TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee Urban League held a press conference Friday to discuss how they’re helping the children left without a daycare as Tallahassee Head Start programs end Friday due to the government shutdown.
The Tallahassee Urban League wrote in a press release that Tallahassee has five centers that serve 378 students.
Tallahassee Urban League CEO and President Curtis Taylor said it was the organization’s duty to step in and help.
“We cannot stand on the sideline and not have a place for our young kids to go come Monday morning,” Taylor said in an interview.
Bethel Baptist Church and Oxford Learning Academy will host children affected by the Tallahassee Head Start closure.(Must credit WCTV)
“We don’t know what is gonna happen at home with them, we’re talking about 3, 4 and 5 year olds that they don’t know what a government shutdown is,” he said.
The press conference comes after the organization announced Thursday that two Tallahassee churches plan to step in to help families who cannot afford daycare programs.
The organization announced during the press conference that Bethel Baptist Church is expected to take in 100 children. Oxford Learning Academy said they are taking in 40 children. Anderson Chapel won’t be taking children, but is providing food.
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“If we do not take action, [they] will not have anywhere to go. Most of these families, these parents, they can not afford daycare,” Taylor said.
The leaders are still holding discussions on which facilities are authorized to take children and how many they can hold. They are also discussing logistics for food, volunteers and background screenings.
If anyone is looking to volunteer for these programs, they can contact Curtis Taylor at (850) 222-6111 or curtis.taylor@talurbanleague.org.
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