d like, and drop the bag of M&M’s into the bowl. Viola!

 

Feel free to share your pics making and devouring this delicious treat as I know Mrs. Aubree would be tickled red and green.

– Melissa

News Report: The Childcare Crisis – Why Affordable Childcare Is Out Of Reach For So Many People  (Time Magazine Oct. 2019)

News Report: The Childcare Crisis – Why Affordable Childcare Is Out Of Reach For So Many People (Time Magazine Oct. 2019)

By melissa in General on October 29, 2019

“The burden of childcare beleaguers economic growth on two fronts, tamping down the productivity of citizens as well as pushing more of them onto taxpayer-sponsored programs such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), WIC (benefits for low-income mothers) and TANF (welfare). Cruelly, it’s usually the more impoverished who find it most difficult to afford childcare and thus advance their careers and become more prosperous, further stymieing economic mobility. But perhaps the most damaging punch that unaffordable childcare is dealing to the U.S. economy is its diminishing of future generations. Young Americans are having fewer children—the 2018 birth rate was the lowest in 32 years—and according to a survey conducted by Morning Consult for the New York Times, the expense of childcare is the No. 1 reason.”

Read more about this in-depth coverage of The Childcare Crisis 

Holiday Giving at Fannie Battle

Holiday Giving at Fannie Battle

By melissa in General on October 28, 2019

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are a fun and joyous time here at our center. For many years, local businesses, churches, and individuals have enjoyed spreading holiday cheer by providing gifts and basic needs to our children and families.

As of now, all of our families have been ‘adopted’ out, however there are many other ways to show love and make a difference.

    • Gift Cards. A gift of a gift card for a family or our center is a great way to help during the holiday season. Kroger, Target, Walmart, Dollar General, Amazon, Uber/Lyft, etc.
    • Amazon Wish List. We have curated a robust list of needs for our center that range from arts & crafts supplies to classroom toys and games. Visit our donation page for more info.
    • Donate. A financial gift to Fannie Battle Day Home is a great way to make a significant impact on our families. While all families pay tuition, childcare fees and subsidies account for only 50% of our operating budget – our fundraising efforts allow us to fill the gap between those families receiving a scholarship, through our sliding scale, and those paying full-price. Monetary gifts to our organization are tax-deductible. 
    • Tuition Assistance. The holidays can be a financially difficult time and paying a week or two of tuition can put a strain on a family. Contact Melissa for more info.

If you’re interested in giving or have questions, please contact Melissa McWilliams at mmcwilliams@fanniebattle.org or 615.228.6745 x117.

Thank you for your kindness this holiday season.