EXCERPT FROM: The Daily News
By Cathy Gillentine
What’s the most important ingredient to run a day care center? Children. And children are what’s in short supply at the Texas City Day Nursery’s new center at 611 11th Ave. N.
The women of Church Women United, who have sponsored the low-cost day care for years and years at various locations throughout Texas City, officially moved into their new digs Saturday.
They sold the former Danforth School location to the city and have spent about $18,000 fixing up the new place, which is part of a small church, Grace and Mercy Missionary Baptist Church. The pastor there is Clayton Thomas. Part of the building used to be a day care.
The women who have been working for weeks to make everything not only up to code, but beautiful, are needing more children to come. They have approval to have 65 children. At this time, they have 30.
Karen McNair, the president, can be reached at 409-943-5247. Others involved in the day care are Allene Carter, Elizabeth Collins, Althea Johnson and Marjorie Grady.
One of their best helpers is board member Fred Newhouse of Valero, whose company, along with OilTanking, has been most helpful. Other industries and organizations have pitched in through the years.
The day nursery is funded mostly from donations, but some children get Neighborhood Community federal funds.
Parents pay what they can on a sliding scale based on income. McNair said the least a parent could pay probably would be around $65 a week.
If the child was covered by NCI funds, the parent’s share could be as little as $20 a week.
As you can see, the nursery was set up to help those trying to make a living for their families to have good care for their children while they’re working.
Single-parent families make up a good part of the clientele. They’re not all women.
The center is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays with four teachers, one caregiver, a cook and a janitor. They provide a hot breakfast and lunch plus snacks at no extra cost.
They also provide field trips to all kinds of interesting places — all free.
They pick up children at schools for the after-school group and provide 11/2 hours of tutoring for them every day.