Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | Book of Lists 2021 | wbjournal.com A D V E R T I S E M E N T F or the last 130+ years, the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester has served the critical needs of children between the ages of 5 and 18. With sites at Plumley Village, Great Brook Valley, and the Main South neighborhood of Worcester, the non-profit traditionally provides programs and services to more than 8,000 youth annually. But in 2020, those critical services were in jeopardy as the COVID-19 pandemic raced through the country, forcing business closures, school lockdowns and a general halt to everyday life. Facing a dilemma – whether to shut down or apply to become an emergency child-care site – the Boys & Girls Club chose the latter. According to Executive Director Liz Hamilton, remaining open would ensure that members and their families could find resources, child-care and support during an unprecedented time. The organization partnered with other agencies creating a consortium capable of serving 610+ children from infancy to 14 years of age. This collaboration enabled first responders, hospital employees and essential workers to continue working while their children were cared for in a safe place at no cost. Their free programming continued in the summer with other partners and created a city-wide virtual program, "Summer Together," which included a babysitting certification program for tweens and young teens. The Club also offered daily home wellness visits and educational activities to 130 children in the Great Brook Valley housing development. In the fall of 2020, the Boys & Girls Club created free learning hubs to ensure kids would not be left home alone without support. Students had access to Wi-Fi on-site so they could attend their virtual classes in a safe environment. Additionally, the organization gave away 250 laptops, tablets and school supplies to Worcester children, both members and non-members, to provide a connection to their virtual classrooms and to the outside world. Throughout the pandemic, the Club offered counseling and mentoring for those isolated at home and addressed food inequities by serving approximately 250 families a week with food boxes and free produce. The Boys & Girls Club also provided "Grab & Go" lunches, which included breakfast for the next day, as well as school and art supplies, available at all three sites. Now that the pandemic is receding and society is slowly reopening, the Boys & Girls Club continues to meet the needs of the city's youth by addressing unfinished learning and providing wrap-around support through fun educational programs, mentoring and social-emotional learning. The organization is launching new programs this fall with a three- season outdoor STEM classroom & the Mentor Connection Program. The Mentor Connection Program will kick off in October, with Club members paired with volunteers from the business and college community. The Club invites community members to consider joining and becoming a mentor in the Mentor Connection Program. Hamilton believes that the lessons learned during this trying time have taught us the importance of having all community members at the table. She asserted that post- pandemic life cannot return to "business as usual." Rather, everyone must work together to ensure that all members of the community have an equal voice and access to basic needs, including education, physical and mental health care, food and housing. n Boys & Girls Club of Worcester: Taking the lead during the pandemic Street Address: 65 Boys & Girls Club Way, Worcester, MA Phone Number: 508-754-2686 Website: www.bgcworcester.org Product or Service Description: Youth Services Number of Employees: 49 Head of Company and Title: Liz Hamilton, Executive Director Year Founded: 1889 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF WORCESTER P H O T O S / B O Y S & G I R L S C L U B

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