LIFE CAMP’S FRONTLINE WORK DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
LIFE Camp provides youth and families that have been impacted by violence the valuable tools they need to stay in school and out of the criminal justice system. We provide programs and other holistic approaches to reinforce self-esteem and respect for life among one another and also connect and mobilize youth to prevent and heal from violence in New York City’s most underserved communities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff of frontline workers have been working around the clock and their work has been tremendous.
LIFE Camp staff members set-up to distribute personal protective equipment in an area of SE Queens.
LIFE Camp frontline workers deliver masks directly to hospital staff.
Because of your support, LIFE Camp was able to provide over 100,000 N95 and 3-layer masks to frontline essential workers throughout the 5 boroughs in New York City who are often overlooked in our communities – the essential workers who support the essential workers: supermarket employees, gas station attendants, bodega store owners, MTA workers, nurses and our teams of frontline violence prevention workers who help co-produce public safety by reinforcing social distancing efforts in our communities. With families living in small apartments and dense urban environments, we are also ensuring these individuals who have the greatest risk of contracting, dying from, or spreading COVID-19 also have access to this life-saving PPE.
Thanks to some creative grassroots efforts, we’ve secured partnerships with national and local meal providers to ensure those most at risk do not go hungry.
We’ve been hosting daily platforms online to prepare high risk youth for a post-COVID workforce. As critical funding for youth programs including New York City’s Summer Youth Employment have been canceled this year, we’re developing stipend-based programs to ensure our youth stay with us and off the streets.
We’ve been hosting daily webinars and Livestreams for the public, to keep them informed and help them heal from trauma, keep their immune systems strong and live free from fear.
We’ve been providing Therapeutic and Wellness services around the clock.
We’re looking ahead and because of you, we’re optimistic. We thank you for supporting our efforts to sustain and expand these resources.