The YMCA of Central East Ontario is partnering with provincial and municipal governments to deliver emergency child care for essential workers.
The YMCA will offer space in Prince Edward Lennox & Addington at Massassauga Rednersville Public School; in Hastings County at Harry J. Clarke and Susanna Moodie Public School in Belleville, and Prince Charles Public School in Trenton; and in Peterborough County at Lakefield District Public School with 78 children currently registered.
Emergency child care is in addition to the Y’s Child Care for registered infants, toddlers and pre-school children, which continue to operate. The Before & After School programs are temporarily paused while in-person school is closed for students across Ontario.
In partnership with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board and Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, HEPA filters have been redeployed from schools to ECC rooms and N95 masks have been provided to the Y’s Early Childhood Educators.
“The pandemic has shown us the importance of Early Childhood Educators who make it possible for parents to work,” said David Allen, president and CEO of the YMCA of Central East Ontario, in a press release. “Throughout the closures of the past two years, Early Childhood Educator have played a crucial role in the lives of children and families. We owe them a debt of gratitude for helping our essential services operate during these trying times.”
The Y is the largest provider of licensed not-for-profit child care in Ontario. This is the fourth time that the charity has delivered
emergency child care for the children of essential workers to support them and local communities during the pandemic.
