Director’s Report from CEO Eldonta Osborne amid COVID-19

It is safe to say the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we all think, act, and operate. When schools shut down on March 13, the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana was forced to shut down as well.

Though we barely were able to say goodbye to our members, our thoughts continue to be with them and we miss them every day. Our doors may be closed, but our servant's hearts continue to be open.

Our staff has found ways to continue to help the communities we live in and those that surround it. Our seven clubs within the North Louisiana umbrella would not be where they are today without that same type of support from our community members and local businesses.

Since March 13, here is a snapshot of what we have been doing as we anxiously await the day we can be reunited with our members.

• Staff completed training on sanitizing all Clubs per EPA protocol before re-opening to members

• Spent 72 hours volunteering with the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, packing approximately 700 meal boxes

• Partnered with Lincoln Parish School Board to provide 1,200 meals to out-of-school youth during Spring Break week

• Partnered with Pine Belt in Jonesboro to provide 2,484 meals to out-of-school youth

• Partnered with Lincoln Community Foundation to provide 1,750 meals to out-of-school youth

• Volunteered 168 hours at Rays of Sonshine packing food for more than 2,000 meals and providing community members with food pantry items

• Funding from Lincoln Health Foundation assisted in enabling the Summer Food Service Program to provide 13,089 meals in Lincoln Parish since mid-April

• Providing 160 members enrichment packets every other week, along with some virtual programming