YMCA Child Care Program

Originally published in the Lebanon Daily News

Nick Furman is a single father who is currently attending college to become an RN. His three and a half year-old daughter, Nicole, is in the YMCA Child Care program and receives a scholarship funded by the United Way of Lebanon County. This year, $166,000 in United Way scholarships for child care will be given to working parents who qualify. Nick Furman is an example of a recipient.

Says Mr. Furman, "With the jobs I have had before, more than half of my paycheck would go to pay for childcare. The scholarship supports me in working towards my education and getting a better job. I'm going to school, but once I get out of school I'll be able to afford day care. I'm really grateful to the United Way and grateful to the YMCA. My daughter loves it there and is being taught a lot of great things. It's a wonderful, wonderful program."

Darcy Straka, Child Care Director at the YMCA, says, "When families have difficulty paying for their child care, we ask them to register with CCIS." CCIS, Child Care Information Services, is a Federally-funded child care subsidy program. "There is a very long waiting list and that is when we give a United Way scholarship to the family," said Ms. Straka. "Once they are approved through CCIS, we can give that scholarship to someone else, and we never lack for families in need."

Susana Arroyo, who came to Lebanon two years ago from Puerto Rico, echoes Mr. Furman's sentiments. Her twin sons, Dylan and Evan, are now funded through the CCIS program. They spoke no English when they arrived here, but are now fluent, and she is now employed by the YMCA in their School Age Child Care Program.

Ms. Straka adds, "The United Way dollars help children and families in many ways at the YMCA. For starters, we are able to assist families with reduced Child Care fees. We also provide YMCA programs for free or at a reduced rate to youth and teens in the community. Another important impact in the community is the YMCA memberships that are offered to qualified families at a reduced rate through United Way funding. The United Way dollars also help the YMCA assist seniors in the community with the price of memberships and programs. We serve more than 800 people with scholarships."

Helping working families have safe childcare and young children develop in an enriched environment, that is how they are Living United.