Whatever It Takes

September 2020

Whatever It Takes

By Douglas Eagles, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County

“Whatever It Takes: Forging a New Way Forward at the Boys & Girls Club”

At the beginning of the year I communicated to my staff that the guiding phrase for all of us over the next 12 months would be “Whatever It Takes.” Each of us was to always remember, day in and day out, that we will do whatever it takes to reach and positively impact the young people we serve. Little did I know then how critically important the motto would become as the year unfolded. From a global pandemic and a cratering economy to social upheaval around racial injustice, the challenges of staying connected and providing critical support to Club kids was more important, and more difficult, than ever before.

The onset of the pandemic in our area forced us to close our Clubs to kids on March 17th. Within two days, we had set up a grab-and-go food distribution system at our Red Bank and Asbury Park locations. Within a week we had transitioned the majority of our Club programs to BGCM Boundless, an online platform we set up to ensure we could continue to stay connected with our Club members. By the beginning of summer we had distributed over 15,000 meals and had over 150 kids enrolled and participating in daily programming. We were providing everything from tutoring and homework help, our Y-Media Talk Show program, group mentoring, yoga, Healthy Habits, to a host of other critical programs that ensured our Club kids would remain connected to both their peers and a group of caring adults. We literally did whatever it took to be there for them. In accordance with guidance from the Department of Health, we successfully launched a limited, in person summer camp at the beginning of July. For eight weeks, we ran an engaging summer program with an emphasis on providing social and emotional support, along with academic help. Hearing the kids’ laughter and watching them have fun, playing games, and being “normal” in these unprecedented times was pure joy for me!

With the school year upon us, the radical uncertainty persists and we forge forward, doing whatever it takes to be there for our kids. Starting in early September, we’re launching our Remote Learning Centers in both Red Bank and Asbury Park. Providing a safe place for our members to do their virtual schooling, the Remote Learning Centers will ensure that parents don’t have to make the gut-wrenching choice between going to work and helping their kids with school. The Club will be there to ensure that kids log on, stay focused, and get the support they need.

Whatever It Takes. Living that motto out has required innovation, creativity, and deep perseverance and commitment to serve in the face of a pandemic, racial injustice, and a cratering economy. It also requires an enormous amount of support. This fall we will be operating at 150% of our normal operating budget. Now, more than ever, we need the community throughout Monmouth County to partner with us in doing whatever it takes to make sure the most vulnerable among us are taken care of. I hope you’ll join us by making a financial contribution to support our work. Our kids need you.

Donate here: https://bgcmc.ejoinme.org/whateverittakes