How Clubs Have Served our Communities This Year

2020 has been a year of many changes. It has also been a time of great need in our community, across our country, and around the world.

This March, in line with guidance from Governor Brown and the state, Boys & Girls Clubs of Portland Metro temporarily suspended in-person programming for youth. Thanks to our incredible staff, volunteers, community partners, generous donations, and help from the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan, we were able to immediately pivot to providing take-home meals, hygiene and household supplies, virtual programming and free counseling support for families.

We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has invested in and provided support for our community as we work to adapt to and overcome increasing food and job insecurity, learning challenges and educational disparities, trauma, and great uncertainty. While our service delivery model has changed, our support for youth and families has never wavered.

Our Impact Since March 2020

Food donations for distribution at Rockwood Club in Gresham

60,000

meals and snacks distributed

715

families connected with

Rockwood Books SMART donation

300+

virtual activities compiled by staff

400

boxes of youth activity supplies

COVID 19 Live chat with youth during food services Inukai

131

hours of virtual counseling

500+

remote counseling touchpoints

COVID19 Food Distribution Rockwood

360

youth and teens engaged remotely

85

teen engagements through YouthForce

Safe, Supportive Summer

Three of our Clubs, Inukai Family Club in Hillsboro, Rockwood in Gresham, and Wattles in Southeast Portland, reopened with limited capacity following state guidelines for a July and August summer program.

With safety of our youth, staff, and families as our number one priority, we created an extensive COVID-19 safety manual, made masks available for youth, teens, and staff, and implemented check in procedures that ensure staff and youth are not showing symptoms before entering the Club. Social distancing and CDC health guidelines and procedures are prominently displayed and strictly followed at each site.

Inukai teen in art room, summer 2020

Rockwood Arts and Crafts

Club youth have loved being back at the Club, and our staff has been excited to see all their familiar faces! Whether it’s been in the art room, playing games, or running through obstacle courses, kids have been exercising their bodies and brains and building new skills.

Teen members have connected virtually for games between Clubs, participated in socially distanced dance parties, created vinyl artwork, worked on musical compositions, and played kickball, among other fun, themed activities. Incoming high school freshman have participated in the ninth grade counts program, which prepares rising 8th graders for a head start on high school.

Regence, Rockwood, and the Inukai Family Club will continue to distribute weekly pick-up meals for families in their communities through the end of summer session. Clubs are continuing to work with schools to identify how to best support our students and communities as we head into the 2020-21 school year.