BALTIMORE — They say it takes a village to raise a child, and right now, that village is mostly online because of the pandemic.
“We need the help you know we really appreciate this,” said Lesia Backus.
Backus’ 4-year-old granddaughter Bailey is in the head start program.
On Tuesday, grandma got a lot of good information and some free supplies to make the transition a little easier.
“While I was listening to him over there, he was telling me what to do,” Backus said. “I’m staying down here so y’all can give me some more information okay. I like this I love this.”
Teachers and administrators took a bus over to the Westside shopping center for a meet and greet and family fun giveaway.
“We gotta stay connected with our youth,” Marques Dent said. “People they’ll never get the chance to get that vital content unless they are connected. We’re connected digitally and using zoom. We’re making sure all our kids have hot spots all our kids have chrome books.”
Marques Dent is a community Coordinator for Baltimore City Public Schools.
He and Sabrina Sutton, a Director with a Baltimore City Schools, coordinated the event with community leaders.
“Of course it may be difficult especially if people are working from home and than they have to work with their children virtually,” Sutton said. “We’re here to help. We’re here to give you the information that you need in order to support your student while their virtually learning at home.”
Most of the supplies came from Baltimore Non-Profit Wish List Depot.
“These school supplies won’t last them all school year. So what we have in place is that their teacher can contact us and let us know what their virtual student needs are,” said Sharon Matthews, the Founder of Wish List Depot. “We will deliver those supplies to those zoned school for their parents to come and pick them up.”
It’s been a long time since the students have seen their teachers in person and they were excited to see them.
“I would give them a hug and stuff,” said 5th trader Mason Bailey.
Over 200 packets of supplies given out, with the hope of helping our young people shine as they continue to deal with learning online.
