Purpose
Due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and schools opting to continue remote learning, our Black and Brown students who are learning English as a second language struggle to adapt to this change. Many of these students also struggle with lack of access to computers at home, and some even struggle with learning disabilities that required specialized one-on-one instruction.
In an effort to support the learning needs of our students, we will be donating chrome books and school supplies to Black and Brown youth in the Merrimack Valley so that they may also have the opportunity to achieve as sufficiently as possible while learning remotely.
Here’s what we’ve accomplished!
Making a Difference
Over the past few weeks since we have launched our MVBBV Cares initiative to bring resources back to our BIPOC community members, our Back to School Tech Fund has received over 20 applications requesting school supplies and technology.
Creating Change
When the Covid-19 Pandemic struck, many Merrimack Valley low-income students and their families not only struggled with job loss but with the switch to online remote learning as well.
Adapting meant having to buy new school supplies and technology to resume classes, but for them, this was not a feasible option.
This is when the MVBBV Cares initiative was born.
Finding Alternatives
However, even with the shortage in Chromebook laptops (due to the Covid-19 Pandemic), we still managed to provide 11 families with laptops and tablets for the switch to online learning.
That’s 16 students who received technology!
(over 57% of our applicants!)
Raising Voices
We are still so proud to say that in the end we were able to deliver all 28 students, backpacks filled with school materials ready to go!
We hope that this initiative helps reduce the shame that low-income students may experience when not having the means to afford school supplies, and that it helps raise their voices in the classroom with confidence and preparedness.
Being Unique
Something was pointed out to us while we shopped for school supplies.
A Staples manager asked “did you take your time hand picking these, or did you pick them at random?” as he looked at every unique folders and notebooks on the register counter…
YES!
We hand picked every item!
We made the efforts to get to know our donee’s so that they feel loved when they receive their school materials.
Reimagining Communities
We got the opportunity to meet some amazing families and some amazing students.
We heard saddening stories, but also beautiful ones.
If you are looking to donate a laptop or tablet to the remaining 5 families or to each of the 12 remaining students on our list, please click below.
Thank You!
We would also like to shout out and thank all the spectacular allies who donated to this fund, the donors who sponsored students, and the volunteers who picked up and delivered materials.
You all made this project possible!
What our donee’s are saying.
