PORTLAND, Ore. — Things are not the same at St. John's Racquet Center. Instead of kids coming here for Portland Tennis and Education programs, donated food is stockpiled in the lobby.
"We had a big food drive on Tuesday and we're trying to organize as many groceries for the families as possible," said Executive Director Jorge Fuenmayor.
Portland Tennis and Education has long history of bringing a sport often associated with country clubs to the city's poor and under-served. Along with tennis, the nonprofit provides after school and summer educational programs, mentoring kids. The classrooms we featured on news stories in the past are empty right now. But the work continues in a different way.
"We’re really trying to address the basic needs of the families by helping them with food, school supplies, electronic equipment so that the kids can do digital learning, and then adding in a bill assistance program that we’re just starting right now," said Associate Director Stephanie Haas.
And they are providing a chance for the 70 kids in the program to get with their groups, remotely, and check in with mentors, too. The scholar athletes can still get some exercise, finding workouts and other information on a website made just for them.
The food deliveries are happening two or three times a week; another chance to connect, at least for a brief time. Fuenmayor says these families work hard for little pay. And now, 26 of 37 of them have lost their jobs.
"So a lot of concern about how to put food on the table how to pay the bills- some of the other families are doing OK but at the same time starting to worry about what's next," said Fuenmayor.
It's a tough time for the nonprofit as well. For now, PT&E has laid off over 80 percent of its staff and volunteers. But the hope is that tennis and education will come alive again in the future, at St. John's Center. In the meantime, donations of food, school supplies and financial assistance are appreciated. Learn more here, about how to help.