YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties offering free day care for children of essential workers

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Parents who are considered essential workers have to be on the job despite a coronavirus shutdown.

Many once relied on day care or preschool to care for their children. But those are closed.

Now the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties is offering free care for families who need it.

Kate Landau is a physician’s assistant and a single mom with a 7-year-old daughter.

“I’m at skilled nursing facility with some high risk patients,” said Landau, who needs safe dependable day care to do her job and help her daughter fight boredom now that schools are closed.

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“To be able to interact with kids her age and engage in activities that she enjoys, that I can’t always do or, not great at,” Landau said.

All 14 schools in Pierce and Kitsap counties are being used to care for the kids of essential workers. For many, the free day care means keeping an income.

A web video produced by the YMCA features Anita Brighton. Both she and her husband are registered nurses and run a small business.

“I’m a nurse and the mother of two very active and engaging young kids,” said Brighton. “Probably would not have been able to continue with my full time job as well as running a business, something would have to go.”

Kids attending day care are practicing social distancing. A tough task when dealing with a room full of young people who’d rather play with one another.

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“Thankfully we have the best child care staff and they’re so good at working with the kids and helping them understand why this is important for their safety, their health,” said YMCA communications director Jonny Eberle.

Eberle says no cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed with kids attending day care, or among staff members.

“We’re doing a health screening for everyone who is entering the school site, checking for temperature that is elevated, checking for symptoms of COVID-19,” added Eberle.

The YMCA has spread the locations of the daycare to cover as many families as possible and the program will go on as long families need it.

With YMCA gym facilities closed the organization, which is funded primarily by membership dues, is relying on donations to continue the free daycare.

Donations can be made here.

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