Following the announcement from Governor Wolf that all Pennsylvania schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, Olivet Boys and Girls Club President and CEO, Chris Winters, has stated that the Olivet Boys & Girls Club will continue serving the community throughout this pandemic.
“We have been distributing Grab & Go dinner meals for the youth of Reading and Berks County, and weekly 20-pound pantry boxes since March 19th and we don’t intend to stop. Unfortunately, the need for food in our community is growing as we deal with this crisis,” said Winters.
Partnering with several other non-profits including Helping Harvest, Reading Recreation Commission and Centro Hispano, Winters graciously expressed how our community partners have come together for the greater good.
“We are all at the ready to do whatever it takes to help the people in our neighborhoods who are struggling. With a combined effort, we can be more efficient with our resources, and in the end, together, we can help more people”, said Winters.
Olivet Boys & Girls Club in not stopping there. This week Olivet kicked off Virtual Programming through their Facebook and Instagram pages. Their hope is to engage all kids in Berks County with something a little different than what they might be getting from their local school districts.
With some easy cooking lessons, a little STEM and some sports challenges, Kat Royer, VP of Programming said, “This is a great opportunity for our Directors and staff to engage the kids they miss seeing in their clubs every day. For many kids, Olivet is like a second home to them and we want them to know we are still here.”
“When this is all over, we will be welcoming our Olivet Boys and Girls back with open arms. We can’t wait!” said Royer.
While the future of the Covid-19 pandemic is up in the air, Olivet will not be able to resume their normal activities until Governor Wolf lifts his disaster declaration. Winters had one message to share to the children and families of Greater Reading…
“Our motto has always been, ‘Whatever It Takes’, and we will do just that. The safety and well-being of our kids has always been at the forefront of our decision-making and we will do whatever it takes to help them get through this. We are all in this together.”
