OAKLAND — Educators in the Oakland Unified School District have launched a website where people can turn over their federal government stimulus checks to help the district’s undocumented families get by amid the coronavirus crisis.
The move will be officially launched Tuesday.
The website, StimulusPledge.org, allows people to pledge some or all of their stimulus checks toward families who are living here illegally.
Oakland Unified does not officially support the relief effort, according to district spokesman John Sasaki.
The money would be distributed and funneled through the nonprofit Oakland Public Education Fund, which will review local needs, said Anita Iverson-Comelo, principal of Bridges Academy, a key supporter of the effort.
She said Monday that teachers and administrators at eight Oakland school campuses have signed up to support the fund; another 28 are interested.
There are 119 schools in the Oakland district, which has about 37,0000 students.
“As principals, we know there is a huge need in the community. Everyone is struggling, but undocumented families receive the least support and are particularly vulnerable. StimulusPledge.org has created an opportunity not only for educators, but also the larger community to come together and help our hardworking undocumented families,” Emerson Elementary School Principal Heather Palin said.
To donate money, go to https://stimuluspledge.org.
