To help students adjust to the new normal of online learning, the Mathews Family YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club of Mathews, with support from the county and county personnel, are coming up with solutions for families and children.

To face the issue head-on, the YMCA developed an educational support youth development program that facilitates a child’s virtual learning while being safely monitored and supervised by the YMCA youth development team. But, before the program could be implemented, there was another challenge: Where would it be held?

Conversations between Mathews Family YMCA director Buzz Lambert and Angel Nelson and Hal Smith, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club, resulted in a solution: Using existing Boys and Girls Club space to house the program.

There was much to be done to the existing facility to secure state licensing program certification, and create the clean, safe and healthy space needed to meet emergency standards and provide the environment necessary for st...