.png){kind=small}
2020: The Year of Resilience and Record-Breaking Service
The year 2020 presented the world with unprecedented crisis, uncertainty, and challenge. Yet, for the IMPACT Youth Club, it became a year of profound resilience and substantial progress. Rising to meet the evolving needs of both local and global communities, IYC demonstrated remarkable adaptability, pivoting all operations to a virtual-first model while simultaneously achieving record results.
120 Members
5038 Hours
36 PVSA Awards
Our dedicated membership grew to over 120 volunteers spanning New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Taiwan, who collectively delivered an astonishing 5,038 service hours—more than four times the previous year’s total. This dedication was recognized with a remarkable 36 President’s Volunteer Service Awards (PVSA). In a time of crisis, IYC found a way to make its biggest impact yet.
Urgent Global PPE Relief for Wuhan
As the global crisis began, IYC took immediate action. In February 2020, our volunteers rapidly organized and executed a targeted fundraising campaign, successfully raising $2,500 in just one week. These funds were immediately dedicated to the purchase of critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare providers in Wuhan, demonstrating IYC’s commitment to global well-being from the very beginning of the pandemic.
Supporting Local NJ Hospitals with Critical Supplies
As the crisis escalated in the United States, IYC hosted a major local fundraiser in April 2020 dedicated to securing essential supplies for healthcare workers in New Jersey. Through this effort, IYC successfully purchased and distributed a massive donation of 4,500 medical masks and 7,000 medical gowns to six local New Jersey hospitals, directly supporting those risking their lives to care for the community.
Mask and LED Bulb Donations
In a creative effort to support public safety personnel and promote sustainability, IYC volunteers undertook two major donation drives. By June 2020, the club was proud to donate 800 high-quality, handmade masks to four local police stations. Complementing this effort, IYC sourced and donated LED light bulbs to a wide range of community institutions, including police stations, senior centers, restaurants, schools, and churches, helping these organizations reduce costs and energy consumption during a time of financial strain.
Monthly Virtual Concerts for Senior Centers
When in-person performances became impossible, IYC volunteers pioneered a new service model by hosting monthly virtual concerts via Zoom for residents across six community senior centers. These virtual performances, often delivered from the volunteers' homes, allowed seniors to maintain crucial social and cultural connections despite mandatory isolation. The weekly virtual screens, filled with young musicians and appreciative seniors, left a unique mark in the history of IYC and the senior centers we served, proving that music and companionship could overcome any physical barrier.
Media Recognition: NJ News12 "New Jersey Proud"
IYC's dedication and rapid response during the crisis did not go unnoticed by the media. The club was honored to be featured on NJ News12 TV as "New Jersey Proud" for its significant contributions to the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This major recognition highlighted the extraordinary efforts of our young volunteers and validated the IYC's rapid pivot to crisis service.
The Creative Outdoor Community Art Project
Recognizing that local museums and cultural centers were closed, IYC volunteers developed an engaging outdoor artwork project. This initiative provided a safe, socially-distanced alternative for community members to enjoy art and creativity, showcasing the club’s ability to find innovative ways to deliver cultural enrichment even with strict public health limitations in place.
Compassionate Care: Meal Delivery to Homebound Seniors
The volunteer team prioritized those most vulnerable during the lockdown. IYC quickly adapted to safely deliver necessary meals to seniors who were living alone or homebound due to illness or quarantine restrictions, ensuring they had consistent access to food and felt supported by the community.
Virtual Support Programs
To sustain and expand service delivery remotely, IYC created and launched three innovative, volunteer-led virtual projects: EZ Gym (focusing on fitness and well-being), Chitchat (dedicated to virtual companionship and conversation), and Educare (providing academic support). These programs allowed IYC to provide specialized support and continue delivering consistent service to its communities, regardless of location.
2020 was an especially trying time, and the IMPACT Youth Club emerged stronger, more adaptive, and more impactful than ever before. Every one of our 120+ members is a testament to the fact that passion and dedication transcend physical distance. We are deeply grateful for the unwavering commitment of our volunteers who chose to see the crisis not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity for greater service.
To celebrate this monumental year and share a message of hope, our members came together remotely to produce a moving Virtual Choir Video. Please enjoy this performance, which captures the spirit and unity of the IYC community in 2020.