In April 2020, Superintendent Mike Eiffe and the Chittenango Central School District started a program called “Bear Care.” With an initial $10K grant from a Character Education partner, Wisdom Thinkers and the Fetzer Foundation, this program has expanded significantly thanks to the generosity of school employees, residents, and the Rotary Club of Chittenango Foundation.
“Bear Care” program funds are spent entirely in support of local families and residents who have experienced sudden and extreme financial changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Designed to assist those who live within the Chittenango Central School District, the program has helped soften the blow for families who lost income due to job cuts or need to remain home to care for school-age children, as well as seniors who can no longer work based on the risk of COVID exposure or find themselves facing other serious challenges.
 
“Bear Care” has also helped provide high-speed internet connections to school-age kids so they can participate in remote learning, and partnered with local businesses to provide food for area families.
 
As the virus continues to impact our community, it’s more important than ever to support children, families and residents in the Town of Sullivan. Like many organizations, the Rotary Club of Chittenango’s traditional fundraising programs have been seriously impaired by the pandemic. But despite the challenges, we couldn’t ignore the needs in our community.
 
In 2020, Chittenango Rotarians were proud to donate $3,000 to “Bear Care.” Last month, club members donated an additional $3,000 to help support 185 local families — for a combined total of $6,000 in support of local families.
 
READY TO GET INVOLVED? If you’re interested in donating to Chittenango School District’s “Bear Care” program, contact Chittenango Central Schools.