My name is Richard Pogue, and I am a proud AmeriCorps member serving at Youth Mentoring Partnership (YMP) in Phiiladelphia, PA. During this coronavirus crisis, I have been volunteering my time on Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for food distribution at Mastery Charter School Harrity campus to the local neighborhood. My duties during that time are to show up about 15 minutes early to help set up tables, monitor the food being taken and answer any questions parents or students might have. 

Harrity is one of the schools that we (YMP) directly serve within, so it has given me an opportunity to foster deeper relationships with the staff, students, and their families. Even though the schools are closed, our organization - and me personally - is still committed to the effort of making them successful during these troubling times. 

I do this because I'm a Philadelphian, born and raised; Harrity is only 15 minutes away from me so I can walk there. If I'm able to soften any of the hardships that my students and Community are going through right now then it is my utmost duty and obligation to do so.

Richard has been serving as an Up2Us Sports coach since 2015 at Youth Mentoring Partnership thanks to support from AmeriCorps.

Editor’s Note: Up2Us Sports is well aware that protecting our communities at this moment means minimizing exposure, and that this will inevitably disrupt some of our programs. The health and well-being of our coaches and the youth they serve is of utmost importance. We have issued mitigation guidelines to ensure that coaches understand how to keep themselves and their families and communities safe. If our coaches are in good health and want to continue their service, we will allow them to pursue pre-approved and safe service opportunities to support their communities. This is, after all, exactly what these incredible coaches are trained to do - to support and mentor our youth during tumultuous times, and to rebuild a sense of normalcy when the challenge has passed. This is the power of sports-based youth development. Read more from our CEO here.