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Happy Cubs
Against a backdrop of twinkling early morning stars, Annette
Larkin – the owner of Happy Cubs– arrives each day to a stream
starting at 6 a.m.
childcare resource for hospital employees to enroll their children.
With the pandemic surging through the county, Larkin realized
it was more important than ever to stay open, with 90 percent of
her families already consisting of hospital employees or health
care professionals.
“I sat down with my teachers and staff who are absolutely
incredible, and we talked about my biggest fear, which was an
exposure to the coronavirus here and how we could minimize
that,” Larkin said. “We are already diligent with handwashing
and cleaning, and many parents trusted that. We implemented
changes like no longer allowing sleep items or parents inside
the center.”
“She was a super communicator with texts or phone calls daily,”
matter if it was in the evening or on the weekend. I always knew
what was going on.”
Rolling into her driveway at night, Larkin would often cradle her
worked harder than ever to keep kids safe and continue to create
a calm environment while panic raged. Larkin believes the ELC of
Manatee County bridged the main lifeline for childcare centers.
rattling in her voice. “They are the real superheroes here. They
1000 percent went above and beyond, staying ahead of the
single day asking what we needed and how they could help. It
was extraordinary.”
In addition to grants and communication, Larkin revealed the
ELC brainstormed genius ideas to keep childcare centers safe
and open. When cleaning products vanished from shelves, the
ELC purchased chlorine from pool supply companies, conversed
solutions mixed in gallon jugs donated by Dakin Dairy for
childcare centers to use.