The Massachusetts Child is expanding its COVID-19 relief efforts for students, thanks to a $100,000 donation from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
"We are extremely grateful for the generosity of the people at Blue Cross Blue Shield," said Nicole Prevost, president of the Mass Child Board of Directors. "And we are proud that they recognized the work of the countless public school educators who have been helping their students overcome the challenges resulting from the coronavirus pandemic."
Funding from The Massachusetts Child’s Blue Cross Blue Shield COVID-19 Relief Fund is accessible to every preK-12 MTA local, in addition to the resources traditionally provided by the charitable organization.
When the pandemic forced school buildings to close in March, the MTA made an emergency donation to the Mass Child, allowing it to provide preK-12 locals with grants to purchase items to support students in remote learning. Within weeks, grants totaling nearly $10,000 were on the way to more than a dozen locals.
The Massachusetts Child board has set aside the donation from BCBS as a separate fund that locals can access for anything their members believe can assist a student affected by the pandemic. For instance, a local could supply technology, ranging from devices and headsets to mobile internet hot spots; personal protective equipment, including masks and hand sanitizer; or grocery gift cards to help a student experiencing food insecurity.
Basically, the Mass Child is lifting many of the restrictions placed on other types of funding — and locals are still eligible to use the standard grants to help students in need, making sure they have sufficient school supplies or appropriate winter clothing.
In recent months, MTA members have informed the organization’s directors that COVID-19 is having a far-reaching effect on students. The board decided that it needed to expand its usual criteria for reimbursements to address these far from normal circumstances.
"When we created the emergency grants last spring, it made us aware of how widespread the need is," Prevost explained.
"Mass Child board members spent the summer months figuring out how to keep meeting that need without jeopardizing our long-term financial health," she continued. "Meanwhile, Blue Cross Blue Shield was exploring ways to provide assistance to families hard hit by the impact of the pandemic and saw a good fit with the work that Mass Child was doing with educators and students."
Any preK-12 local can apply for a COVID-19 relief reimbursement of up to $1,000. In applying for the grant, locals must specify what the money will be used for and how the purchase will help students affected by the pandemic.
Local associations will be allowed to purchase items in bulk when appropriate. For example, if a local determines that many students working remotely would benefit from headphones, it would be appropriate to order those in the most costeffective way.
Using a similar approach, given that many households have several students working remotely, the Mass Child will approve purchases that ensure they have sufficient access to technology.
And because the pandemic is creating an economic crisis, the charity will approve purchases of PPE or grocery gift cards to help students who are in need.
The Massachusetts Child will continue to follow its current procedure regarding technology and food-related purchases with standard grants.
For details about The Massachusetts Child and to apply for any of the available reimbursement grants, please visit massteacher.org/masschild.
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