The Olivet Boys & Girls Club strives to “enable all young people, especially those that need us the most, to reach their full potential as healthy, productive, caring, responsible citizens.”
The health and safety of Olivet club members, volunteers, and staff have always been a top priority and is more important now than ever as Reading, Berks County, and the entire country grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September, as the Reading School District and other schools in the local community made the decision to complete online learning, the Olivet team was excited for the opportunity to re-open club doors, welcome back Olivet members, and provide youth a safe space to complete their schoolwork, interact with peers, and have the support of caring adults and mentors.
Within the past several weeks, we have become increasingly concerned with the trajectory of the virus in our local community. The level of community transmission is now rated as “substantial” and new, daily cases are consistently ranging between 200-400. As the holidays approach potentially consisting of family gatherings and out of state travel, we have made the decision to temporarily suspend remote learning and afterschool programming at our Reading locations effective at 4:30 PM this Friday, December 11th.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision. During the past two months, nearly 400 club members and their families have relied on us to provide much-needed support and resources as students complete virtual learning. The Health and safety of our youth, families, and staff are paramount and we must take proactive steps to stem the spread of the virus in our community. While our doors will be closed temporarily, we will continue to grab & go evening meals and virtual programming. Olivet is committed to serving youth and families, especially those that need us the most during these challenging times”, said Chris Winters, President, and CEO.
Afterschool programming at the Grace Lutheran Site in Shillington will continue to operate for the time being. Grab and go dinner meals will continue to be provided at Conrad Weiser Middle School. During the suspension of remote learning and afterschool programming, we will continue to provide grab & go evening meals in addition to virtual programming opportunities on social media and our website. While this was a difficult decision to make and we recognize the inconvenience this may cause for families, we believe it is the best decision in order to ensure the safety and well-being of club members and their families.
About the Olivet Boys & Girls Club:
The Olivet Clubs provide a safe environment for youth ages 6-18 by providing programs that encourage character development, education, life skills, healthy living, and exposure to arts and culture. These programs, along with guidance from our staff, allow kids to find their way out of poverty to become productive, outstanding members of society.
The Olivet Boys & Girls Club has a strong reputation for providing life-changing experiences to its members, including mentoring experiences with diverse, trained, and caring staff and volunteers who want to make a difference in the life of a child.
A chartered member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Olivet Boys & Girls Club serves nearly 3,000 members a year at 8 sites located in Reading and Shillington. The Club was founded in 1898. Its mission is “To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as healthy, caring, productive, responsible citizens.”