MV Boys & Girls Club
Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club, with the backing of MVYouth, has been a pillar of support for the local community, overcoming challenges and evolving to meet its members' needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club provided a safe haven for its members, offering routine amidst the turmoil. Post-pandemic, the Club is addressing economic instability and the social-emotional health of members, acknowledging the mental toll of the pandemic on young people. Efforts to bridge learning gaps caused by disrupted education are also underway. To mitigate food insecurity worsened by the pandemic, the Club broadened its food security program, including the Blue Door Pantry. This initiative provides food, hygiene products, and essential clothing to families, recognizing their basic needs. Understanding the importance of mental health, the Club has hired a youth mental health counselor to support and guide members and families. Moreover, the Club is focusing on enhancing academic success in math and science, implementing remediation efforts to support its members. The Club's out-of-school time learning programs have been vital for the educational progress of island youth, providing additional learning opportunities. This ensures the youth of Martha's Vineyard can reach their full academic potential.
MV Boys & Girls Club
Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club continues leveraging the critical support MVYouth provides to respond to the emergent needs of members and their families. Our ability to maintain operations during the height of COVID ensured our members-maintained access to a safe and secure environment with caring and trusting adults. Post-Covid, the Club has introduced a range of resources to address economic uncertainty, social-emotional health and wellness, and significant learning gaps impacting many of the island youth we serve. The Club has expanded its food security program to include weekend and school vacation packaged meals for members and families. The Club also offers daily fresh produce, dairy, bread, dry goods, and other food items, which help combat barriers to accessing quality and nutritious foods due to rising costs. This effort to address food insecurity among Island youth and families also led to the launch of our Blue Door Pantry, which provides members and families access to perishable and non-perishable food, hygiene products, and essential wear. The Blue Door Pantry is open two days a week for members and families. Local grocer Cronig's Market, local farms and organizations like Island Grown Initiative and Slough Farm are a few community partners involved in this effort.
Addressing the emotional health of our members has been at the forefront of our work over the past year. To this end, the Club has contracted with a youth mental health counselor to provide members and families with access to therapeutic services and support resources at no cost. The Club has also focused on remediation efforts in math and science. Two content areas are early indicators of a young person's long-term academic success. First, by providing educational enrichment opportunities, the Club supports members by staying on par with their respective grade levels. Our out-of-school time learning programs play a critical role in supporting the educational advancement and future success of Island youth'.
MV Boys & Girls Club
The critical support offered through the MVYouth COVID-19 Emergency Grant enabled Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club to successfully re-open and respond to the health and safety guidelines enacted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Club’s access to essential resources helped drive preparedness measures. The procurement of on-site porta-potties, hand washing stations, custom-built divider walls to accommodate member pods, hand sanitizer and pump stations, personal protective equipment (PPE), and cleaning supplies allowed the Club to maintain a sanitary, safe environment for members and staff during remote learning, after school, and summer camp programs.
The use of grant funds also supported MVBGC program operations and infrastructure. For example, the purchase of pop-up canopies provided members and staff refuge from the sun during outdoor activities, particularly in the summer months. Semi-permanent tents served as summer camp and pod meeting spaces, with a dedicated medical tent used to isolate individuals experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms in real-time. In addition, access to individual desks, tables, and chairs helped maintain socially distanced learning spaces for members to engage in remote learning and after school programming, providing parents and caregivers with peace of mind during their working hours.
The investment of MVYouth in MVBGC COVID-19 readiness efforts was crucial to the Club’s ability to implement responsible mitigation practices and maintain compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and guidelines enacted in response to COVID-19 transmission and exposure risks.
MV Boys & Girls Club
In March of 2020, the Club swiftly and effectively transitioned our service model to support the critical needs of our members and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Club began virtual programming to provide members with essential support, continuity, and stability. As the club moved from remote activities to in-person programs the MVYouth grant was critical in enabling the Club to continue to deliver the following programs, at no charge, to Island youth and their families: Summer Camp - an in-person summer camp for 7 weeks provided children the opportunity to safely engage in activities and socialize as well as allowing parents to return to work. Operational challenges with unbudgeted costs were extensive during the pandemic. The grant was invaluable in following safety protocols which required investment in facilities (Plexiglas guards, hand washing stations, separate activity tents) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff and children. Remote Learning Program - a remote learning program at the start of the school year in a safe environment at the Club as the Vineyard schools were preparing for in-person classes. The safety protocols and facility investments that had been funded for summer camp continued to benefit the Club’s in-person remote learning during normal school hours. After School Program - our core program during the school year. Initial investment in safety and compliance as the pandemic continues has allowed us to follow vigilant protocols in cleaning routines, mask requirements and social distancing.
MV Boys & Girls Club
The Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club (MVBGC) serves a critical role in the community by supporting all Island youth. We utilize a multifaceted approach to empower kids to succeed and lead healthy, productive lives. We provide caring mentors, such as our trained Club staff. We provide a safe place for the kids we serve. We provide innovative quality programs designed to empower youth to excel in school and lead healthy, productive lives. We do whatever it takes to ensure all kids have a great future. Our affordable $20 annual membership fee enables the youth who need us most to participate in these essential programs. With over 1,900 members a year in all programming, including academic, health, education, creative arts, technology and recreational sports; kindergarten through 20 years old; and of this over 900 4-year-olds to 13-year-olds in our After-School Program; and over $10K in college scholarships. With generous support from MVYouth, the MVBGC has executed critical repairs and essential upgrades to its Clubhouse. We have constructed a new check-in desk and receiving area to integrate safety protocols, member check-in and visitor oversight, as well as designed and built a new classroom/new technology lab. These updates allow us to participate in Boys & Girls Clubs of America education technology-based programming and expand upon our STEM programming to middle school. These initiatives are essential to the continued delivery of high-quality programs and services to Island youth in a safe, supportive environment.
MV Boys & Girls Club
The Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club serves a critical role in the community by supporting Island youth and low-income families. We empower young people to excel in school and lead productive lives, through supportive relationships with caring mentors. In addition, we integrate parents at all levels, and our translators are available to speak with families in their preferred language.
Our members are from working-class families who contribute to our Island's identity. This year, we served 1 out of every 3 K-8 public school students. Daily attendance averaged 135 youth. Our community engagement and outreach programs serve 2,500 individuals. We provide free bus transportation from every elementary school as well as after-school snacks and weekend food staples to supplement families’ food access.
Staff and volunteers provide structured programs in academic, health, prevention education, creative arts, technology and recreational sports. Every program develops life-long skills in leadership, teamwork, good character and responsible citizenship. MVYouth grant funds enabled us to update and repair the gym. As a result, we have been able to expand athletic programs including Boys/Girls Winter Soccer Club, All Stars Flag Football, and All Stars Basketball.
While we have had remarkable membership and program growth, our facility requires critical improvements to address immediate safety, technology, security, air quality and sound upgrades. We are addressing our aging infrastructure to ensure continuous delivery of quality programs to best serve our members and the community.
MV Boys & Girls Club
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club received a $100,000 Emergency Grant to help make critical capital improvements and major repairs to their aging Edgartown facility. The proposed list of needed improvements includes: new security doors and an upgraded security system; adding a foam sealant fire barrier to the gym ceiling; replacing decayed windows and flooring; converting the old locker room into a classroom; removing and remediating mold from the building; essential electrical and plumbing repairs; upgrading the front desk check-in area to improve supervision and attendance practices; and buying 20 computers for the after-school homework program. MVYouth’s grant will only allow B&GC to address some of these items. B&GC is actively pursuing community support and additional funding to address all of the items on this list and begin strategic planning and fundraising to build a new facility that can effectively meet the needs of the youth community.
For over 80 years, The Martha's Vineyard Boys & Girls Club, located behind the Edgartown School, has served the Vineyard community by “providing quality programs and services to Island children of all ages that will prepare them for healthy and productive lives.” The organization offers affordable after-school care (and busing from schools); affordable summer camps; and collaborates with a number of Island organizations by sharing its facility and coordinating support services for kids and families. The Club serves children from all Island towns. 130 children participate daily in the after-school program - Monday through Friday 3:00-6:00 pm; and 120 children participate daily in their summer camp. In 2018, B&GC served 1802 members ages 5-20.
MV Boys & Girls Club
Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club (MVBGC) was awarded funding to support the Cleaner, Greener, Safer Club Campaign to accomplish critically needed facility repairs and upgrades to its Edgartown Clubhouse. With grant support, MVBGC replaced the gym floor, new doors were installed between the gym and the new Games Room, new emergency exit doors were installed, windows were replaced in staff offices, and the gym is now fully functioning and providing essential athletic and program space for Club youth and the community.The renovation work was essential to the delivery of quality programs and services for Island children of all ages, to prepare them for healthy and productive lives. Now, in its 80th year, MVBGC serves over 130 members per day and over 500 youth per year, who participate in a variety of after-school programs including academic, health, prevention education, creative arts, technology and recreational sports. In addition, MVBGC’s gym is utilized by partner organizations, serving an additional 3,000 youth and adults from the community. MVBGC services are affordable with a $20 annual membership fee, enabling the children who need us most to participate. Children from all six elementary schools on the Island attend the Club. Additionally, MVBGC offers an affordable Summer Camp.
MV Boys & Girls Club
Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club (MVBGC) was awarded funding to support the Cleaner, Greener, Safer Club Campaign to accomplish critically needed facility repairs and upgrades to its Clubhouse. With MVYouth's support, MVBGC replaced the leaking roof, malfunctioning heating units, a cracked and dangerous gym floor, and damaged emergency doors, as well as insulated and shingled the exterior walls. The work was essential to the delivery of quality programs and services to Island children of all ages to prepare them for healthy and productive lives. Approximately 100 members per day, over 550 per year participate in a variety of after-school programs including academic; health, prevention and education; creative arts; technology and recreational sports. In addition, MVBGC’s facility is utilized through partnerships with other organizations serving additional youth from the community. MVBGC services are affordable with a $20 annual membership fee, enabling children who need us most to participate. Members come from all elementary schools on the Island. Additionally, MVBGC offers an affordable summer drop-in camp for Island and seasonal residents. MVBGC is indebted to MVYouth for their generous support. Without the funds we received from our Expansion Grant, we would not have been able to make needed repairs and continue to offer our quality programs to Island youth. Thank you for believing in us!
MV Boys & Girls Club
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club was awarded $229,514 to support their Cleaner, Greener, Safer Club Campaign. Funding will accomplish needed facility repairs to their Edgartown facility and upgrades including: replacing the roof, insulating and shingling the exterior walls, repairing and resurfacing the gym floor, installing a heat pump system, and adding windows to the game room.
The proposed work is critical to the organization’s ability to continue offering the services they provide to roughly 550 children annually, not including an additional 250 youth who use the facility through partnerships with other organizations. MVBGC services are affordable to all Island children, charging a $20 annual membership fee. Students are bused to an after school program from all Island elementary schools (except Chilmark). Additionally, the MVBGC offers an affordable summer drop-in camp for Island and seasonal residents.