Girls Inc. of Long Island’s Response to COVID-19
Dear Friends and Supporters of Girls Inc. of Long Island:
As dedicated supporters, partners and friends of Girls Inc. of Long Island, you may know better than most people that the girls we serve through our programs come from some of the most vulnerable communities on Long Island.
Schools, community centers, and programs like what we offer at Girls Inc. are at the forefront of keeping these girls safe and helping them thrive. While the current closing of these key community gathering places is clearly very necessary in the face of the pandemic, it has also forced an interruption to Girls Inc. programming in many locations. Without these partner sites, we have very limited ability to be there for girls whose situation is already fragile.
In a time where social distancing is becoming more and more important, we also recognize the urgent need to maintain a sense of community, support and love for our girls who may be feeling added anxiety or stress. Starting Monday March 23rd, we will begin providing an online Girls Inc. experience open to all girls throughout Long Island.
Girls can tune in through video or phone conference calls each week, along with their peers and Girls Inc. facilitators, where they will have the opportunity to stay connected and stay supported during what may be an overwhelming time for many. We recognize the added level of stress that everyone is feeling, and we are preparing to ensure that they have all the love and support that they deserve, along with a small sense of normalcy. Our team will continue to host these online sessions until our school programs resume on Long Island. We’re also checking in with girls via social media, texting, emails and calls.
In the middle of all this, we also realize that the economic downturn will have a significant impact on those friends and allies whose financial support allows Girls Inc. of Long Island to deliver programming at no or minimal cost to the girls who participate. No one knows for sure what lies ahead, but I believe it’s possible that, at some point not too long from now, our community institutions will be able to get back to something that’s closer to normal. When that happens, Girls Inc. of Long Island will be poised to pick up where we left off, offering the in-person support that girls need to become the leaders they were born to be.
Please continue to help us even as we struggle with the uncertainty that everyone is now facing. We need you now more than ever to ensure we can sustain our excellent staff and proven programming during what we hope is only a short period of time. Keeping these resources strong will position us, once the current crisis is over, to continue serving the girls who are our communities’ future. We hope that we can count on you to support Girls Inc. of Long Island with a gift today that helps to ensure that we continue to help girls grow stronger, smarter, and bolder during this crisis and beyond.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
On behalf of everyone at Girls Inc. of Long Island, thank you. We are so grateful that you have joined us in making it a priority to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Sincerely,
Renee Flagler
Executive Director
Girls Inc. of Long Island
Resources for Families and Girls during COVID-19 |