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LOTUS BLOOM LAUNCHES FUND FOR FAMILIES

Lotus Bloom’s goal is to address the needs elevated by families in Oakland communities due to the COVID-19 crisis. The RAPID RESPONSE FUND is designed to aid families in their effort to make payments such as rent, food purchases, health bills and more.

Thanks to the generous partnership of First 5 Alameda County, Sunlight Giving, and the Trio Foundation, Lotus Bloom will be making a total of $30,000.00 in funds available to families experiencing hardship due to job loss or immigration status, and other impacts of the shelter in place order and COVID-19.

Our goal is to provide $100 to 300 families initially, with the vision of expanding the fund to sustain engagement and support. 

Even as the state opens up again, not everyone is on a level playing field to return to 'normal life'. That's why this support is so essential.
- Lotus Bloom Board Member

It was a Lotus Bloom Board Member who put it best, saying, "Even as the state opens up again, not everyone is on a level playing field to return to 'normal life'. That's why this support is so essential..." 

If there's anything we have learned from living through a global pandemic together, it is that underserved families continue to be left behind in the collective effort to preserve the health, safety and security of communities locally and globally.

Black community members are shown to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19, which speaks to a much larger inequity in our health care and social systems. This illumination of an unjust system has only been made more challenging by the persistence of racist civilian and police brutality against Black people resulting in the untimely and unjust deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd. 

Undocumented community members were not eligible for the first round of funding through the Federally-passed stimulus package, yet nearly 1 in 10 California workers are undocumented immigrants.  

Amidst the headlines there are additional voices going unheard including families caring for adults and children who are in need of consistent and  intensive support from impacted Regional Centers (2015), as access to care has been dwindling for years.  

And workers who hold an "essential" status are in deep need of relief, as they face financial strain amidst an incredibly physically and emotionally taxing point in their careers. 

From the very beginning, Lotus Bloom has stood on the principles that consistent, relationship-centered, strengths based and long term engagement are key to successfully supporting communities as they lead the way toward meaningful and impactful change. This is the heart behind the Rapid Response Fund - to get capital into the hands of those who need it most so they can be empowered leaders in the support of their families, and communities. 

We at Lotus Bloom hold a positive vision for Oakland neighborhoods on the other side of this crisis alongside our community partners, donors and participant families in our programs, that every child will have a strong start in life. This vision begins with parents and caregivers having the space and opportunity to find their own voice in building strong families, which in turn creates and sustains healthy communities. 

If you want to get involved in supporting the fund, you can make a gift to Lotus Bloom on our Giving Page. 

​To find out more about the Lotus Bloom Rapid Response Fund application, reach us by email at  rrfund@lotusbloomfamily.org