Community support of expansion will help keep HUB child and family services under one roof
Administrator | Jul 04, 2019 | Comments 0
The HUB Child and Family Centre is reaching out to the community for support to build permanent, multi-purpose space for its parent child playgroups and offices.
The EarlyON parent/child playgroups and licenced childcare services have provided programs to 85 per cent of the children (birth to 12 years) in our community and we want to continue to grow and achieve 100 per cent,” said Susan Quaiff, the HUB’s executive director. “Over the past six years we have been able to obtain reserves that have set us in good standing to move forward with the expansion.”
The centre has been working toward expanding its footprint in the Industrial Park at 10 McFarland Court, Picton. The HUB, formerly Prince Edward Child Care Services, is a non-profit charitable organization offering quality early learning and childcare services for more than 30 years.
This spring, the HUB celebrated the retrofitting of the inside of the current 6,400 sq-ft space to meet high enrolment demand in toddler and pre-school groups, but this eliminated space for EarlyON programing and some administrative staff.
“We have had a great opportunity renting space nearby through our partnership with Community Living Prince Edward, for which we are very grateful to continue to operate playgroups and administration programs,” said Quaiff.
But the HUB would like to have all its services under one roof.
The current goal is to add an additional 3,220 sq. ft. of permanent program space for administration and the EarlyON parent/child playgroups, offering more opportunities within the organization and the community by building a multi-purpose space for workshops, gross motor activities, and parent education.
Quaiff is looking forward to continuing successful partnerships with the community to offer programs and resources for all County families.
In 2014 the HUB came together with several services and used a grant through the John M & Bernice Parrott Foundation to start a children’s garden and outdoor classroom where children learn about growing healthy food from seed to table.
“For several years we have offered a program cooking with families once a month using the Good Food Box through our partnership with the Community Development Council of Quinte (CDC),” said Quaiff, adding “In 2015 we started offering products through the Good Baby Box program. We want to continue to support these programs and other community initiatives in this additional space.”
The HUB also collaborates with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health and Prince Edward Family Health Team, Triple P a positive parenting program to offer parent education.
“All of these great programs, and more, will be a reality in this HUB model of services in the expanded space,” said Quaiff.
She notes Angry Birds restaurant owner Michael Hymus has already stepped forward, offering a donation of 100 per cent of one week of sales toward the HUB project in October.
“He told us they want to do projects in this community that support children and families.”
Other residents or businesses that would like to support the HUB project are invited to do so through the Canada Help donation button located on the HUB website at thehubcentre.ca
“There is also information there to be part of our donor wall, or purchase a walkway stone in yours, or a loved one’s name, for the entrance to the HUB.”
For additional information, contact Quaiff at 613-476-8142, or email susanq@thehubcentre.ca
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