Joseph Lajoie has always been a strong proponent of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick. During these times of need, the Greenwood Credit Union Executive Vice President and CFO has taken on the mantle of chairing the club’s campaign to raise $114,000. 

Lajoie’s involvement with the Boys & Girls club goes back about eight years. A Cumberland resident, he was on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island, with branches in Cumberland-Lincoln and Woonsocket. A family man, Lajoie’s children were involved in the clubs as well. Working for the past 15 years at Greenwood Credit Union allowed him to also be involved in the Warwick clubs, where he sponsored them in events such as their annual golf tournament and gala, which was cancelled this year due to Covid.

After years of working with the Boys & Girls Club of Warwick, Lara D’Antuono, Executive Director of Warwick clubs, approached Lajoie about joining the board there. Knowing that the Northern Rhode Island branches were in good hands, Lajoie joined the board in Warwick. He now chairs the campaign committee. The campaign will run through January 2021, with the possibility of going past that date.

At a meeting Monday, Lajoie and D’Antuono discussed how the club is doing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“These are difficult times for everyone.” said Lajoie “But we have a good team. Between the board and the staff for sure.” As far as the campaign staff goes, there are currently five actively working on it with the full support from the board.

The Norwood and Oakland Beach branches have a total of 72 children ranging from kindergarten through 8th grade in their full-day childcare program. The students bring their Chromebooks with them to the Boys and Girls Clubs and do distance learning from the clubs.

The children are broken up into three “Pods.” On Monday’s, each Pod, which are made up of no more than thirteen children, are all virtually learning. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Pod A is in attendance at the club and Wednesdays and Fridays Pod B is in attendance. There are some students who have chosen to do use the hybrid system while others are strictly virtual.

After school, the children remain in the company of their pods and are able to do arts and crafts, play outside, and use the gymnasium. Each pod can do one activity at a time, and everything is sanitized before and after each pod uses them.

There is a ratio of thirteen students to three staff members, which remains a challenge. Monique Rossi, Director of Operations and Open Door Director of the Norwood Branch, makes sure that each student is staying on top of their work as well as keeping them fed throughout the day. The Norwood branch offers lunches and snacks while the Oakland Beach branch serves breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.

The cost of the club is $200 per week. The payment secures registration but they cannot hold a child’s spot if a week is missed. There are financial aid opportunities for those families who qualify.

Keeping each branch safe and up to standards with the Department of Health has been their top priority.

“Since the start, we were asked by the governor to provide child-care for first responders.” said D’Antuono. “So we have started right from the get go. I would say our protocols are pretty stringent.” Not only do the standards need to meet those of the DOH but also the childcare guidelines as well. Those regulations are stricter than the schools due to the fact that the same staff must meet with the same students each day. The rooms are sanitized prior to use and after use, all adding to the cost of the program. Additionally, each bathroom must be cleaned and sanitized every hour to ensure safety for the students and staff.

With the holiday season approaching, the efforts of the Boys & Girls club will remain high. Each family who has been a member of the club this year will receive a Thanksgiving turkey and the fixings for a holiday meal. According to D’Antuono, the club will be giving more than 200 turkeys. That will be taking place Saturday, 11/21 from 2-5 p.m at the Norwood and Oakland Beach branches. The club will also be hosting its annual Holiday Store so the parents can select Christmas gifts for their kids. “Parents rely on us, they know where they’ll go in the community for whatever their needs are,” said D’Antuono. “We’ll connect them to the other services, so we can’t just take that out of their lives. It is critical. We need the support now, more than ever.” 

The ultimate goal of $114,000 is a tall task for any non-profit, but Lajoie is confident that it will be reached. “It’s a really important time for the Boys & Girls Clubs and for what we’re able to do for people. When people make a donation, they’re not just donating to the club, they’re really giving back to the community and I think that is the message everyone needs to know.”

The campaign is off to a good start with an $8,000 anonymous donation coming in just last week. With a recent rise in Covid cases, the safety protocols are more important than ever. The Boys & Girls clubs are looking for new donors and corporate sponsors to help them during these challenging times.