A group of about 20 kids were busy pasting colored paper on baby-food jars, containers destined to become candle-holders flickering all the colors of the rainbow.
“It’s fun because I like putting all the colors on there,” said 5-year-old Tayah Dancer, one of dozens of kids in the YMCA of Metropolitan Denver’s school-age child-care program at the group’s southwest branch.
Fun and learning is the name of the game for the youngsters in the program, which provides before- and after-school care at reduced rates.
The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver has applied for funds from this year’s Post-News Season to Share campaign.
For parents such as Gene Roybal, the program is a godsend for his family of five, which includes three children who attend the Southwest Family YMCA.
“If it wasn’t for this, my wife and I would have to work opposite shifts,” Roybal said. “Now the whole family is home at night for dinner and homework.”
Parents can start dropping off their kids about 6 a.m. The organization takes the children to school, picks them up and brings them back to the YMCA, said site director Erin Medina. Parents can pick up their children as late as 6:30 p.m.
Prices range from about $200 per child for a few days a week to $325 for five days of care. Depending on their situations, families can get scholarships worth from 10 percent to 85 percent of the tuition. Social services also helps out parents who can’t afford the care.
“There are a lot of single parents, and some of these kids don’t have the richest lives,” Medina said. “But the kids still deserve the best.”
That’s exactly what they’re getting in the program.
The children are involved in games, sports, and arts and crafts. Recently, the group took a field trip to The Wildlife Experience in Parker to learn about animals.
The children also do their school homework, take part in the cooking or science clubs, and much more.
“The parents are just so grateful,” Medina said. “We really care about these kids. I’m here to have fun with them.”
The children, too, are having a good time.
“We do lots of stuff that’s really fun,” said 7-year-old Justice Walls.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175
YMCA
of Metropolitan
Denver
Address: 2625 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver
In operation since: 1875
Number served last year: 50,000
Staff: 795
Yearly budget: $16 million
Percentage of funds directly to clients/services: 93 percent
