As I sit here thinking through what all has transpired around the world in such a short time, my mind easily wanders to the thing that matters most—to me and to you: Family. We all wish that the outbreak of COVID-19 had never occurred. We all wish our family, friends, and even jobs weren’t placed in harm’s way by this or any other crisis. We all just want things to go back to normal. But for now, the best we can do is work with the cards we’re dealt.
In some ways, this has changed everything. But in at least one way, nothing has changed: Safety continues to be a top priority of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region. And because of that, we are doing everything possible to keep our Club members, their families, our staff, and our community protected from the COVID-19 virus.
In alignment with our school district partners, the recommendation of our Mayor, Kevin Brooks, our Governor, Bill Lee, and the Centers for Disease Control’s most recent recommendation that all gatherings of 50 people or more should be canceled, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region (BGCOR) has made the difficult decision to close our Clubs to serving kids effective Monday, March 16, through the duration of the school district closures. During that time, our staff has committed to thoroughly sanitizing every part of our 14 units to ensure that all kids, staff, and volunteers are safe once our Clubs reopen.
We will be closely monitoring and evaluating the situation to ensure we are following the Tennessee Department of Health’s public health recommendations to protect our communities. In the meantime, we are advising all our Club staff, families, and youth to continue to take precautions as recommended by TDOH and the CDC.
- Maintain a safe protocol of social distancing (6 feet)
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly (scrub with soap for at least 20 seconds)
- Resist the habit of touching your own face
- If you exhibit cold symptoms, voluntarily quarantine yourself and, if you must go out, wear a mask to protect those around you.
Thank you for your understanding. Our commitment to the children and families of the the Ocoee Region is unwavering, and we will keep you updated as we know more.
Please stay safe. We’ll get through this as long as we all work together and support one another.
Sincerely,
Derrick Kinsey, CEO
