Responding to COVID-19 in Louisiana.
Louisiana Needs Our Clubs.
Today, youth in Louisiana need their Boys & Girls Club more than ever. The rapid, ongoing spread of COVID-19 has created uncertain and frightening times for the kids and families we serve. Exposed to empty shelves in grocery stores and a 24-hour news cycle full of mounting upsetting news, the anxiety felt by youth is overwhelming. School closures, though an appropriate measure to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, left many families in a difficult situation. Kids across Louisiana rely on government subsidized school meals — sometimes the only meals they can count on daily. While schools are making every effort to deliver quality online academic programming, for the youth we serve, internet access is not guaranteed. This makes the risk of backsliding in critical academic subjects likely. Now that Clubs have re-opened, Club staff are working hard to provide both virtual and socially distanced in-person programing to support the educational needs of Louisiana Youth.
How Our Clubs Are Helping.
The History.
Boys & Girls Clubs in Louisiana have always played an important role in our communities, adapting and evolving to support kids and families through the most challenging of circumstances like the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the Great Recession and Hurricane Katrina. Now, we must harness the power of our reputation, strength of our relationships in the community and tremendous experience serving at-risk populations to navigate the onset and evolving nature of COVID-19.
The Movement.
As a national Movement, 150 Club organizations across 400 communities in America are providing meals and, in some cases, lending support to families of first responder, military, National Guard, military reserve and healthcare workers. To support the youth and families of Louisiana, across the state, Clubs provided engaging activities for children while schools were shut down, provided hot meals where needed and strengthened summer programs to offset academic losses from early school shutdowns, all while continuing to employ part-time staff during Club closures. Now our Club organizations are working hard to stay open and keep youth healthy during this pandemic.
Supporting Safe, Resilient Communities
Your generous support will immediately ensure Louisiana’s Boys & Girls Clubs can continue critical COVID-19 response work. Together, we will provide immediate and near-term relief efforts:
Provide hot meals where local resources are not available
Provide materials and activities for youth at home and in club
Maintain sanitization of facilities
Strengthen summer programs to offset academic losses from early school shut downs
Retain staff and revamp programs to meet safety guidelines
Fundraising Challenges
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented fundraising challenges. Typically, we rely on a diverse revenue portfolio of government and foundation grants, corporate sponsorships and individual donors. Unfortunately, in the interest of public health, we have had to suspend fundraising events, which are critical for individual donations and corporate sponsorships. The financial impact of those cancellations alone will be significant. Additionally, we are bracing ourselves for a decrease in donations from corporations and small businesses, which may be significantly impacted by the economic realities of the pandemic.
Support Our Efforts.
As Louisiana’s most vulnerable kids and families face challenges with food insecurity, financial instability, mental health, social distancing and homeschool, Boys & Girls Clubs in Louisiana have stepped up to fill the gap. We need your support, now more than ever.
Clubs & Social Distancing
During this time of social distancing, we are surveying Club member families where possible to assess needs and accessibility. Clubs are keeping staff intact to stay in contact with families throughout this crisis. We have established and maintained an enhanced, communications platform for all Clubs to easily connect with parents. Assistance is available for Club families to ensure they have the tools necessary to connect virtually and in person. Hot meals are provided where local resources are not available.
Together, we are working to retain staff and maintain facilities for all Clubs in Louisiana. This COVID-19 crisis has taught us that our Clubs should be Virtual-Ready. Our goal at this time is to be ready for whatever the immediate future holds whether that is reaching our Club Kids and Teens at one of our Clubs or on a virtual platform. Read more about our approach HERE.
Masks & Mardi Gras.
Check out how the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Louisiana and Greater Baton Rouge kept Mardi Gras traditions alive while maintaining social distancing guidelines set by the CDC. Let’s just say Friday’s have never been sweeter.
Club COVID-19 Responses.
Greater Baton Rouge.
At the start of the pandemic Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Baton Rouge created a “Club on the Geaux” that included a scavenger hunt app, a downloadable activity book, daily interactive Facebook posts and Live Streaming activities.
Acadiana.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana continues to doing everything possible to keep children, staff, and volunteers protected from its spread. They provide helpful information on how to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, and developed learning packets by grade. Check it out their new Acadiana Club at Home HERE!
North Louisiana.
Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana is keeping their Facebook page up to date with daily interactive posts. Each day has a fun activity, challenge or reminder for living a healthy lifestyle and staying mentally fit. Scroll through their page to find out more!