To All of Our Supporters,

Usually, below would be an update on some families we have been helping since our last report in February.  We’d tell you about a few families that your generosity has helped over the last few months.  A LOT has changed in the world since we sent our last update to you and we thought this update should be a little different. 

As we’ve noted in previous communications to you, we rely heavily on our partnerships with social workers at area hospitals.  As the spread of coronavirus moved closer to all of us and Pennsylvania began to enact measures to stop the spread of the pandemic, the amount of communications from area hospitals drastically reduced.  Our social work partners were eerily quiet for more than a week.  We assumed they, like all of us, were trying to make accommodations to deal with our temporary new normal.  We continued to send out checks to pay bills for which we had already committed and assured our partners in the hospitals we were available to help.

Now, several weeks into our Stay at Home situations, we’re connected again with the social workers with whom we most often work.  Some of these health care professionals, like us, are working from home.  We’ve had more than a few new referrals in the last several days.  We’ve also received several requests to continue assisting some families we’re already helping because of additional lost wages the Stay at Home orders have caused.  A social worker at one of the hospitals told us she was relieved to hear we were still functioning since many of her other resources have ceased operations during this time. 

Virtually all of the children whose families we assist are immunocompromised because of their oncology treatments.  A parent who may have been able to work while their child was receiving treatment may now question their ability to do so, depending on their exposure in their work environment.  Some of these parents have been instructed by their child’s doctors to stay at home to minimize exposure.  All of these factors will probably increase the need for additional financial assistance for the families we serve.

We’re happy to report we’re operating as we always have.  With your continued help we can provide for the families who need us during this trying time.  How long this health crisis will continue is unknown.  Also unknown at this time, is the feasibility of our major fundraiser, the Jeff Musser Golf Classic, scheduled for June 24, 2020.  We expect to make a decision about the event in a few weeks.  In the meantime, it’s business as usual.  As always, we thank you for your continued support and encouragement.  Together, we’ll come through this stronger than ever!

Sincerely,    

The Board and Volunteers of the Jeff Musser Foundation