Reponding to COVID-19

Grace Hill has been serving the St. Louis community for over 100 years. As a frontline service provider we have weathered the Great Depression, two World Wars, and a Cubs World Series. As Grace Hill examines how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our communities and those we serve, Grace Hill has been forced to shift and pivot in ways we did not anticipate just 30 days ago.

Through this one thing is clear. There is still a great need within our community for the services that Grace Hill provides. Now more than ever there is a need to assist individuals, families and communities as they struggle to remain strong and healthy.

To that end, Grace Hill is responding in the following way:

Family Support Program

One of our most vital programs in a time of crisis is our Family Support Program, there to provide material assistance to the families we serve in a time of crisis. We do this through Rent and Utility assistance, providing vouchers for food, diapers and other essentials and through our Food Pantry at our Patch location. These services have seen an increased demand over the last two weeks which we anticipate willl grow over time. For more info please contact your program’s Family Mentor or Program Coordinator,
Jeff Hendred: jhendred@gracehillsettlement.org

Head Start

Our own students were just about to return from Spring Break when we received the Mayor’s order to close all child care centers. Unable to meet in person, our Head Start staff have been busy creating Google classrooms to keep children engaged. In consultation with the Office of Head Start, staff continue to provide support to our enrolled children and families. This ensures children continue to receive nutritious meals, and that child development and learning experiences and family engagement continue.

Women’s Business Center

The Women’s Business Center remains available to support you and your small business! While the physical office is closed, the staff are still offering 1:1 counseling, and have moved all scheduled trainings and workshops online. Updated schedule of offering can be found here:https://www.gracehillwbc.org/events/

Community School Partnership

The Community School Partnership program has made some of the most dramatic changes as they pivot to meet the needs of the children and families served. With schools being closed indefinitely, we can no longer place our Family Mentors (case workers) on site at school buildings. Instead, our Mentors are making daily calls checking on students and families, providing resources and referrals for services, as well as basic information and guidance.

Patch Senior Center

The order against large groups has necessitated that our Patch Senior Center to suspend its congregate meals program.  We are continuing to serve the community through our Food Pantry, Commodity Boxes and Bus Pass Program at Patch.

At this stage, it is still too early to tell for how much longer COVID-19 will continue to impact our day-to-day lives. Regardless of this, know that Grace Hill continues to do what we do best. Despite these disruptions, Grace Hill will continue to sustain programs that help individuals, families, and communities to grow stronger, healthier, and more self-reliant.

Click button below to find United Way 2-1-1 resources to related to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

United Way 2-1-1

Click link below for COVID-19 updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.