GLCF awards latest COVID-19 Emergency Response Grants to support remote learning

Malika Kallon participates in Educational Support for Distance Learners at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell, a recent recipient of a GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grant to support remote learning. She is working on her Lowell Public Schools issued Chromebook connected to Club Wi-Fi.

The Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) announced it deployed a new round of COVID-19 related grants, providing an additional $17,000 to area nonprofits.  The grants were part of the ninth round of distributions from the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to assist area nonprofits serving vulnerable populations during the coronavirus pandemic.

“COVID-19 has shown that within Greater Lowell, there are significant gaps among families who have sufficient supports for remote learning, resulting in a scramble to bridge the digital divide for students ill-equipped to transition to remote learning,” said GLCF president & CEO Jay Linnehan. “GLCF has directed COVID-19 grants to nonprofits who have stepped up to help remote learners with funding for devices, headsets, staffing and other necessary supplies to support our local learners.”

“The Wish Project is receiving requests for headsets every day. We received requests for over 100 in one day alone.  Many of the people that we serve live in small apartments and may have more than one child and other family members in the home,” shared Alyce Moore, The Wish Project executive director. “These headsets are super important to help filter out normal family noises, so that the child can stay focused on their schoolwork.”

The five nonprofits receiving grants in the latest round of the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support remote learning are:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell for remote learning support
  • Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell for remote learning technology and implementation
  • Greater Lowell Family YMCA for school age remote learning   
  • The Wish Project for “Backpack Attack” headset purchase support
  • YWCA of Lowell for PrimeTime Remote Learning Support Services

“We know that remote learning is increasing the educational equity gap for families with less resources and whose parents have to go into work,” stated Boys & Girls Club of Greater Lowell Executive Director Joe Hungler. “This funding from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation helps provide a safe space with proper technology, nutritious meals, and adults to guide and encourage them so that these students have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Girls Inc. of Greater Lowell, a recent recipient of a GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund grant, pivoted their fall after-school program to a full day program. This allowed the organization to better accommodate members requiring access and support for remote learning.

Since March, through grants from its GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and the Massachusetts COVID Relief Fund, the foundation has supported 112 local nonprofit organizations with 192 grants totaling over 2.7 million. Grants have been distributed to all 20 GLCF communities served: Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, Westford and Wilmington. Donations to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund can be made online at www.glcfoundation.org or by mail to the GLCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund c/o GLCF, 100 Merrimack Street, Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852.

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