There’s a big problem in Riverside for a lot of working parents. While they’re at work, their kids are in school and in the after-school programs provided by the school district. During summer vacation, they can take their kids to city-run programs while they go to work (such as the Summer Splash Camp or the Teen Day Camp). But what about on holidays when neither the city nor the schools run programs? What about during winter and spring breaks?
A lot of parents are in a jam. They have to take time of work (which is hard to afford for many families), pay for a babysitter (which can be expensive) or just leave their kids at home alone. We’re here to help those parents. We want to give them a safe, fun place they can take their children on those days where there’s currently no services provided.
Our mission statement is, “To provide a safe place for Riverside youth to engage in creative, educational and fun activities.” Our hope is a parent will be able to drop their children off at our clubhouse, pay a small fee that anyone can afford and pick them up after work with the knowledge that their children have spent the day doing educational, productive activities. Meanwhile, their kids take part in structured activities geared to get their creative juices flowing: They’ll draw, paint, sing and play games. They’ll also have free time to just enjoy each others company or have some quiet time to read.
We’re a baby organization right now, and we have a lot of work ahead of us, but here’s how we plan to do it:
- Get our nonprofit status approved by the federal and state governments.
- Raise funds to operate for at least two years.
- Find a location.
Sound like a lot? It is, but we can do it with your help. If you think you can lend your time, your creativity or your financial support, we hope you’ll join our cause!
Creative Kids Club 