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#GivingTuesdayNow is a new global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

The work Smart Start of Mecklenburg County does everyday impacts the 85,000 children ages 0-5 in our community. Our Child Care Provider COVID-19 Relief Fund has been created to help our child care community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. These funds will provide child care centers the resources to purchase supplies needed to either re-open or remain open, allowing essential workers to keep working.

Unlike public schools, most childcare centers are small businesses. If these facilities that families depend on close one thing is certain: North Carolina can't go back to work if our child care industry doesn't have the financial support it needs to reopen. We consider child care teachers as the workforce behind the workforce. The COVID-19 crisis underscores just how essential child care is the state's health care, emergency responders and other essential workers that keep our communities safe. 

While the federal, state and local government have made recommendations about how to best protect school-aged children, there has been no official mandate or executive order about what to do about childcare centers. According to DHHS , 55% of the state's childcare centers that serve babies through age 5 have already closed their doors.

Your donation today directly helps early childhood educators and workers care for the children of essential workers while we "shelter at home."  Together we can help child care educators that are serving local children and families. 

 #GivingTuesdayNow brings us together to create a wave of generosity, citizen engagement,  philanthropy, and support for our community. We invite you share our efforts on social media with hashtag #GivingTuesdayNow and inspire others to give together even when we're apart.