This funding will allow for the program to be available at no cost to essential workers, according to an April 14 press release.
The child care service is for children of first responders; government officials; and those who work in essential industries, such as health care, grocery stores or logistics industries. The donation will go toward the operational costs of the six YMCAs offering this care in the Dallas area and will fund additional sites, the release said.
“As a church, Chase Oaks is committed to being here for our community and we’re always looking for ways we can love our neighbors and support their needs,” said Jeff Jones, senior pastor of Chase Oaks Church, in the release. “During this difficult season, it became evident that this was a critical need to come around.”
YMCA initially opened this service to lessen the burden of child care on essential workers, and it will now be less of a burden by being free to those workers, said Curt Hazelbaker, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, in the release.
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas announced March 19 that it would begin offering emergency child care services with permission from Dallas County Health and Human Services, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper. The emergency child care will be available as long as the crisis continues, according to the release. More information on the YMCA’s Emergency Child Care Program can be found here.
Temperature screenings are taken before entry and throughout the day at each location, the release said. Up to 45 children are accepted at each location each day.
Locations offering this child care as of April 14 include:
- Coppell Family YMCA: 146 Town Center Blvd., Coppell
- Grand Prairie Family YMCA: 4556 S. Carrier Parkway, Grand Prairie
- McKinney Family YMCA: 300 Ridge Road, McKinney
- Plano Family YMCA: 3300 McDermott Road, Plano
- Richardson Family YMCA: 821 Custer Road, Richardson
- T Boone Pickens YMCA: 601 N. Akard St., Dallas
