Boys & Girls Club Family Center: Standing with Students and Families
Update - Since the release of this article, an anonymous donor reached out to Keshawn Dodds, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Family Center and provided financial assistance to two families from the Club during this holiday season.
Dodds expressed that he was “completely blown away” by the generosity of this individual, calling them a “real guardian angel”.
One single mother, on the brink of losing her car, which would have triggered a domino effect of losing her job, house and children, was blessed to have her insurance paid off. This guardian angel also paid to get her car fixed.
A second single mother, who could not afford to purchase the beds for her children to sleep on, was blessed by this same anonymous person who paid for them. The children now have their own beds to sleep in.
“I’m still in shock by the generosity of some people,” Dodds stated in total awe. “The person simply explained that they are ‘blessed to have what they have’ and that they were grateful to be able to help someone else.”
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Springfield, MA - “Nobody expects to experience a global pandemic that cripples a country,” commented Keshawn Dodds, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club Family Center. “I feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders because I’m serving communities and families.” Deep in thought, Dodds reflected on the start of widespread shutdowns at the onset of the current COVID-19 health emergency. He reiterated his commitment to the community, the families served by the center, and the livelihoods of the staff members who keep the Center running.
While schools were closed, Dodds began reading to students virtually, picking up momentum as schools and organizations began sharing the livestream. Then, as community partners came alongside the Center leadership team, plans were developed to keep staff working and the Center transitioned to offering all day virtual school hosting, in addition to its existing before and after school programming.
Dodds spoke with gratitude of the ways that the Springfield community stepped up to ensure that services to students and families continued. He credited the collaborative support of other local community centers, including Dexter Johnson of the YMCA, Ron Johnson of MLK Family Services, and Wes Jackson of the South End Community Center, with sharing essential COVID-19 tips and information about funding opportunities. He proudly recognized the critical efforts undertaken by the Boys & Girls Club Family Center staff, as they transitioned to providing support to students during virtual school which began on Sept. 15th and will be offered until June. He highlighted the work of Egeria, Anfernee and Deshawn, staff members whose commitment to owning their responsibilities at the Center helped to ensure order, safety, and the ongoing operation of the programs offered.
“The center becomes family for some of these students and parents. They depend on us,” Dodds explained. As he went on to reflect on the parents who reached out, worried that they would lose their employment without the Center’s services, that weight of responsibility Dodds first mentioned was almost tangible. “The reality is that there are families that don’t qualify for a voucher, but also don’t make enough to pay the full cost of the full day program. So, we offered scholarships. If spaces filled up, we worked to find space at another center for students.”
While the Boys & Girls Club Family Center has successfully maintained its services, the work is far from over, with COVID-19 numbers continuing to rise and needs for virtual school support remaining crucial. Yet, the Center can’t sustain this work alone. There is a need for ongoing support to ensure that they are equipped to continue to serve Springfield families and communities through and beyond the widespread impact of the current pandemic.
Since March, the Center has allocated $30,000-$40,000 to ensure that there is enough PPE to stay operational. Students have been provided masks and face shields as needed. Noise cancellation headphones have been distributed to students to support focus in their virtual classrooms. Internet bandwidth has been increased and working space and laptops have been made available for students to use. And the implemented safety measures are working – there have been no COVID-19 cases at the Center to date.
Dodds and his staff are leveraging every ounce of their knowledge, talents, expertise, and relationships with the families in the Springfield community to ensure that students are served, mentored, and cared for, during a time when their usual educational environments are not an option. “We’re committed to changing the narrative and making success accessible to youth in our community,” Dodds concluded.
If you are interested in supporting the Boys & Girls Club Family Center located at 100 Acorn Street, Springfield, MA, you can donate here or contact the Center at (413) 739-4743.
Be sure to look out for the Boys & Girls Club Family Center ad displayed on the Stand Out Truck™ throughout the Greater Springfield area.
This profile has been developed as part of the brand awareness campaign for the Boys & Girls Club Family Center, managed by the team at Stand Out Truck ™.
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