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Ucluelet Children’s Centre raising funds for new playground

About 80 families use the child care facility and over 20 more are on the waiting list
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Black Rock assistant manager Lara Kemps, left, cheers a giant cheque donation moment with Ucluelet Children’s Centre office manager Kathy Devries and the entire daycare pod. (Nora O’Malley photo)

The Ucluelet Children’s Centre is fundraising for a new playground and outdoor floor area.

Office manager Kathy de Vries says they desperately want to replace the dusty pea gravel with flooring made from recycled tires. She says the recycled rubber tiles are low maintenance and great for early development.

“It would be nice for the kids to be able to bike around on a little racetrack,” said de Vries, adding that they are also raising funds to install a sandbox, expand the kids gardening area and to build a covered patio space.

Recently, Lara Kemps and Heather Riddick presented de Vries and a group of enthusiastic daycare kids with a donation of $1,500 from Black Rock Oceanfront Resort. Kemps recalls starting the daycare in the “dingy” rec hall about 20 years ago.

“The daycare has such a special place in my heart. It’s so important,” said Kemps.

De Vries noted that the Ucluelet Children Centre has space and staff for 16 to 20 kids per day. Currently, the child care centre has about 80 families that regularly use the service and a waiting list of over 20 more that need child care support.

“This year has shown how the daycare is an essential service,” said De Vries.

The Ucluelet Children’s Centre has about $10,000 saved for the new playground and are applying for a grant. Anyone interested in supporting the project is encouraged to reach out to Kathy at uclueletcare@gmail.com.

RELATED: Child care sector feels the squeeze in Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District



nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

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