Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart has created a new program this year called ‘Play From Home’. A spinoff of parents working from home due to the pandemic, the program encourages kids to stay active amongst the uncertainty of minor league sports this summer.
Because Ontario’s March Break was shifted due to the pandemic, the week-long program ran for all four weeks of March. Harry Bell, Jumpstart’s regional manager for Southwestern Ontario says the program has been extremely successful.
“Around 4000 kids had registered for the first week. There may be even more for the next ones, but it was very successful. I’m so happy that it’s gone so well,” Bell says.
Running their own program is unusual for Jumpstart. Bell says the charity usually funds children to participate in programs ran by other sports organizations.
“Last March, when everything was shut down, we realized that ‘wow, all these kids aren’t going to participate in any programs at all. So what can we do?’ Our main job is to help keep kids active,” he says.
Because the virtual programs allows any child with any ability to participate, Bell says the Play From Home program is likely something that Jumpstart will continue for years even after the pandemic.
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“If a child has a disability, which prevents them from going out to play whatever they want to play, at least they can do something in the safety of their home where they’re comfortable,” he says. “So, I think we’re pretty sure that this is something that we can just continue on now forever.”
The regional manager adds that Jumpstart has already received many requests for funding through Jumpstart’s Individual Child Funding system online. Making it seem like a promising season for summer sports.
“We’re noticing an uptake in the number of requests that are coming in for programs that have already began, like gymnastics, dance and martial arts. And we’re starting to see requests now for baseball, soccer, and other activities in hopes that something will be running in the summer,’ Bell says.
In efforts to help community sports organizations across Canada through the pandemic, Jumpstart launched its $8 million Sport Relief Fund in 2020. This year, thanks to an additional $12 million commitment from Canadian Tire Corporation,
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Jumpstart has reopened the Fund. London’s Norwest Optimist Soccer Club was one of many organizations that have been approved for the grant to help with funding of sports equipment.
“We have thousands of children in London every year. We’ve worked through a number of social service agencies in London, and helped a lot of families every year. So it’s great that they can take advantage of our programs.”
Bell guesses that Jumpstart might continue the virtual program as a summer camp version this year because sports leagues won’t be fully open. But a final decision should be made by April or May.
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