The Kaatza Daycare Society is entering September with seven fewer kids than expected, with the youngsters enrolled in full-day Kindergarten instead.
Previously, Kindergarten was a half-day in duration, with many kids spending the other half of the day at the Kaatza Daycare. That’s no longer the case.
This drop in enrollment is just the latest in a long string of financial setbacks for the society.
“This latest reduction in enrollment, in combination with the poor economic conditions in the area, are adding even further difficulties to our financial bottom line,” board chair Jennifer Pelton said. “Things have not been going great over the last number of years, with government cutbacks.”
A recent cruise raffle, which raised $4,000, helped, but will by no means solve the daycare’s financial woes.
“It seems like a lot of money, but it’s gone quickly,” Pelton said.
Staff has been cut to its bare minimum, and two years ago everyone lost their benefits.
“The staff hasn’t had a wage increase in two years,” Pelton said.
But, why go to all this effort, and jump through all these financial hurdles, to keep the Kaatza Daycare Society up and running?
“It’s more than just a place for children to bide their time during the day,” Pelton said.
“In a small community, to have a place where they’re safe and have development needs met is important.”
This leaves parents comfortable to go to school or work to better the family as a whole, Pelton said.
“If there’s no licensed facility, that would be a concern to my moving into a community,” she said.
All larger communities have such centres, so Lake Cowichan not having one could cause families to not move here, she said.
The Kaatza Day Care is still taking registrations, and can be contacted at 250-749-6422.
Those wanting to help out can either make a donation, or contribute in one of the following ways;
• Till tapes from the Lake Cowichan Country Grocer. The grocery store donates one per cent of all purchases, as per the amount on till tapes collected.
• Recyclables that can be returned for money, such as cans and bottles, are accepted at any time.
• Campbell’s Soup labels are collected, through the Labels for Education program.
Once a certain number of labels are collected, items can be ordered through a catalogue.
• UPC labels from Island Farms products result in a 3¢ donation per label collected.
• Canadian Tire money is accepted, with the society then redeeming the money at Canadian Tire in Duncan.
“You’re asking for money from a community that has already given so much,” Pelton said, of the difficulty of raising money.
