'Good Morning America' Features Harford County Nonprofit

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties was featured Wednesday morning on "Good Morning America." ABC put the spotlight on the organization for its role during the coronavirus pandemic.

As parents report for work deemed essential, more than 40,000 children have been receiving child care at nearly 700 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, including one in Edgewood, which "Good Morning America" showcased on its segment.

Branch Director Vernon Bradford told "Good Morning America" it was rewarding "being there for the kids and families" during the pandemic.

Among those helped by the child care service is Traneshia Gibbons, a caregiver for a home care agency, who told "Good Morning America" she takes her two boys to the Edgewood Boys & Girls Club daily. There, staff reportedly conducts regular temperature checks and ensures children adhere to social distancing guidelines while parents work during the pandemic.

"All we can do is just continue to push through," Gibbons told "Good Morning America," which broadcast the segment featuring Harford County after 8 a.m. Wednesday. It is part of ABC's three-day coverage event called "Pandemic — A Nation Divided" that showcases the socioeconomic, racial and ethnic disparities made more apparent by the coronavirus pandemic.

Harford County Council President Patrick Vincenti gave a "huge shout-out" to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties during Tuesday night's council meeting.

"They're going to be talking about the child care services that they're providing for our essential workers that need it," Vincenti said, previewing the segment. "Kudos to them. It's a fantastic program that we have in both our counties, and extremely well-supported."

Headquartered in Aberdeen, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties is the largest Boys & Girls Club in Maryland after a merger in 2018 that created the two-county nonprofit, which serves 7,500 children.

Watch the segment on "Good Morning America."