News & Stories

We are grateful for the support of CN over the past year in supporting our staff to be able to serve our children and families in new ways. Over the past year, we have had to respond quickly to the new challenges each and every one of us is facing, and we have been adapting quickly to the needs of our community. We have been amazed at how quickly we have been able to pull together our efforts with your support and for that, we thank you. Because of you we have been able to serve our children and families in new ways.

Children and families are facing increased anxiety, stress, fear and worry. BGCBigs is committed to maintaining and supporting the vital mentoring relationship we create in order to fight the social isolation of our most vulnerable youth.

Through the financial support of CN and other funders, we were able to serve over 1400 children and youth in our school and community based mentoring programs!  We’re so proud that they were engaged in a positive mentoring relationship with a high school student or a caring adult community member. Children were exposed to new ideas, new experiences and someone they could lean on for advice and support.

Our mentors continue to reach out to our children through digital formats. Homework support to children and youth and access to computers and internet for children to perform academic activities.

We’ve had parents share with us their gratitude to the volunteers as their time together gives their children something to look forward to and be excited about, especially now. This program has made a huge difference in the lives of many and has given them a consistent routine during tough times.

In addition to supporting our mentoring programs, CN stepped up as we began to understand that the needs of our families had shifted during the pandemic to food insecurity. CN’s support allowed us to provide families with food hampers and gift cards for grocery stores to help ease their financial burden. Last year alone, we were able to distribute almost 1000 hampers to families!

“A single mom with four children recently lost her husband and contacted us. We had been providing food supports as well as arranged a drop off of activity kits for all of the children. Whenever our Coordinator spoke with her on the phone and checked in, she seemed very overwhelmed and busy trying to figure out online schooling and all the other things that come along with this new territory. She always takes the time out of her day to express her gratitude to BGCBIGS and shares the food supports and entertainment for her children have been such a help and a light in dark times.” BGCBigs Staff Member

Together, we are building brighter futures.

Thank you to the CN team.