The Altona Elks were thrilled to donate the proceeds of their recent Chase the Ace fundraiser to the Kiddie Sunshine Centre to support furniture and program supplies for the new childcare facility, which is set to open this September.
The $10,000 donation is one of three big cheques that the Elks have presented to the centre.
“We’re excited to support them, and we’re very grateful for their efforts to provide care for children in our community. The Kiddie Sunshine Centre is a wonderful place,” says Elks member Guy Mullen.
“Our businesses could not thrive without a place for families to bring their children. Right now, we have a shortage of childcare spaces in our town. There are people who can’t work at some of the companies because there’s no one to care for their kids. So, this really becomes an economic growth issue.”
Thanks to a plethora of corporate and individual donations, along with a sizable government grant last year, construction of the new facility is nearly complete.
However, the grant does not cover many items, such as furniture and programming supplies.
“We’re also waiting for a quote on the new playground, which is not usually funded by the province,” says board vice-chair Nicole Friesen.
Currently the new facility is at the finishing stage, with paint and a drop ceiling coming in this week. Exterior siding is also in progress.
“It’s starting to feel real now,” says Kiddie Sunshine Centre director Patty Klassen. “We’re incredibly grateful to the Altona Elks for their generosity.
“We’re always open to receiving more support because the operating grant doesn’t cover everything. Furniture, shelving and toys, games and puzzles, craft supplies and books—everything you can imagine in a classroom. It adds up pretty fast. There are also specific guidelines for what we can purchase, and there are certain things that are mandatory to have in a room.”
The new facility will hold 118 spaces, because the current 20 spaces located at the Regional Alternative Education Centre within the Border Land School Division office will be moved into the new space. That means they are creating 98 additional spaces to what they already provide in the community.
At an estimated cost of $6 million, the 10,800 square foot building will include an office, kitchen, storage room and bathrooms, as well as three infant rooms, four preschool rooms, and a school age/nursery school room.
“It’s all one level, all accessible. We’re just so excited,” Klassen says, adding that they’ll be advertising for more staff in the coming months.
“The biggest thing is finding trained staff. That will be the challenge. We’re hoping to bring another 20-25 support staff on board.”
“The current building is still fully functioning, and even when the new centre opens, it will stay open,” adds Friesen. “This centre will still be very much needed, along with the new facility. We are very grateful for all the support we’ve received so far.”
