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THE CLUB RELIES ON OUR COMMUNITY, OUR COMMUNITY RELIES ON US.
The Boys & Girls Club relies on a combination of grants, as well as corporate and private donations to serve more than 14,000 kids annually in the Truckee Meadows. The nominal fees the Club charges – annual $20 memberships, field trip fees, etc. – don’t touch the “real cost” of providing these critical services.
So each year, the Club reaches out to the community to ask for its support. The “It Just Takes One” campaign is part of the fabric of the more than 4,300 Boys & Girls Clubs worldwide, a call out to our communities to recognize the good the Club does and to help contribute to its success.
Since the start of the COVID-19 Outbreak in March, we’ve been doing whatever it takes to help our local youth, our communities, and our city’s essential, front-line workers.
This has meant providing a safe, stable place for the children of essential workers to come while schools were closed and while their parents were working on the front lines. It’s meant providing food and other essentials for families in need. And it’s meant keeping as many of our staff members employed and doing what they do best – doing whatever it takes to help our young people reach their full potential, even under the toughest of circumstances.
HOW WE HELPED, BY THE NUMBERS
59,607 GRAB N’ GO MEALS SERVED
For many of our families, putting food on the table can be a challenge, even during the best of times. Once schools and businesses closed, we did whatever we could to help feed families in need and assure they had the essentials they needed for home.
We served “Grab and Go” breakfast and lunch meals out of our five main sites. Those in need would simply drive up to the entrance of one of our sites and request the number of meals needed to feed any child or youth up to age 18.
1,080 BOXES OF FOOD PANTRY TAKE-HOME GROCERIES & GOODS
As a response to the growing scarcity of resources affecting so many of the families we serve, our Family Food Pantry Program provided essential items to entire families. This discreet program was a lifesaver for many who were financially affected by workplace closures and layoffs. One box equals meals for seven days for four people. This has fed over 300 families and provided over 90,000 meals.
353 CHILDREN OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS ATTENDED THE CLUB BETWEEN MARCH 23-JUNE 1
With schools closed, our region’s essential workers faced a dilemma: how could they could do their jobs but also find care for their children. We stepped up and opened our two main clubhouses to give the children of healthcare and other essential frontline workers a safe, stable environment to come to every day.
9-1 RATIO OF KIDS TO STAFF
To assure for the safety of the kids and all those they would go home to, we kept a strict ratio of staff to kids. They were separated into single spaces to prevent cross-contamination. We also enhanced and increased cleaning and started using a cleaning service that sprays a safe, but effective chemical that kills all viruses and germs on contact. A typical operation ratio is 20-1 but with CDC social distancing requirements, we had to follow a 9-1 ratio March-June 1. We now operate at a 14-1 ratio.
275 STAFF CREATED VIDEOS
Our members depend on the Club for food, safety, homework help, mentorship, fun and so much more. Limiting our capacities due to COVID has meant that there are thousands of kids who are feeling that void. Our staff wanted to find ways to reach those kids in their homes and help provide a sense of normalcy and fun. So they made videos! These videos are posted on our Club YouTube Page, ThePositivePlace, and give our members to opportunity to connect even when they can’t be with their friends at the Club.
1,246 ZOOM HEALTH & WELLNESS CHECK-IN CALLS
We know our families and their challenges in life. It was a priority of ours to reach out and make contact with those families, check in on their wellbeing, and make sure they were aware of our meal and video resources.
340 STAFF MEMBERS EMPLOYED DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK PROGRAMMING
It was important to our organization to support our trained and caring staff during this time of such uncertainty. Our staff is invaluable. They’re teachers, mentors, and friends to our members. Our staff members lived by the mantra “whatever it takes” each day for our members.
202,707 CLUBE HOUSE AND EARLY LEARNING CENTER MEALS SERVED
Many of our members rely on the Club for their main source of food. Offering food as a part of our program is one of the most important offerings and is a point of distinction amongst other out -of-school providers. Studies show that malnutrition can lead to behavior problems and limit a child’s ability to concentrate. We proudly offer well-rounded, nutritious meals to our members at no additional cost. It is our goal to promote healthy eating and brain function, even during a pandemic.
