Parents with pre-school children in Penhold will soon have another place to take their children.
The Penhold School Age Care Program has received $42,000 from the province and is expecting another $41,650 from Alberta Lotteries in mid-October or early November to run a daycare starting in January.
In addition, some $18,000 has been donated from the community, said program administrative director Serena King.
Rick The Welder is donating labour and materials to clean up and fence the property. Stewart Ford has donated his time for schematic drawings of the old library building site at 1001 Minto St.
King said the news is most welcome for young parents in the community and surrounding area.
The program has 11 youngsters on a waiting list and spaces for a maximum of 28 kids aged 12 months to four and a half years.
The program, which will run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., will be staffed by four full-time workers.
“Since Penhold is primarily a bedroom community for people working north and south of us, we need the extended hours for those parents who have to travel,” King said.
Daycare cost for the non-profit organization is tentatively set at $650 a month for one to three years and $720 monthly for three to four and a half years. There will be subsidies available for parents who qualify. The rates are competitive, King said.
She said the three-year and older group will be exposed to a pre-school component program, which is already offered in Penhold.
“It’s always nice to expose them to a playschool environment so they can get comfortable with the pre-school so kindergarten is an easier transition.”
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com