Dear Friend,
Before 2020, I never imagined that the Children’s Museum would need to run a food pantry, provide diapers or offer support groups for families. Since the start of the pandemic, children like my 4- and 6-year-old sons have spent more time volunteering at our food pantry than playing in the Museum.
CMEE wouldn’t be able to respond to the crisis without the help of over a hundred volunteers who have donated countless hours to the Museum’s COVID response efforts. One silver lining of the pandemic is how it has reconnected the Museum with children who had “aged out” of our exhibition and programs. Over the years, the Children’s Museum has developed an array of strategies – including community service projects – to keep “tweens” and teenagers engaged. Before the pandemic, these efforts witnessed only limited success, but now according to one mom whose children volunteered, “the Museum is giving older kids a greater sense of purpose.”
For example, thirteen-year-old Gaby J. (pictured above) has spent much of her time volunteering at CMEE this year. A member of the Museum community for more than a decade, beginning with Cantemos—our music and literacy program for Spanish-speaking families—Gaby now helps with our weekly Food Pantry. When asked what her continued involvement with Museum meant to her, Gabby said “I’m volunteering with the CMEE food pantry because by helping in little ways, I can make a big difference.”
It’s not just teenagers who now see themselves differently in relation to the Children’s Museum. Even young children like my six-year-old son have been affected by the experience of volunteering at the food pantry. When the Museum was still closed to visitors, he pointed out that he used to play at the Museum but now he helps families. Practically every chance he had last spring – during videoconference check-ins with his teacher or calls with grandparents – he would proudly describe his work at the food pantry.
As we continue to confront food insecurity and other problems caused by the COVID-19 crisis, I hope you’ll continue to support CMEE’s efforts to provide kids with a greater sense of purpose and to address the critical needs of families in our community.
If you or your children would like to volunteer at the Museum, please let me know. We can certainly use your help!
Sincerely,
Steve