What a year it has been! I have spent the past weeks not only filled with pride at BGCSM’s accomplishments through another strange and challenging year but also excited about what 2022 will bring. With your help, we have weathered what seems like countless waves of this pandemic. I have watched our members, staff, and supporters survive and thrive through it all. Thank you! At the start of this new year, I have one goal at the front of my mind: serving more youth than ever before. With your help, we are excited to make this priority a reality.
Before the pandemic, BGCSM welcomed nearly 500 children and teens to our Clubs each day. When COVID struck, we had to adjust our programs to keep our members safe with virtual programs and remote learning hubs. We have spent the past year slowly increasing our capacity while maintaining social distancing, masking, and other safety protocols. Since the start of the 2021/2022 school year, we have seen nearly 300 members return to in-person, safe, Club programs. That number is growing each week. Returning to full capacity is only one part of the goal. In Maine, more than 40,000 children are unsupervised after school. That is more than the number of residents in Bangor, our second-largest city. In Southern Maine alone, nearly 20,000 children are unsupervised after school; a number that is unacceptable for us. By working together as a community, we can expand our reach to serve twice as many children and teens in Southern Maine in the next five years.
Since our founding in 1909, BGCSM has been an essential resource for the communities we serve. This year, in addition to our existing five Clubs, we are beginning a program at Redbank/Brick hill for elementary school students in partnership with Avesta Housing, a 21st Century Learning Center program at King Middle School in Portland, and opening a new Teen Center in Lewiston. This expansion is only the tip of the iceberg we need to reach to meet our goal. We are also in the early stages of planning for an exciting Portland Youth Campus at our Cumberland Ave location, expanding services for the youth in the surrounding neighborhoods and for kids and teens in towns across the Greater Portland area.
2022 will be a year of growth and progress for our Clubs. We have a lot going on, and with your help, I am confident we can do more for the youth who need us most. Along with our Youth Development teams, we are excited about the opportunities in front of us. One way you can participate is by staying informed. Signing up for our newsletters and following our social media accounts will keep you updated on our efforts and progress. I continue to welcome the opportunity to meet with you in person or remotely. Please email me if you would like to schedule some time or reach out with a question.
I look forward to a new year, new initiatives, and a renewed commitment to the thousands of children and teens in Southern Maine who attend our Clubs and the thousands more we hope will join.
I am wishing you and your families a happy, healthy 2022! Together, we can change futures.
