What is the Extended Family Services Program? The Extended Family Services Program assists families from our school community who struggle to meet their most basic needs for safe, stable housing, warmth in the winter, and sufficient, nutritious food. The Extended Family Services program (EFS) helps families in crisis by providing food and clothing and referrals to appropriate community services, and can offer limited emergency cash assistance to help prevent utility shut-off and/or housing eviction. The ultimate goal of EFS is to maximize needy children’s readiness to learn, by helping minimize the stress caused by economic deprivation and by preventing disruptions in education caused by chronic and cyclical homelessness.
A word to families who would like to give help: The school’s Clothing and Food Bank, managed by EFS, always needs donations. If you would like to donate, we accept healthy, non-perishable food items, clothing sized for schoolaged children, and toiletry items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and shampoo. Please bring all items for donation to the front office. You may also, of course, make an earmarked donation to the Extended Family Services program. (Checks should be made payable to Monte Vista Elementary School, with “EFS” specified on the memo line.) Your donation is tax-deductible, and receipts are available upon request. Donated money will be used to help the families of children at our school meet basic and emergent needs. Thank you for your continued generosity!It makes a big difference for our community and for the families needing help.
A word to families needing help: If you have or may soon have an eviction or utility shut-off notice or another financial crisis, or if you would like help accessing clothing and food banks and other community services and resources, please consult with Stella Krauss, our school counselor. All help will be given confidentially and respectfully. If you need only to access the clothing or food bank located in our school, please ask your child’s teacher.