SERINO SECURES FUNDING FOR LOCAL REMOTE LEARNING PROGRAM

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Senator Sue Serino today announced that she has successfully secured $10,000 to help support a new remote learning program benefitting Poughkeepsie City School District students currently being served by the Family Services, Inc.

“Bridging the digital divide is key to ensuring the success of our local students, and Family Services, Inc. has stepped up in a big way during this tough time to ensure that so many here in the community have access to the resources they need to succeed,” said Senator Sue Serino. “Their remote learning program has played an integral role for students, and their families, and I am proud to play a role in helping to support it.”

According to a program proposal compiled by Family Services, each year, the non-profit subcontracts with the Poughkeepsie City School District to operate a ‘Summer Enrichment Program.’ Due to COVID-19, this year’s program had to be moved from the local elementary school to the Family Partnership Center, where fifty local students were able to safely attend the program, beginning in July. While the program was set to run for only six weeks, an outpouring of community advocacy led to a three-week extension. When the school year resumed, it became clear that there was still an important need for the program, and Family Services began working tirelessly to secure the funding necessary to continue it. Today, Family Services provides free academic assistance to these students in the program five days each week to help bridge the digital divide and ensure local students stay on track despite the challenges posed by COVID-19. The unique program also provides workshops to support parents in bridging the learning gap that often comes with facilitating distance learning.  

In a letter acknowledging the grant, Brian Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of Family Services said, “Youth services are a critical part of our work at Family Services and a critical need within the community. The children of the City of Poughkeepsie School District since COVID-19 interrupted the school year, have been at the mercy of isolation, disconnection and loss of learning. We have been working hard to bridge those gaps and this grant will be a terrific boost.”

The grant secured by Serino comes courtesy of the Walmart Foundation and will specifically be utilized to purchase PPE and supplies for students and program staff as well as other materials necessary to ensure the program’s continued success. 

“The pandemic has impacted communities and non-profit organizations all across New York.  Through our community grants program Walmart is doing its part to help organizations like Family Services in Poughkeepsie serve people in need in the Hudson Valley.”   Jason Klipa.  Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations.