Page 3 - 2020_CFS_AnnualReport

DEAR FRIENDS
I have long considered the work of Children’s Friend to be a lifeline to those we serve. The work of our staff in support of the youngest and most vulnerable children in Rhode Island certainly meets the definition of a lifeline. Our services do save lives and do create better lives for those we serve.
The COVID-19 pandemic of the last year has enhanced and expanded my understanding of lifelines, our work, and our community.
Almost immediately as the impacts of the pandemic began to set in, families we serve experienced serious food insecurity. This literally meant they did not have food to feed their families. On a daily basis, in the midst of the chaos and unknowns, our staff and supporters jumped into action. For over six weeks the staff of Children’s Friend delivered over 100 meals each day to kids and families in need.
As the pandemic made it unsafe for Children’s Friend to provide services in-person with our kids and families, technology became a lifeline for how we connected with one another. Email, video chats, text, phone, and social media among other means allowed us to connect, communicate, and share information with each other. Thankfully, so much of our work was able to continue in a virtual way.
As our fee-for-service revenue and billings instantly disappeared and were drastically
decreased, our community became a lifeline to us. So many of our individual and corporate friends and partners stepped up to provide support for our response to our kids and families. On a larger scale, The Rhode Island Foundation and the United Way of Rhode Island harnessed their goodwill statewide to raise and distribute millions to agencies such as Children’s Friend, to continue our response to the pandemic.
This past year has been full of challenges. It has also been full of lifelines. Lifelines that we provide to those in need, and lifelines that others provide to us in our times of need. I certainly have a new understanding of and appreciation for lifelines. Both providing life- lines when able, and receiving lifelines when needed, help to make our community stron- ger and better.
Thank you for being a lifeline to Children’s Friend and to those we serve.
Sincerely,
David Caprio
President and Chief Executive Officer
2020 ANNUAL REPORT [ 3 ]