NYC Kids RISE is supporting families and neighborhoods facing heightened obstacles because of the COVID-19 pandemic. NYC Kids RISE promotes economic opportunity and equity for New York City public school students by focusing on long-term savings for postsecondary education. As the pandemic continues to transform daily life, NYC Kids RISE has prioritized the basic needs of families and children with a new initiative to address immediate economic challenges.

To address both limited resources and high need across District 30 in Queens, NY, NYC Kids RISE randomly selected 1,500 Save for College Program participating families to receive $150 emergency cash disaster relief gift cards. Another 500 families whose children attend schools in District 30 will also receive gift cards, with the support of a $75,000 grant from the Robin Hood Relief Fund.

Daniel Backman, Chief of Staff at NYC Kids Rise, spoke about the disaster relief cards during Prosperity Now’s virtual conversation on May 14, Connecting Families to Financial Resources and the Changing CSA Funding Landscape. The free gift cards can be used for most emergency-related expenses, including food, utilities, cleaning supplies or internet access to facilitate remote learning. The cards are not subject to taxation and do not require a Social Security number or bank account to use, making them immediately accessible.

NYC Kids RISE has established meaningful partnerships to provide this relief. In a recent article, NYC Kids RISE Executive Director Debra-Ellen Glickstein thanked the Gray Foundation, Robin Hood and Amalgamated Bank for helping make this emergency cash relief available. With many families experiencing financial challenges, even a small contribution can go a long way. “I received my gift card last week and used it on much-need groceries. I write to express my gratitude and thanks,” said a parent from P.S. 76 (William Hallet School) in Long Island City. “As I’m sure many other households are going through the same financial stress from being unemployed due to COVID, being able to buy groceries freely, without an overwhelming concern on budget and finances, was a gift like no other.”

Organizations that run CSAs elsewhere have also increased their efforts to support the financial security and well-being of families. Santa Cruz Community Ventures, which runs the Santa Cruz Seeds CSA program, recently established Undocufund Monterey Bay, a collaborative effort to assist Monterey Bay-area undocumented immigrant workers impacted by COVID-19 through a one-time financial emergency gift. In Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department distributed the Angeleno Card, a no-fee debit card provided to in-need households. As communities continue to come together during the COVID-19 crisis, the urgent response of these organizations has helped address the basic needs of families, while still fulfilling their mission to build savings to support children’s futures.

For the latest updates on the CSA field, and to learn about upcoming CSA events and webinars,   

sign up for the Campaign for Every Kid’s Future and follow us on Twitter @savingsforkids.