Cuts to SNAP and local school budgets are leaving too many Chicago families hungry. But our communities have never waited for rescue.
This Giving Tuesday, the Children & Teachers Foundation of the Chicago Teachers Union is stepping up to fill the gap, providing grocery gift cards to families at schools with the greatest need.
This isn’t charity. It’s solidarity. Together, we’ll make sure every child shows up to class nourished, ready to learn, and cared for.
The Student Special Assistance Fund (SSAF) was created over 50 years ago to address the immediate needs of students who attend Chicago’s public schools (CPS). Nearly 75 percent of CPS students are from low-income families, and over 17,000 students attending CPS are homeless. To help reduce the degradation brought on by a lack of necessities, CPS teachers identify students who require eyeglasses, hearing aids, and clothing and submit an application for resources on their behalf.