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“The whole community has been phenomenal,” Larkin said.
“People have donated supplies, and food companies have
donated meals to feed every shift at the hospital. The community
really stepped up for essential workers and for us.”
In the midst of Manatee County Public Schools transitioning to
know if she would take in their older children who had nowhere
made room for 12 older kids trying to complete the third, fourth,
continue their education through Schoology but also designed
a curriculum to support them.
“This age group is not my wheelhouse and sifting through
just be on their phones the rest of the day. We limited screen
time and came up with ideas to engage them. I get a lump in
my throat thinking about the grateful responses from parents.”
costumes, a colorful parade of miniature superheroes marched
from Happy Cubs across to a grassy patch outside of Blake
and out of the hospital, moving many to tears.
“The doctors and nurses were really touched, and I thought it
was important for the kids to support them,” said Larkin.
While scary virus statistics blared from many living room TVs,
Larkin felt compelled to create an environment and routine as
normal as possible for her students. Sitting, they can inadvertently
absorb the stress swirling around them. The center continued with
a dose of fun like silly hair and bike days. Standing in the
pouring rain, her staff hooted, hollered, banged pots and
pans, and waved signs as a car parade of her graduating
VPK class snaked through the parking lot.
“I was not going to let this graduating class move on
without a graduation,” said Larkin. “They had caps and
gowns, and we moved their tassels.”
A Child’s Galaxy
Preserving consistency and protecting childhood fun
Bradenton childcare center that normally hovers around
early weeks of the coronavirus scares.
“I have an amazing staff that worked extra hard cleaning
and waiting to see how parents would react,” said Kristen
ago. “I think our families realized they could rely on us,
and the bottom line is they had to go to work, and we
were going to make it safe and still fun here.”
Backed with a $2,000 grant from the ELC, Terrell purchased two
bought all new sheets for each child.
“These were huge changes for us, and we were really excited,”
said Terrell. “I could not have done this without the ELC or my
amazing staff. They are like my other family – they are my rock.”
While some childcare providers kept their doors open for a
shine as another important segment of essential workers:
Grocery store clerks, Dollar General Managers, service industry
personal and a variety of other jobs that endured a painful
siphon to their paychecks.
“A great deal of our parents are essential workers in the middle
are dropping off their child in a safe environment,” said Terrell.