EnergyUnited grant will fund child care scholarship at YMCA

Sep. 12--Davidson County parents can get help paying for child care through a recently announced $10,000 grant the EnergyUnited Foundation has awarded the J. Smith YMCA program in Lexington.

The grant will be used to fund child care scholarships for individuals and families who are searching for affordable child care options while local schools continue to follow modified schedules and remote learning requirements.

"I'm amazed to see how much our communities have accomplished by pulling together to help those in need during the pandemic," said Debra Citta, EnergyUnited Foundation administrator. "The availability of affordable child care options will play an important role in our economic recovery efforts, so we are proud to support J. Smith Young YMCA with this initiative."

The YMCA provides after school and summer camp child care for grade school children, sports programs for children and adults. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, more families are dependent on the YMCA's services and resources. For example, while students have been doing school work remotely away from schools, the YMCA has provided an e-leaning program that not only gives working parents a place to have their young children cared for while school buildings are closed for instruction, but also provides the children assistance with their classwork.

"Due to the pandemic, many families are now struggling to find affordable child care options as they continue to deal with furloughs, layoffs or wage reductions while adapting to modified school schedules and remote learning requirements," said Jen Fuller-Allen, operations director at the J. Smith Young YMCA. "We are thankful to receive this donation from the EnergyUnited Foundation, as the donation will enable us to serve families at a time when our assistance, flexibility and community partnerships are needed most."

There are 132 students enrolled in e-learning and almost all of them receive scholarship assistance to pay for the program. Fuller-Allen said the Y has a waiting list of 50 children whose families want to enroll in the e-learning program, but the Y is finding it difficult to hire additional staff. For health concern reasons and guidelines, the Y has a ratio of two adults per 12-children. The e-learning program separates the participants into smaller groups to help adhere to social distancing needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Also, Davidson County Schools will return to in-person instruction on a modified A/B day attendance policy on Monday, Sept. 14. This means the after-school child care programs will begin.

"So far we have 50 students enrolled for after-school care," she said. "Registrations are still coming in."

During a typical year, the Y provides after-school care for 350 students at seven locations throughout the county schools and two city school systems. The city school systems have opted to stay in remote learning longer.

Fuller-Allen said once the the city school systems return to the school buildings for class, and as county school parents get into a school routine and know better there child care needs, she expects more families to enroll in the after-school care program. Several will need financial assistance to pay for the after-school care.

"The Y doesn't believe in turning away anyone due to an inability to pay," she said. "These scholarships will help these families.

The EnergyUnited Foundation is a voluntary, member-funded non-profit organization supported by EnergyUnited's Operation Round-Up program. Over 70,000 EnergyUnited members choose to participate in the program by 'rounding up' their electric bills each month.

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