Being There

As we look towards another school year in addition to all of the world’s challenges, the Boys & Girls Club of Vista has a real opportunity to show strength for our community, for families and especially for our Club kids. Keeping kids at home is devastating in terms of preventing learning loss. The learning gaps from being away from school are intensified for kids from lower economic backgrounds. Kids are dealing with feelings of uncertainty, isolation, hunger, a lack of exercise, and in some cases, abuse. The Boys & Girls Club of Vista provides a consistent place for kids to learn, belong, and to provide some stability and assuring answers where there are many scary questions.

When schools abruptly closed, the Boys & Girls Club of Vista continued to serve kids in a different capacity because the community needed us to be strong.  Our staff held Zoom check-ins and tutoring and provided online fitness, music, and STEM activities.  We were able to deliver thousands of free meals to families in partnership with our school district.   We offered free groceries and gift cards to local restaurants to over 200 Club families. The Boys & Girls Club was built to be flexible and to bend with the need because we are committed to doing whatever it takes to meet the needs of our community.

On May 4th, we became the first Boys & Girls Club in San Diego County to open to provide emergency day camps for essential worker families.  We are now open to all families and providing extended learning day camps from 7am-6:30pm.