Day care comes to Emporium

To the editor:

In the past, the lack of child care options in Cameron County may have forced some parents to make any kind of arrangement they can, regardless of convenience, quality, cost, and other factors.

Working parents in Cameron County now have an opportunity to have their children receive quality day care in a state-licensed, nonprofit day care center, which will rent out three rooms from St. Mark's Religious Education Building, located behind the church.

If you are looking for quality day care for your children, in a happy place where children and staff are sharing and learning from each other, please consider the St. Mark Community Child Day Care Center. The center is nondenominational and, although it bears the same name as the parish, there will not be any Catholic doctrine promoted. The center will be using "Early Learning Childhood Standards" from the Pa. Dept. of Education.

Beginning this fall, the center will be open to children 13 months of age and up. Care will be available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for all day, half-day, and before and after school care.

We have distributed preregistration forms out to the public to survey what days and times child care will be needed. If you need other services beyond 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., please indicate that on the form. You may pick up a form from Olivett's Market, the school pool, the library or the front vestibule of St. Mark Parish. Please complete the form and deposit it back into the box at any of those locations. You may also drop off forms at St. Mark Rectory or call 486-0784 to leave a message of interest by leaving your name and phone number.

Please note that filling out a "pre-registration form" does not obligate you to use the center. This form will be used for parent contact information, to determine the approximate number of children that will be registering, and to determine staffing needs. A registration form will be available in August.

There will be government assistance for those who qualify. Please inquire at Northern Tier Community Action Child Care Services.

Also, please watch for our upcoming "Wish List," detailing items needed for the center. Anyone interested in donating toward equipment, toys and supplies will be able to choose from a list.

This is a community project for all our dear little community children. We need many people to be a part of this beautiful project.

Beth Malizia

Emporium