Being There for Families

Jaqueline Ramales

Mont Lawn City Camp Manager, The Bowery Mission

Processing the Impact: The moment I realized everything changed was in August 2020. I was talking to a parent on the phone, and she told me she was four months behind on rent and didn’t have a job. I realized then the devastating long-term effects of COVID. That injustice drove me further to want to help out.

Connecting Online: Especially at the beginning, many of our kids were confused about everything that was happening. In whatever way we could, we wanted to protect their routine. At least one part of their day would remain the same. They could “come to Mont Lawn City Camp” after school for classes and to see other kids. It gave them an activity when so many had been taken from them. And parents were thankful that their kids had something to look forward to at the end of the day.

A Moment of Hope: Our volunteer mentors were so eager to continue pouring into our kids, no matter what form it took. They reached out and said, “Hey, anything you need, we’re here to help.” And they did. Three mentors helped me create our last educational video for the year.

A Proud Moment: When we were able to provide gift cards to families for practical needs, I felt like "WOW this is one of the tangible ways to help right now." I was proud to be part of an organization that made it possible. Many of the families don’t have resources or aren’t eligible for benefits. We showed that we were still here, and not just for their kids, but for the whole family unit.

What Drove You: I don’t think I ever had a moment of hesitation. For four years, I had been growing in community with these families to the point where they felt like my family. So, considering the depth of relationship, the strength of the bonds, it felt natural to stick it through. I wanted to be a steady presence in their lives.

Lessons Learned: I really felt, in this season, that I was just a vessel. I don't want to be a leader who looks down on people. I want to be a leader who partners with the community. That's what we try to do at The Bowery Mission. We try to be a community for people who are hurting and to be present with them.

Developing Leadership: In advocating for the families, I think I found more of my own voice. There were moments where I thought, “If I don’t speak up, is there anyone else who will?” It pushed me to speak up and to say, “You have to try and make a change.”

Pivoting on the Spot: I had to become more savvy with technology and figure out how to make online classes engaging for kids. We tried to be creative and work with what we had. We started an animation class for the first time. We did language classes. We even developed art classes that wouldn’t require a lot of supplies, sometimes even just a pencil and paper.

Being There for Parents: I often had phone calls with moms for 45 minutes to an hour, just to talk. They weren’t asking for anything. They were just sharing their sorrows. After we were done talking, they would say, "I don't know why I shared all of that, I guess I just needed to say it.” I was able to say, "It's OK, you needed to let it out.” People just needed a space to be heard. That was really humbling and special too.

Giving & Receiving Love: When the families surprised us by making us a banner last summer, it was both shocking and beautiful. You do your best to advocate and to help, but sometimes you wonder if you could have done more. It meant so much to see that the parents felt loved by the program. The heart for families that’s lived on through Mont Lawn City Camp, even before I was there, will still present through the pandemic.

Looking Forward: The work continues. I'm concerned about the children’s future post-pandemic, the academic and emotional and mental disparities that may result. We need to make sure the negative effects of the pandemic don’t overly impact their lives. But I also have a lot of hope. Children are the best conduits of hope.

Parting Words: I would tell future generations that COVID-19 was a really humbling moment. Titles aside, degrees aside, awards aside, what really matters is the love that you give to people and the love that you show to the world. During COVID, what really mattered was who you were to the person next to you.