News from the Early Learning Center

We had a busy fall. Our enrollment in the infant department has increased to the point where we needed to make two infant rooms. We now have an infant room for twelve months and under and one for over twelve months through two years of age. We can say we have a waiting list in our infant department since we have eight expectant mothers who would like to put their infants in our learning center.
Our preschool is learning about the alphabet, winter activities and preparing for their February field trips to the dentist office and the nursing home where we sing and do a project with our friends there. We have 20 preschoolers enrolled in our program.
Our school age program is busy as well. Fifteen to seventeen school-age children walk daily to and from school. We also bring over ten to twelve in the morning. The school age children enjoy computer, art activities and hanging out with friends. We did a wonderful summer program last year and are planning do the same this summer.
I have often been asked, "Since you are doing better than last year after the Turkey Plant fire, why are you continuing to fund raise in the community?." We do this for a number of reasons. We apply for grants which most non-profit organizations must do to remain viable. A lot of the grants that we apply for will award the monies if we can say we are matching funds by fundraising in the community. Most agencies who grant money want us to do our part. We have received lots of help in building this childcare center from the city and its council members. We want to continue to be a partner in the community and show the city we are working toward being self-sufficient.
The most important reason we fund raise is to keep the cost of daycare affordable to the families we serve in the community. The families coming into our program, whether it be in the childcare program or the preschool program, know they need to volunteer a certain amount of hours each year so their child has quality care and an excellent learning environment in which to learn and grow.
Most families were willing to help us out last year with our fundraising projects. A big portion of our income is used to pay our staff. Most of our staff has training beyond high school. We have staff that have their CDA's, early childhood degrees, two that have their AA's, two who are working on their AA's and two who have their bachelor's working at the Childcare Learning Center.
The grant monies and fundraising we apply for each year helps keep our existing program going. We serve over one hundred children in the community, therefore we need equipment and supplies and meal costs to serve the children. We like to do the extras such as taking the children on field trips where they can see hands-on what our community is about; this includes taking them swimming in the summer. All these things can be very costly. We want the families to feel they can afford to bring their children to the center. We also feel this makes for a quality learning center.
We need all our programs to continue to keep the center viable. We need the community's support and help. Most centers operate on a shoe string budget, we are no different. Without these programs the center could face tough times and grant monies are getting harder and harder to get. Our staff works for minimum wage and no benefits. They love children and that is why we are here. We want a safe learning place so parents can go to work and not worry about their children.
We will be doing a spring fundraiser in March or April. Watch for details. We have some openings for toddlers and three to five-year-olds. If you are thinking ahead for summer, give us a call, we will be working on our summer programs an d will have a brochure out this spring.
If you would like to tour or visit the center, feel free to stop in or give us a call. Our staff loves to show off our new center. You are always welcome to visit any time.
Jolene Reeg, Director