The community partners at New Chelsea Elementary have worked tirelessly to assist the school’s families that have lost jobs or had their hours cut. Caring for New Chelsea families during the pandemic is one of the school’s goals this school year. “We want to assist in helping their household income go further – assisting with food, all types of hygiene products, for male and female,” said Ms. Charlesetta Jackson, Family School Liaison.

The partnership also provided holiday food items and gifts for any families in need. “We have had 72 turkeys donated for Thanksgiving, at Christmas we had 50 hams donated. We have had $650 donated in gift cards for Christmas, and $500 in gift cards for Thanksgiving,” she said. “And we also had $6,000 doanted for Christmas for presents.”

Partners involved include Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Church of God in Christ, Triage Center, Alive and Thrive, and Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church.

Ms. Jackson said they want to “meet the total man/woman where they are, whatever the need might be.” She added, “One lady said before they became a partner for New Chelsea, ‘it is just something about you, and I want to partner with New Chelsea.'”