Immediately upon announcing the shelter-in-place order in San Francisco, the City named us an essential business. We initially kept seven Clubs open before reducing to four—Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Sunnydale, and our Columbia Park Clubhouse in the Mission (this Club was open 13 hours per day to meet the needs of hospital workers, other emergency-services workers, and essential City workers).
On June 15, as the City instituted Phase One reopening, we started our summer program, expanding our services to ten locations for in-Club services and eight locations for virtual programming.
As our nation confronts racial injustice, our High School Services team has engaged with 236 youth virtually in various leadership programs, providing them a forum to amplify and activate their perspectives and find opportunities to lead. The Education team has been focused on reducing summer learning loss by providing virtual and in-Club academic support including but not limited to literacy and STEM enrichment programs.
Looking Ahead
As we prepare for the new school year with no signs of the health crisis abating, our team is gearing up for more frontline services. The disproportionate impact of this pandemic on people of color shines a light on the complex, often multi-generational challenges that our families face. BGCSF remains resolute in standing on the side of the kids and families who needs us most. Our plan is to keep ten sites open while continuing to offer virtual services at no less than eight locations.
We are grateful that you have stood by our side throughout this long and protracted crisis, helping us EMERGE STRONG - and we hope you will continue to stay with us. These are challenging times for everyone, but more than ever, the Club is a beacon of hope for kids and families.