Hi everyone, this is my first time posting. Hopefully, this is an appropriate category for my question.

I am a PTO co-president at an elementary school in the Seattle area. We are in the region considered the epicenter for the COVID-19 virus, and as I type this, I'm getting alerts that our school district and the districts surrounding us will be closing to stop the spread of the virus in our communities. I'm hearing that we will be closed for 4-6 weeks, starting next week.

We're already starting to see impacts across our region, between the pressures of the schools that have already closed, layoffs/income loss, strain on our healthcare and human services systems, etc. Many families at our school were already struggling (we have a 50% free and reduced lunch rate) and these developments will only make things harder.

My question is this: do any of you have any experience with or ideas for PTOs offering creative support to their school communities during a time of extended closure, especially where groups of people cannot safely come together? Strategies to help with basic needs/food access, childcare, kid engagement and learning while home are some of the main things on my mind, but I would welcome any ideas or guidance.

Thanks for any help,

Alicia