Help Me Support My Kids Co. Kids!

I have a soft spot in my heart for kids (and I bet you do too) so I’m helping local, cash-strapped families enroll their children in Kids Co. programs so parents can work and go to school. If you’re not familiar with Kids Co., it is a local nonprofit with sites at 11 public schools in Seattle and on Mercer Island. All together, Kids Co. sites care year-round for more than 1,500 children, ranging in age from 2 ½ to 12 years old. What makes Kids Co. extraordinary is that not once in its 24 year history has this nonprofit turned away a child from enrolling in its programming due to financial reasons. That means thousands of children are supported through our scholarship fund, over 300 scholarships will be provided this year alone (totaling $405,000)!

Who are the families that need childcare support? Most are working parents–70% are single moms–who need their kids in safe before- and after-school care so they can go to work, and a handful are disabled or enrolled in school. Although families from all 11 centers are awarded tuition assistance, 70% goes to families in one of our three SE Seattle sites, including the one where I work. According to a 2012 Seattle Times article, Washington “is the 11th least-affordable when it comes to child care. Parents here shell out an average $11,450 a year for an infant enrolled full time at a daycare center,” more than a year of UW tuition. For a single mom with a minimum wage job and more than one child to support, a price tag like that can be devastating.

Even if you don’t have kids yourself, I know you can appreciate the value of quality childcare and helping those who need it. Sometimes receiving childcare can make the difference between just surviving and actually succeeding. Parents should be able to go to work with the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children are in a safe, supportive, enriching environment like the one that Kids Co. provides.

So join me! My initial ask is $10 but you can give more (or less) or set up your own page (like mine) and help out even more! Thank you in advance for your generosity!